Overview

THIS IS THE FINEST JAGUAR PHOTOGRAPHY EXPERIENCE, BAR NONE.

“To see this iconic species hunting, stalking yacaré caimans and capybaras, is an unforgetable experience. During the trip, every day got better, lots of excitement, amazing photos, opportunities like no other place in the world for Jaguars.” -Alwin v.d.H., 2016 Jaguars of the Pantanal participant

It was once inconceivable that there could be a place where one could reliably photograph wild jaguars in their home habitat, and better yet, in the open along a river bank and in great light. Incredibly, such a place exists in the Pantanal wetland of Brazil, at an inland river delta where at least 50 individual jaguars presently hunt along 70 miles of riverbank. The jaguars here also happen to be the most massive anywhere in their range, commonly weighing in at 300 pounds, about the size of a large African lioness. We commonly observe jaguars actively hunting (including young males hunting in coalition from time to time), courting and mating, mothers with cubs, swimming the river, and more. We always catch some sort of peak action, which could include a successful hunt, males in a territorial battle, jaguars on trees over the water, leaping off high banks into the river, and other highlight moments.

The Rivers and channels provide easy access for our customized photo boat – a state-of-the-art aluminum speedboat with revolving centerline camera mounts – to locations frequented by the big cats in the dry season. In addition to its jaguars, the Pantanal harbors the world’s largest parrots (hyacinth macaw), the world’s largest snake (anaconda), the world’s largest otter, and many other species in astonishingly high densities. It is simply the greatest wildlife spectacle of Latin America, and it may be the closest thing to an African photo safari in the New World.

On each of our prior trips to the Patanal, our guests have enjoyed multiple jaguar sightings each day, lasting anywhere from five minutes to seven hours (sightings are typically in the range of twenty to ninety minutes). In 2019, we will be offering this unique experience in October to avoid the crowding of boats on the river that is common in the peak summer season. Jaguar photography in October is just as good, but with very few other boats on the rivers.

Justin Black returns to lead his eighth expedition in the Pantanal for Visionary Wild, and will provide attentive photo instruction and guidance throughout the itinerary. The small group size ensures ample space to maneuver for photography from the boat, and a great deal of time one-on-one from Justin.

We will spend two nights at the Pantanal Wildlife Center’s Fazenda Santa Tereza, a comfortable lodge located on an expansive estate on the banks of the wildlife-rich Pixaim River, and will return to the area on our final day. Our floating hotel for six nights of the trip is the spacious Jaguar Suites, offering the finest guest rooms in all the Pantanal, purpose-built to support serious photographers in comfort. Moored to the riverbank where the Piquiri and Cuiabá Rivers meet in the heart of the best jaguar action, when compared with the longer commutes by boat from other area accommodations to the prime “jaguar zone,” this privileged location on the water permits us to spend an extra two hours per day with the cats, and to be on location at the best times of day for quality light, comfortable temperatures, and scenic beauty in the Pantanal.

At Fazenda Santa Teresa, several wildlife observation towers include one located just 16 meters from an active nest of habituated Jabiru storks – perfect at first light in the morning – and a second one in gallery forest along the banks of the river. Virtually guaranteed wildlife sightings here include giant otters, ocelots, capuchin monkeys, numerous bird species including toco toucans, hyacinth macaws, rufescent tiger heron, anhingas, crested caracaras, various fishing hawks, stunning yellow-billed cardinals, an the extraordinary great potoo. Jaguars and tapirs are sometimes seen at the Fazenda Santa Tereza as well.

Join us for an incredible experience getting close to these big cats, an