In April 2023 I went to the Colombian Illanos in order to watch the wildlife.
From Bogota I flew with Easyfly and arrived 6.37 am in Yopal. Then my guide Joan D Ram Rpo and a driver picked me up in the airport and we drove for almost 8 hours east to private natural reserve Altagracia in the savanna of Illanos. The drive took long time as the road conditions from the highway to the hacenda was in very poor condition. The period before the rains in May is very hot and humid. When the rains arrive, it is impossible to reach the distination.
On the first half of the drive, we could witness huge changes to the landscape,
as foreign and domestic business people buy op land in order to convert traditional cattle ranges into rice fields. We saw many place airal spraying with pesticides from small airplanes. Consequently the bird populations are declining in the newly formed agricultual areas. However several ranchers have formed conservation associations in order to save large areas of cattle land including wetlands and woodlands. About 1 million ha. is protected in that way.
Here at Altagracia we spent 3 full days exploring the area on foot, by 4WD drive and in a boat. We stayed in a hachenda with full board service all inclusive.
