The journey begins in Brazil's Pantanal -- the planet's largest wetland.

Between World Cup games it is drawing fans from around the world -- who are taking in the wildlife.

Alligators.

Iguanas.

And monkeys, among others.

Little Fish has been a guide here for a decade.

It's given him time to nurture this bench of Brazilian stars -- a team Brazil used in lobbying World Cup organizers.

Little Fish not only shows the wildlife -- he plays with it.

He treats this alligator he calls Dragao almost like a family pet.

Along the shores there's a stork Little Fish calls "TAFFAREL" -- named after a former Brazilian goalkeeper.

Visitors like what they see.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) CATALINA RESTREPO, TOURIST FROM COLOMBIA, SAYING:

"It's very amazing to see how the human people interact with the animals without making it dangerous for them, without hurting them, which is very, very nice. You can train them. You can interact with them