Brazil | Jaguars of the Pantanal, Photography with Ann and Rob Simpson

Depart from the United States.

Upon arrival in São Paulo, clear immigration and customs and then proceed to check in for your internal flight to Cuiabá. Transfer to hotel in Cuiaba. Check in then meet with your group for your program orientation and dinner.

After breakfast, transfer to the SouthWild Pantanal Lodge at the Fazenda Santa Tereza. Stops along the Transpantaneira are planned to photograph specialties like Whistling, Cocoi, Purple, and Capped Heron, among many others. The Pantanal has one of the densest wildlife populations in the world. SouthWild Pantanal is the only lodge in the Pantanal offering mobile canopy towers near fruiting trees and electric catamarans for long-lens photography on the intimate, wildlife-rich river that flows next to the lodge. These floating blinds are designed to allow you to quietly approach mammals and birds along the banks of the river. A tower blind allows for intimate photography of a nesting pair of Jabiru Storks, which normally have babies at this time.

Early morning and afternoon activities such as boat rides, forest hikes, and tower climbs will confirm why this area could be called the Serengeti of South America. Always have your camera ready as there is exciting wildlife right around the cabins - lots of capybara with babies, crab-eating fox, giant anteater, crab-eating raccoon, brocket and marsh deer, black howler monkey, brown capuchin monkey, black-tailed marmoset, and even tapirs. There are some very large extraordinary birds like Toco Toucan, Hyacinth Macaw and Bare-faced Curassow. The feeders attract hummingbirds, as well as the striking Orange-backed Troupial, Yellow-billed Cardinal, Saffron Finch, Purplish Jay, and Bay-winged Cowbird. A walk on the trails may reveal colorful Helmeted Manakins and cryptic Great Potoos. There is even a blind set up to photograph
ocelots (bring your flash and flashlight).

After breakfast depart for the Jaguar Flotel from Porto Jofre, where you’ll reach the 820-foot-wide Cuiabá River, the border between the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grossodo Sul. Complete the journey by boating 1.5 hours upstream to Three Brothers River. The 270,000-acre Meeting of the Waters State Park begins about a third of the way up the river to the flotel, which is located in the very heart of this remote, wild park.

In addition to the jaguars, there are two groups of giant otters at Jaguar Flotel. One group is near the mouth of the Piquiri Riverand the other near the 330-acre island that lies seven minutes by boat upstream on the Three Brothers River. Today, continue exploring the Meeting of the Waters State Park in search of thegiant otters and other wildlife. During the course of the next three days, explore the area by boat. After an early breakfast, leave the camp for a full day boat trip to observe the diversity of the animals in the region. Watch for jaguars, tapirs, anteaters, giant otters, birds, and other animals common to this region. Use small motor boats to explore narrow and wild rivers in the core of this huge park. Recent guests have seen several of these huge predators during the day, many of them at very close (photography) range for extended periods. Return to the center at the end of the afternoon in time for dinner.

Spend a full day searching for jaguars and other wildlife by boat.

Spend a full day searching for jaguars and other wildlife by boat.

This morning boat back to the Pantanal Lodge and prepare for a full day of wildlife viewing. After breakfast enjoy an early morning walk in the surrounding area. Return prior to lunch in time to relax and explore the area on your own. This afternoon take a boat tour on the Rio Pixaim. This is an excellent location for bird watching as well as one of the best sites for predictable viewing of wild giant otters from a distance of only 3 to 16 feet away. Often they will come close to the boat, craning their necks and snorting loudly. Birds, including giant Ringed Kingfishers, will swoop in to take scraps of fish providing great photo opportunities.

Full day of exploring the wildlife by boat and on hikes.

After breakfast, drive 1.5 hours along the Transpantaneira back to the town of Poconé, and then an hour and 15 minutes on asphalt to airport at Cuiabá for your afternoon flight to São Paulo. Upon arrival you will connect with your international flight home (most flights depart in the evening). Dinner will be on your own.

Arrival in the United States.