Overview

The Brazilian Pantanal, the world’s largest continental wetland, is a luxuriant forest-savannah mosaic in central-western Brazil that is home to the highest density of jaguars in the world. It is also simply the greatest wildlife spectacle of Latin America. In addition to its jaguars, which happen to be far more accessible to photographers here than anywhere else in their range, it harbors the world’s largest parrots (hyacinth macaw), the world’s largest snake (anaconda), the world’s largest otter, and many other species of wildlife, often in incredibly high densities.

Rivers and channels provide easy access by boat to water’s-edge locations frequented by the big cats in the dry season. This is the closest thing to an East African photo safari in the New World, but without the crowds and malaria.

Award-winning nature photographer and film maker Jeff Foott – a Pantanal veteran – and Justin Black of Visionary Wild look forward to sharing this expedition with six passionate photographers. The small group size will ensure ample space to maneuver for photography from the boats.

Our floating hotel is anchored right in the middle of the best jaguar action.  This privileged location permits us to spend up to two hours extra time per day with the cats, and at the best times of day for quality of light, comfortable temperatures, and scenic beauty in the Pantanal. We have secured enough space on the “Flotel” for each of the six participants to have a private en-suite room if they wish (double-occupancy clients save $650 per person; single-occupancy rate is $9,400).

Click “read more” below right for the itinerary, photo gallery, and more information…

Why did we choose this location? First and foremost, it is centrally-located to allow fast boat access to Jaguars spotted on any part of the 80 kilometers of river that years of research have proven to be the world’s most productive location for photography of wild jaguars. Experience indicates that river sections further upstream or downstream have proven to be considerably less productive for both jaguars and giant otters.

Itinerary:

20 August (Tuesday): Land late morning in Cuiaba, Brazil, flying in from São Paulo International Airport. Drive to SouthWild Pantanal Lodge, across the Transpantaneira highway, stopping for lunch and to photograph as opportunities present themselves along the way.  Arrive to SouthWild Pantanal in mid afternoon.  Overnight at SouthWild Pantanal Lodge.

21 Aug. Wed: Early in the morning, after breakfast and a possible visit to the lodge by Toco Toucans, leave the lodge to drive south 80 km (50 miles) to the end of the road at Porto Jofre.  Travel upstream 15.5 km (in 30 min) by boat to the SouthWild Jaguar Flotel.   Check-in and then go out in smaller Jaguar search boats, with one person per row.  Lunch at noon, followed by a break until 2:00 pm, when we head out again in the boats to search for jaguars and giant otters.   This afternoon outing will run until sunset. Overnight at SouthWild Jaguar Flotel.

22 Aug. Thurs: Morning and afternoon boat outings (a total of 8 h of boat outings during the period between 600 am and 600 pm) in search of Jaguars, giant otters, tapirs, caiman, macaws, and other fauna.  Overnight at the SWJF.

23 Aug. Fri: Rinse and repeat

24 Aug. Sat: Rinse and repeat

25 Aug. Sun: Rinse and repeat

26 Aug.  Mon: After breakfast, check-out of the flotel and boat in one large transfer boat for the 15.5 km to the river port downstream and board a vehicle for the transfer back up the last 80 km to SouthWild Pantanal Eco-Lodge.  Lunch at SouthWild Pantanal, and rest until the afternoon outing starts at 2:30 pm.  Overnight at SouthWild Pantanal.  SWP has a number of spectacular photo opportunities that are not possible at the Jaguar Flotel. Overnight at SouthWild Pantanal.

27 Aug.  Tues: Two outings at SouthWild Pantanal (one boat ride per day, and also work the two wildlife observation towers and a number of species of habituated large vertebrates such as Marsh Deer, Jabiru Storks, hawks that take fish from the water’s surface, Ringed Kingfishers that do the same, and Brown Capuchin monkeys in the forest trails at the lodge.  Overnight at SWP lodge.

28 Aug. Weds: SWP for the day and for overnight.

29 Aug.  Thurs: Out at 9:00 am (after breakfast) to drive 2.5-3.0 h back to the Cuiabá Airport to catch a flight to São Paulo to then fly home that evening.