Hato El Cedral

Hato El Cedral

El Hato El Cedral is an important tourist, ecological, historical and livestock center located in the southwestern region of Venezuela, in the Los Llanos region, about 700 kilometers from the Venezuelan capital Caracas. The area is notable for its great diversity of fauna and flora, as well as economic activities such as livestock farming and ecotourism. It is considered one of the most important game reserves in the region. It owes its name to El Cedral, a species of tree that provides shade for visitors. The area has been private property for decades, with some protected areas, such as the Matiyure Game Reserve, which has become an important area for bird and exotic animal watching. Because of its diverse species, fauna and historical importance, the area was purchased in 2008 by the Venezuelan government, which protects the area and grants concessions to private tourism groups. The area is characterized by a large expanse of flat land, known as "llanos", with numerous rivers, streams and floodplains, and some 53 000 hectares with tourist camps, visitor reception facilities and viewing points for local wildlife. It is known for exotic activities such as feeding caimans, boating and the chance to come into contact with well-known snake species such as the anaconda, the largest of its kind in Venezuela, and emblematic animals such as the capybara, the largest rodents in the world, or the Araguato Monkeys. In 2004, 89 species of mammals, 347 species of birds, 62 species of reptiles and 22 species of amphibians were identified.