Brazil - Jaguars of the Pantanal Photography Safari 2023
Specialist Brazil Photography Safari Focussing On Wildlife Of The Pantanal Region: Jaguar, Ocelot, Giant River Otter, Giant Anteater, Brazilian Tapir, Caiman, Capybara and prolific birdlife including Hawks, Kingfishers & Macaws.
A "Must See" destination for wildlife photographers!
19 October - 06 November - Amazon, Northern & Southern Pantanal SOLD OUT
06 - 21 November 2023 Northern and Southern Pantanal SOLD OUT
Small group of 6 photographers
Specialist photography tuition from Trai Anfield,
award-winning wildlife photographer, film maker and broadcaster
Fitness level required: Easy. Mainly boat and vehicle safaris, some short walks.. You may of course explore the photographic possibilities around the lodge grounds in your free time too!
Tour leader: Trai Anfield - award winning wildlife photographer, film maker, travel writer and broadcaster
Brazil... The Pantanal... Words To Set Any Photographer's Heart Racing!
Especially big cat lovers, for this is the kingdom of the jaguar.
Add in a collection of bizarre beasts such as the giant anteater and Brazilian taipir, plus giant river otter, caiman, capybara, coati and you can prepare to photograph an array of wildlife unlike any you've encountered before, along with a cast of biodiverse extras that is unrivalled anywhere else on the continent, perhaps the world.
And to ensure you can make the most of it, our accommodation is the best in the world for jaguar and ocelot photography, and also offers incredible encounters with giant anteaters, diving hawks and kingfishers around our boat, photographing at eye-level with nesting storks, canyon of the macaws, opportunities to photograph a myriad of birds and a unique snorkelling experience in a crystal clear river with kaleidoscopic freshwater fish.
Why Come On This Brazil Photography Safari?
As with all my itineraries, this has been designed by me personally, with the welfare of wildlife and communities and the specific needs of my guest photographers as priorities. We are therefore staying in the most ecologically and community supportive lodges
NORTHERN PANTANAL
-
Best access to jaguars anywhere in the world from the finest accomodation: 6 night stay on the Piquiri River itself in superb floating Jaguar Suites designed especially for photographers, right in the heart of 'Jaguarland'. The magnificent cats can actually be spotted passing right outside your floor-to-ceiling windows, and we don't have to commute to/from crowded Porto Jofre where the majority of lodges are based. This means we can be with the jaguars in the best light of morning and evening, and in peace. Two 4-5 hour excursions by private boat per day. Other species here include Black Howler Monkey, Iguana, Caiman, Crab Eating Racoon and Fox, Capybara, Yellow Anaconda, Macaw.
-
Best location for ocelot photography: 3 night stay in the wildlife-rich Southward Pantanal Lodge with further access to jaguar, otter etc plus the only guaranteed ocelot photography in the world.
-
Private boat excursions for hawks and kingfishers diving around us on the Pixaim river
-
Platforms for eye-level bird photography including Jabiru storks on nest
-
Forest tower for birds and capuchin / howler monkeys
-
Renowned birding location with Parrots, Hummingbirds, Toco toucans, Snail Kites and many more in the lodge grounds
-
Brazilian Tapir, Crab Eating Racoon and Fox,
SOUTH PANTANAL PRE-EXTENSION:
-
Close encounters with giant anteaters
-
Canyon of the Red & Green Macaws plus coati up close, hyacinth macaw, and many beautiful smaller birds
-
Crystal water snorkelling with a kaleidoscopic abundance 50+ species of Brazil's colourful freshwater fish
AS ALWAYS
-
Small group size - max 6 guests - with exclusive use of 12 person boats: shoot on both sides
-
Safari scheduled to ensure optimum photographic conditions for jaguar sightings
-
Beginner friendly plus great for intermediate/experienced photographers - new species & creative challenges
-
1-2-1 technical tuition, post production sessions and creative inspiration with your tutor and tour leader Trai Anfield
-
Expert local wildlife guides throughout
YOUR BRAZIL PANTANAL PHOTOGRAPHY SAFARI ITINERARY
SOUTHERN PANTANAL PRE-EXTENSION
A dazzling display of colour in the air and underwater, with bizarre giants roaming the land!
Sunday November 5, 2023
As we fly to Campo Grande bright and early on November 6th we advise that your international flight arrives in Sao Paulo on 5th November and you take advantage of the included night of hotel accommodation near airport (B&B)
Monday November 6, 2023 (B,L,D)
Fly Sao Paulo - Campo Grande
Transfer 2.5 hrs by asphalt road to Jardim.
Lunch at our hotel and then a photographic tour of the Recanto Ecológico Rio da Prata gardens and Eco Park Jardim. Here we get our eye in with bird photography of curassows, macaws, parakeets, parrots, hummingbirds, hawks, owls, and other avians, including the endemic Blaze-winged Parakeets which can be found here.
Overnight Jardim
Tuesday November 7, 2023 (B, L, D)
Full day at Macaw Canyon - Buraco das Araras. This unique 400-foot-deep, 300-foot-wide limestone sinkhole with vertical, pinkish-yellow sandstone walls is home to up to 60 breeding pairs of Red-and-Green Macaws. The macaws are worth the trip on their own, but there is a plethora of other birdlife including toco toucans, blue-crowned motmots and blue-headed trogons. We'll situate ourselves on viewing platforms with plenty of space, so we can photograph these colourful birds in flight, perched in trees, and interacting with one another. This is the time of year when the Red-and-Green macaws mate, so there should be plenty of excitement in the air!
Overnight Jardim
Wednesday November 8, 2023 (B, L, D)
Recanto Ecológico Rio da Prata snorkelling experience, in the crystal clear waters of the Olho d’Água River, a tributary of the mighty Rio da Prata. The Pantanal is a giant wetland environment, and you only see a fraction of its life above the waterline. Now's your chance to explore the wonders of what lies below the surface too!
This unique aquatic environment hosts 50+ species of Brazil's native tropical fish, along with amazing underwater scenery and vegetation, and you'll have ample time to enjoy and photograph this unspoiled underwater paradise.
OR
If you're not a fan of the water, we will arrange a second visit to photograph the vivid birdlife of Eco Park Jardim.
Transfer to Bonito and check in to our accomodation at Pousada Olho D'Água
Now it's time for close-up encounters with a more peculiar-looking animal, the Giant Anteater, with its dashing, black racing stripe. This area has several great locations where in just one late afternoon, we can observe and photograph 5-10 of these impressive mammals from just a few meters. Giant Anteaters are the largest of the anteaters and can grow up to eight feet long and weigh up to 120 pounds. Their well-adapted noses help them detect ant and termite nests, and their sticky tongues slurp up to 30,000 ants/termites per day! Though anteaters are generally docile animals, they do have razor-sharp claws and are known for their ability to fight off both pumas and jaguars.
Our biologist guides have many years of experience with the Giant Anteaters, so they can get us closer here than anywhere else to photograph these endearing animals.
Overnight Bonito
Thursday November 9, 2023 (B, L)
Second early morning giant anteater photography experience - we just can't get enough of these wonderful creatures!
Drive back to Campo Grande where we have the opportunity to photograph Blue-and-Gold macaws up close, along with adorable Coatis - relatives of raccoons - amongst palms and pockets of forest.
Head to airport for flight to Cuiabá.
Overnight hotel near airport Cuiaba
END OF SOUTHERN PANTANAL PRE-EXTENSION
START OF NORTHERN PANTANAL SAFARI
If you have not been with us in the Southern Pantanal this is the day your international flight should arrive in Sao Paulo, where you will overnight in a convenient airport hotel.
Friday 10 Nov (B, L, D)
For those joining the safari for Northern Pantanal only, you will take an early flight from Sao Paulo to Cuiaba and join the group here.
Road transfer for 3-4 h to Southwild Pantanal lodge in a closed, air-conditioned vehicle)
The rest of our day will be filled with activities at SPL. These include:
-
Forest walks : 1-2 hour morning or afternoon walk in the forest and savannas not far from the lodge. Southwild Pantanal is an excellent location for birding.
-
Optional visit to the forest tower. Capuchin Monkeys and Black-and-Gold Howler Monkeys are often seen in the forest.
-
Boat ride: 4 hours morning or afternoon boat tour of the Rio Pixaim, which features hawks and kingfishers at close range, often swooping to grab fish or diving for fish around our boat.
-
Southwild Pantanal also offers the chance to photograph Jabiru storks on top of their nest platform...viewed at eye level from a 12-m-tall tower that is only 16 m from the nest. This tower is only 150 metres from the lodge.
-
There also are good photo opportunities at the bird feeders in the gardens of the lodge.
-
The evenings brings out the stars of the show here, and tonight is our first chance to photograph Ocelot. Here at SPL these rare and shy cats may be seen nightly just 400 m walk from the lodge. This experience is completely unique in the world, allowing us to photograph one or more ocelots from only 5-9 meters away and in two-source lights.
Saturday 11 Nov (B, L, D)
Early activity at SWP
Road transfer to Porto Jofre then boat transfer for 45 min to Jaguar Suites right in the heart of 'Jaguarland'.
This transfer is actually a good chance to search for Jaguars, Giant Otters, and other wildlife.
After check-in and lunch take our first 4-hour boat safari searching primarily for Jaguars, but also
Overnight Jaguar Suites
Sunday 12 Nov - Thursday 16 Nov (B, L, D)
The highlight of our Jaguars of the Pantanal photography safari is our stay at Jaguar Suites. We will embark each day on both morning and evening 4-5 hour boat safaris in search of jaguar, giant otter, caiman, capybara and all the other wildlife that makes up this phenomenal ecosystem.
We don't have to rush back during the day, but mostly we will return 'home' for a while for lunch, some rest, to edit photographs, watch wildlife from our floating suites, have talks by the resident naturalists on Brazilian wildlife - including I-D sessions on the jaguars we have photographed each day - and of course this is a great time to book in 1-2-1 critiques, editing masterclasses and advanced tuition sessions with Trai.
Overnight Jaguar Suites
Friday 17 Nov (B, L, D)
Slow boat transfer to Porto Jofre
Return road transfer to SWP lodge
As before, our activities at SPL include:
-
Forest walks : 1-2 hour morning or afternoon walk in the forest and savannas not far from the lodge. Southwild Pantanal is an excellent location for birding.
-
Optional visit to the forest tower. Capuchin Monkeys and Black-and-Gold Howler Monkeys are often seen in the forest.
-
Boat ride: 4 hours morning or afternoon boat tour of the Rio Pixaim, which features hawks and kingfishers at close range, often swooping to grab fish or diving for fish around our boat.
-
Southwild Pantanal also offers the chance to photograph Jabiru storks on top of their nest platform...viewed at eye level from a 12-m-tall tower that is only 16 m from the nest. This tower is only 150 metres from the lodge.
-
There also are good photo opportunities at the bird feeders in the gardens of the lodge.
The evenings brings out the stars of the show here, and tonight is our second chance to photograph Ocelot. Here at SPL these rare and shy cats may be seen nightly just 400 m walk from the lodge. This experience is completely unique in the world, allowing us to photograph one or more ocelots from only 5-9 meters away and in two-source lights.
Second visit to the Ocelot photography location
Overnight SWP
Saturday 18 Nov (B, L, D)
A full day of photography based activities at SouthWild Pantanal Lodge, as above, to suit your interests
A final evening visit to the ocelot photography location
Overnight SWP
Sunday 19 Nov (B)
Early activity around lodge as above
3-4 h road transfer to Cuiaba Airport and flight to Sao Paulo.
Overnight hotel near airport Sao Paulo
Monday 20 November (B)
Time to take your international flight home... or ask us about other exciting Brazil wildlife photography extensions including harpy eagle - the world's largest raptor - in the Amazon!
BOOKING
Sorry You Missed Out In 2023!
Brazil Photography Safari - Jaguars of the Pantanal 2023
DATES:
19 October - 06 November - Amazon, Northern & Southern Pantanal SOLD OUT
06 - 21 November 2023 Northern and Southern Pantanal SOLD OUT
RATES:
£10,900 Northern & Southern Pantanal
£12,690 Amazon, Northern & Southern Pantanal
Based on 2 guests sharing a double/twin room throughout.
Single room supplement £1445
BRAZIL PHOTOGRAPHY SAFARI PACKAGE INCLUDES: full board accommodation in all lodges, hotel accomodation during transfers with all meals as listed, all internal flights, all road and river transfers, all vehicle, boat and walking excursions, all reserve fees, local English speaking expert wildlife guides and naturalists, expert photographic, film making and post production tuition with tour leader Trai Anfield
EXCLUDES: international flights to/from Sao Paulo; visa, drinks, gratuities, personal insurances.
We are happy to assist with advice on international flights on request.
Due to Covid I haven't been able to get back out to South America ahead of this trip, so photo credits on this page are Trai Anfield with additional material from Nick Dale, Dgwildlife, Hillebrand Breuker, Artush, Ian Fox, Mike Lane, Thorsten Spoerlein & Wrangel - thanks guys!