Emas National Park
The national park "Parque Nacional das Emas" in Goiás, is one of the most sensitive nature reserves of Brazil. It was founded in January 1961 in order to protect parts of the biotop "Cerrado" from the huge march towards the West which started after the inauguration of Brasilia. The park opened again for public in 2003. Now visitors can explore the park every day from 08:00 a. m. until 17:00 p. m. Only 3000 tourists are allowed to visit the park per year. The IBAMA (Brasilian Nature Conservancy Authority) is responsible for observance of this rule and for reforesting the park, which in huge areas has already been completed successfully. In the park itself and in the environments there are no hotels or convenient accommodations, and also no infrastructure, so that everybody always has to accept the 80 km journey from Mineiros, but it is worth it as it is a wildlife park always worth visiting and inviting to pass interesting and adventurous days!
Majestic maned wolves, atop impossibly long legs, stalk tinamous in the grass, while Aplomado Falcons maintain watchful vigilance atop the termite mounds. Giant anteaters, improbable in every respect, roam the grasslands, which resound with the songs of Red-winged Tinamous, Sharp-tailed Tyrants, Grass Wrens, and Black-masked Finches. Emas presents a vivid landscape of golden grasslands dotted with red termite mounds, and dissected by narrow green ribbons of gallery forest that follow the many clear, rushing streams. For its landscapes, ease of birding, and abundant mammal-viewing opportunities, Emas has been compared to the savannas of east Africa. In addition, it is an excellent place to see the many specialties of Brazil's campo-cerrado habitats, including such prizes as Lesser Nothura, Red-legged Seriema, Rufous-sided Pygmy-Tyrant, Chapada Flycatcher, White-rumped Tanager, and Yellow-billed Blue-Finch.