There can surely be few Neotropical mammals that hold the appeal of the Jaguar yet some tour leaders with several months (or even years), experience in Central and South America have only seen one or two. Although they have traditionally been considered a forest species it is now apparent that Jaguars are equally at home in open country and the Pantanal has become the place to see them.

 

After our two recces during which we saw a total of six Jaguars our inaugural tour in 2004 was a roaring success with no less than four Jaguars seen for prolonged periods at close range! All four of our tours in 2005 and 2006 also enjoyed prolonged close views of Jaguars. The first of the 2007 tours came home again with stunning views, two animals in full sunshine on the river bank whilst the second group watched in disbelief as a pair courted and then mated in front of them. Our 2008 departures yielded superb prolonged views again, six Jaguars on the first, two on the second. Our 2009 trip enjoyed no less than 7 close encounters with a Jaguar!Transpantaneira also holds a range of other cats; Ocelots have been seen on both recces and seven of our nine tours up to 2008 with up to four individuals per tour, Jaguarundi was seen on the second recce and the 2004 and 2007 tours, and Oncilla in 2005.  Others have seen Puma and Margay. A wide range of other mammals also occur in the area and we hope to see Giant and Neotropical River Otters, White-lipped and Collared Peccary, Marsh and Red Brocket Deer, Giant Anteater, Southern Tamandua, South American Coati, Crab-eating Fox, Crab-eating Raccoon, Azara’s Agouti, Black-striped Capuchin, Black and Gold Howler and Black-tailed Marmoset. We also hope to see Brazilian Tapir which is usually relatively easy to see in the Pantanal as the flood waters recede. We saw two on the 2004 tour, four in 2005 and no fewer than 12 in 2006 plus both tours scored again in 2007 and 2008. The Pantanal also offers excellent birding and we can expect to see 100+ species in a day including Hyacinth Macaw, Golden-collared Macaw, Sunbittern, Sungrebe and a range of herons and storks including Jabiru. Caiman are abundant and we can expect hundreds in the pools along the road. Snakes including Yellow Anaconda are also possible.

 

We will spend long hours in the field at dawn and dusk to maximise our chances of seeing Jaguar and other cats, and will spend long hours spotlighting. The itinerary in the Pantanal will be kept as flexible as possible to enable us to concentrate on finding any key species that we have yet to see. We will use boats at Porto Jofre to further maximise our chances of seeing Jaguars. There will however be plenty of opportunity to rest and catch up with your sleep during the heat of the day.

 

We will also spend several days in the forests and cerrado around Belo Horizonte in Minas Gerais. Highlights here should include Giant Anteater, Maned Wolf and several species of primates including the endangered Northern Muriqui (Woolly Spider Monkey) and Buffy-headed Marmoset. Photographic opportunities are excellent and we can expect to see anteaters and Maned Wolf down to a few feet and to have Giant River Otters swimming around our boat as just two examples. The Belo area holds a different range of birds to those found in the Pantanal, and we can expect to see a good selection of these hopefully including Swallow-tailed Cotinga and the endangered Brazilian Merganser.

 

This now world-famous tour, designed and pioneered by us in 2004, still provides the same unique opportunity to see some of South America’s most spectacular mammals and birds, with excellent photographic opportunities throughout and we maximise our time in the field, rather than wasting time on long road journeys.

 

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Itinerary

 

Day1:  Depart London

Day 2:  Arrive Sao Paulo, fly to Belo Horizonte, drive to Sao Roque de Minas for three nights

Day 3:  Serra da Canastra all day

Day 4:  Serra da Canastra all day

Day 5:  Drive to Caraca for two nights.

Day 6:  Caraca all day

Day 7:  Drive to Caratinga for two nights

Day 8:  Caratinga Reserve all day

Day 9:  Drive to Belo Horizonte and fly to Cuiaba, night Cuiaba

Day 10: Drive to Pixaim for one night

Day 11: Early morning Pixaim then drive to Porto Jofre for three nights

Day 12: Boat trips Porto Jofre

Day 13: Boat trips Porto Jofre

Day 14: Long drive to Araras Ecolodge for two nights stopping at Pixaim for lunch on route.

Day 15: All day around Araras Ecolodge.

Day 16: Leave lodge to return to Cuiaba for flight to Sao Paulo and on to London.

Day 17: Arrive London early afternoon

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Holiday Information

Dates: 24th July – 9th August and 28^th August – 13th September 2010

Leaders Regina Ribeiro and Mark Andrews plus local guides.

Cost: £5095 per person sharing a twin room.

Single supplement: £699

Deposit: £600

Max. Group size: 10

 

2011, Advance register for only £50 per person, 16^th July – 1st August and 27^th August – 12^th September .

 

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Notes

Accommodation is in tourist class hotels.

 

In the Pantanal temperatures will be high possibly in the 30s during the middle of the day. We will normally spend this time resting. Around Belo it is likely to be cooler and warm clothing will be required early in the day at Canastra.

 

Mosquitoes can be a problem in the Pantanal and appropriate precautions should be taken although there is no malaria in the areas we are visiting.  

 

Price includes: International and internal economy class flights including pre-paid taxes, all ground transportation, all accommodation and meals, park entry fees, services of WildWings leaders and local guides. Bird and mammal checklist.

 

Price excludes: Travel insurance, laundry bills, drinks, other items of a personal nature, gratuities.

 

All the previous trip reports including 2008, some with photos, are available on our website or from us. The 2009 tour is just about to depart and the report will be available from the late autumn.

 

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Potential mammal list – species seen on one or more of the 2004–2009 tours:

 

Brown & Gray Four-eyed Opposums

Giant Anteater

Southern Tamandua

Giant Armadillo                                                       

Nine-banded Armadillo

Yellow Armadillo

Seven-banded Armadillo

Seven species of bat including Greater & Lesser Fishing Bat 

Masked Titi Monkey                                                      

Black-striped Capuchin                                                    

Black Capuchin                                                               

Black and Gold Howler                                                     

Brown Howler

Northern Muriqui                                                            

Buffy-headed Marmoset

Black-tufted Marmoset

Black-tailed Marmoset 

Maned Wolf   

Crab-eating Fox 

Crab-eating Raccoon

Hog-nosed Skunk

South American Coati

Neotropical River Otter   

Giant River Otter   

Ocelot   

Jaguarundi   

Jaguar

Oncilla   

Brazilian Tapir   

Red Brocket Deer 

Pampas Deer   

Marsh Deer   

Collared Peccary

White-lipped Peccary

Capybara 

Azara's Agouti 

Paca

Brazilian Rabbit 

250+ species of birds.

 

 

“Fabulous Tour – both leaders worked tirelessly to get us onto as much as possible”
S.D/K.B  Sep 2008 

“Excellent trip – would’nt change anything!” C.R Sep 2008

“A superb trip!” B.U. Sep 2008