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Wow, what can I say, great holiday. Naturetrek took care of everything. The experience of seeing Jaguars in the wild was fantastic, the guide could not have been better and great people on the tour.
T.P. Kent, Oct 19
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Brazil - Mammals of the Pantanal
Tour Code: BRA11A 10-day holiday to the world-famous wetlands of the Pantanal in search of its special mammal species including Jaguars and Giant River Otters.
10 days
from
£5,995 (Inc flights)
£5,995 (Inc flights)
Land only price
from
£5,295
£5,295
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
This holiday concentrates on maximising time in the best area of the Pantanal for mammal-watching and includes two nights at Pouso Alegre, three nights at the Jaguar Flotel and finishes with two nights at SouthWild Pantanal Lodge. Based at the Jaguar Flotel, we have a wonderful opportunity to watch both Jaguars and Giant River Otters and these species are found in greater density here than anywhere in the Americas, and we will spend our mornings and afternoons on dedicated boat safaris looking for these target species amongst a wealth of other mammals and birds. During our two nights at Pouso Alegre and SouthWild Pantanal Lodge we will explore the surrounding area through a mix of walks, night drives and boat trips on the Pixaim River, hoping to encounter a troop of Howler Monkeys, a lone Brazilian Tapir bathing in the river and an excellent chance of Ocelot from the hide there. Each day is sure to be packed with special sightings.
- Network of spotter boats at our disposal
- Excellent chance of finding Jaguar & Giant River Otters
- Visit the new Ocelot hide at SouthWild Pantanal Lodge
- Families of Capybara & huge numbers of Yacaré Caiman, storks, herons & ibises
- The Pantanal offers some of the finest mammal and birdwatching in South America
- Giant Anteater, Southern Tamandua & Brazilian Tapir all possible
- Led by expert naturalist guides and directly contributing to Jaguar conservation
Grading
A range of gentle walks, vehicular safaris and boat rides.The Brazilian Pantanal undoubtedly offers some of the finest bird and mammal-watching in South America. With the onset of the dry season, this enormous wetland gradually begins to dry out, leaving its inhabitants with ever-diminishing pools around which to congregate and feed. Families of Capybara, the world’s largest rodent, often end up vying for position alongside huge numbers of Yacaré Caiman, storks, herons and ibises … and all under the watchful gaze of numerous predators, both avian and mammalian. It is no secret that the north Pantanal currently offers the best chance of seeing Jaguars and Giant River Otters anywhere in the Americas, but the area is also excellent for Giant Anteater, Brazilian Tapir and Ocelot. With such an all-star cast, it is perhaps not surprising that the limited number of lodges and guides in the area charge a premium for their services, particularly when you consider the large number of boat trips included in the most successful itineraries. Building on the success of our ‘Brazil — Just Jaguars!’ holiday, and utilising our excellent relationship with our local partners, this tour is designed to provide a slightly more affordable option for visiting the Pantanal while still providing the opportunity to see the star mammals as the specific focus.
This 10-day itinerary includes 2 nights at Pouso Alegre, 3 at Fazenda Jofre Velho, finishing with 2 nights at SouthWild’s Pantanal Lodge.
Starting at Pouso Alegre we will utilize the 7 km private driveway of our lodge and this wildlife-rich location offers the perfect introduction. This is perhaps our best opportunity to find Giant Anteater, while Tapir visit regularly to the numerous water holes while South American Coati’s and Swamp Deer can be found with regularity.From here we move to our next lodge, located within the ‘Jaguar Zone’ at Fazenda Jofre Velho. This lodge offers guests a fantastic chance of seeing both Jaguars and Giant River Otters and we will spend our mornings and afternoons on dedicated boat safaris looking for these target species. With a network of spotter boats at our disposal, we have an excellent chance of finding our quarry and, with luck, we may be able to observe a Jaguar stalking its prey along the edge of the river, or a family of Giant River Otters squabbling noisily in the shallows over a caught fish. By staying here we are also directly contributing to the conservation of Jaguars as this is the research base for the Panthera Foundation group and some superb work is being carried out at this ranch.
During our final two nights at SouthWild Pantanal Lodge we will explore the surrounding area through a mix of walks and boat trips on the Paxaim River, hoping to encounter a troop of Howler Monkeys or a lone Brazilian Tapir bathing in the river. With the addition of a new Ocelot that has been getting some incredible results, SouthWild Pantanal Lodge will be the perfect finale to this most exciting holiday.
Outline Itinerary
Day 1
Fly Sao Paulo
Day 2/3
Fly Cuiabá and transfer to and take excursions from Pouso Alegre Lodge
Day 4/6
Transfer to and take excursions from the Jaguar Flotel for three nights.
Day 7/8
Transfer to and take excursions from SouthWild Pantanal Lodge
Day 9
Fly Sao Paulo and on to London
Day 10
Arrive London
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation:
- Food: All included in the price.
Reviews
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We regularly travel on natural history tours and this was one of the best. Our first time to South America and our experience was great.
P.A. Bedfordshire, Oct 19 -
The holiday was a wildlife, photographic for us, trip to the Pantanal, Matto Grosso. It is a long journey from LHR; some 11 hours to Sao Paulo, 2.5 hours internally to Cuiaba, then approx. 3.5 hours via Pocone, to the first lodge at the South Wild Centre. Here you are on the banks of the Cuiaba River and a host of mammals and birds to sate the most demanding of expectations. This is, of course, after stop/starting on the Transpantaneira en-route to photo an amazing amount of wildlife. At South Wild we had boat trips both early morning to see jaguars before breakfast... most unexpected, and later for giant river otter, etc, etc, etc. In the evening we were spoilt by being able to view the rare ocelot from a specialy constructed hide which is quite new. We then travelled on to Porto Jofre and the main river again... actually the huge area is a confluence of the Cuiaba, the Piquiri, and Three Brothers rivers, all teeming with wildlife. Staying on the eponymous Flotel, providing more than adequate comfort, accommodation and food, we had morning and afternoon 3 hour boat trips exploring this vast area of wetland for 3 days. Apart from the myriad of birdlife, ant eaters, river otters, deer, agouti ,etc., the prime target species is of course the jaguar... and we were not disappointed. Including the 'bonus' two we have seen at South Wild, we had 17/18 sightings of these fabulous creatures, with some excellent photographic opportunities. This is our second trip to the Pantanal and it exceeded the first. We are very pleased to recommend this trip to anyone.
C.A. London -
The flights and connections went as clockwork and we were met at our destination by Paulo Ribeiro, our Naturetrek guide. Even the three hour drive from the airport to our first accommodation was an adventure as we spotted a giant anteater, a tapir, a crab-eating fox and a family of coatis! Both SouthWild Lodge and the Jaguar Flotel offered very comfortable twin-bedded rooms with air conditioning and private facilities; we enjoyed excellent meals (loved the fresh fruit!) served in beautiful settings. Nothing about this holiday disappointed; we had several boat rides from both sites, saw fifteen different jaguars (!) and a panoply of other wildlife; walks around the lodge were also interesting as we saw various colourful birds, like toucan and humming birds, amphibians and the ever present capybara. I rate this holiday highly because, as it was slightly shorter than some similar trips, it was affordable for us and yet we felt that we had made a great deal of our eight days; we saw every target animal and bird that we were hoping to see and I came home with hundreds of photographs, including those of jaguars and an ocelot.
K.F. Cardiff -
The guide had excellent knowledge and was able to identify the birds and mammals with ease. The visit to the 'fishing lodge' was a welcome visit as it was an opportunity to see Hyacinth Macaws, as well as other species of mammals and birds up close.
J.C. Cheshire
Extensions
Rio de Janeiro Extension
Rio acted as the capital of Brazil until 1960 and is home to some of Brazil's most famous tourist attractions such as Sugarloaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar) and the Christ the Redeemer statue (Corcovado). A stay in Rio will allow you to capture the essence of Brazil as found nowhere else in the country.
Price on Request
Iguazu Falls Extension
Located on the Brazilian border with Argentina and Paraguay, Iguazú is often regarded as one of the greatest waterfalls in the world. Standing over 30 metres taller than the Niagara Falls, their location within the Iguazú National Park surrounds them with a wealth of wildlife and bird species, many of which can be observed via exploring the park's extensive network of walking trails.
Price on Request
Harpy Eagle and Southern Amazon Extension
A huge chunk (around half the size of the UK) of the southern Amazon holds previously-unknown concentrations of large, charismatic animals including Harpy Eagles, Brazilian Tapirs, Scarlet, Blue-and-gold, and Red-and-green Macaws as well as Woolly Monkeys, Black-faced Spider Monkeys, Red Howler Monkeys.
Price on Request
Giant Anteater Extension Piuval
The iconic Giant Anteater the largest of the living anteater species measuring lengths of up to four feet and weighing up to 50kg with an amazing 60cm tongue. Scientists estimate that there are only around 5,000 individuals left in the wild and this short extension aims to give you an extra chance during your Pantanal visit to see this wonderful animal.
Price on Request
Atlantic Rainforest Extension
Bird feeding stations and trails will occupy our time here as we go about seeing as many special birds as we can. Such highlights will include a mouth-watering variety of tanagers, hummingbirds, euphonias, toucans, woodpeckers and much more. 320 species have been recorded here in total and we can expect to see around 180 bird species on this extension.
Price on Request
Dates & Prices
2025
Departures
Availability
Cost
Wed 24th Sep – Fri 3rd Oct
FULL
£5,995
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£5,295
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£795
Fri 24th Oct – Sun 2nd Nov
SPACES
£5,995
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£5,295
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£995
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Naturetrek offers a wide selection of long-haul wildlife holidays primarily focusing on mammals. These tours offer an intensive mammal-centred focus, outstanding value for money and top quality sightings. They are led by at least one expert local English-speaking naturalist, and visit countries in Africa, Asia, Central and South America and more.
Naturetrek Bargain mammal Holidays
These tours are best suited to keen, active mammal-watching enthusiasts – whether expert or beginner – and people looking for an action-packed mammal-focused tour.
Our bargain mammal-watching tours offer:
- An expert English-speaking local naturalist leader
- Outstanding value for money
- Dawn-to-dusk mammal-watching with limited time for rest, relaxation and outside interests
- Enviable mammal lists!
- Focused searches for endemic species, while also looking for non-endemics
Naturetrek’s selection of bargain mammal-watching holidays includes tours to the Americas in Brazil, Peru and Panama. In Africa our selection includes Botswana, Zambia, Ethiopia and South Africa, while in Asia we offer bargain mammal tours to India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Borneo.
Our specialist recommends...
“I’d recommend Ecuador – Amazonian Mammals for a good introduction to South America’s rainforest mammals. In Africa, it’s hard to beat our Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park holiday for its combination of Leopards, other ‘big game’ and first-class accommodation! In Asia, try India – Bandhavgarh National Park for Tigers and other Indian mammals.”
Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager
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Many of the world’s mammals are instantly recognisable to us. Animals such as Lions, Tigers, elephants and bears capture our imaginations from an early age. At Naturetrek, we take great pleasure and pride in helping people to fulfil their lifelong dreams of seeing these iconic species in the wild. We also enjoy introducing our clients to some of the world’s more unusual mammals, many of which are just as fascinating.
Naturetrek Mammal Watching Tours
Many of our tours have a primary focus on mammals and we offer the widest choices of mammal-watching holidays across the globe, from the poles to the tropics. Our holidays are guided by at least one professional naturalist tour leader and usually benefit from additional guiding by expert local naturalist guides. We have holidays to see an incredible range of the world’s most sought-after mammals, such as orangutans, lemurs, bats, polar mammals, big cats, and mammals of the African savannah. A significant number of tours also targets some of the planet’s more unusual and elusive species, from pottos and pangolins to slender lorises and obscure cetaceans.
Here’s a selection of our mammal tours:
- India’s Kanha and Pench Tiger Reserves
- A cruise to Spitsbergen in search of Polar Bears
- A chance to see the ‘Big Five’ and much more in South Africa’s Kruger National Park
- Search for Blue, Fin and Sperm Whales in the Azores
- Close-up views of Brown Bear and Wolverine in Finland
- Enjoy the mammals of Kenya’s Masai Mara, while staying in luxury camps
- Search for elusive nocturnal mammals, such as Aardvark, Black-footed Cat and Aardwolf, in the Kalahari Desert
Bargain mammal selection
We offer a range of action-packed bargain holidays for the dedicated mammal enthusiast, which are exceptional value for money, from Belize to Zambia.
Our specialist recommends...
"Africa is perhaps the greatest continent for mammal-watching. I would recommend 'Botswana’s Desert & Delta (Mammals)' for combining stunning scenery and wildlife. We also offer a tour to Uganda which includes a chance to see Mountain Gorillas. And India, along with Tigers, has a superb variety of mammals. Closer to home, short breaks to Spain in search of Wolves and Iberian Lynx are hard to beat.”
Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager
Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager
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Jaguar Holidays in the Pantanal
The Jaguar is South America’s most iconic big cat. Notoriously secretive and stunningly beautiful, seeing one of them in their natural habitat ranks among the world’s most memorable wildlife experiences. We offer dedicated Jaguar watching tours to Brazil, and the area we visit in the Pantanal offers the very best chance of anywhere in all of South America. Our groups have seen these beautiful wild cats in Tambopata, Peru (on the Macaws and Machu Picchu tour) and in the Iwokrama Rainforest in Guyana (on the Guyana – Timeless Paradise excursion), although sightings in both these localities are far less frequent than in the breathtakingly wildlife-rich Pantanal.
Jaguar Watching Holidays with Naturetrek
We offer one dedicated tour for seeing Jaguars (Brazil – Just Jaguars!) and we’re proud to say that, to date, our 12-day excursion has a remarkable 100% record of success. The elusive big cats have also been seen on our 17-day 'Brazilian Pantanal & Iguazu Falls' holiday and shorter 10-Day 'Mammals of the Pantanal' holiday both also with 100% success.
We have a wealth of experience offering wildlife tours to South America and have developed an extensive network of the very best naturalist guides in Brazil. Our itineraries to the Brazilian Pantanal, stay at the very best locations for the right amount of time, which is what's allowed us to achieve a 100% sighting success rate. At Naturetrek it's paramount that our holidays aid wildlife conservation, and in the Pantanal the power of ecotourism to protect wildlife-rich habitat is evident – as income from tourism has grown, so too has the area of Jaguar habitat, as has the number of Jaguars. Land previously used for farming is being rewilded, and Jaguars which were previously seen as a threat to livestock are now viewed as a valuable commodity. Our holidays stay at a Jaguar research station, which is located better than anywhere to see these iconic cats.
Our Jaguar watching holidays in the Pantanal actively seek the other wonderful wildlife, such as Giant Otter, Brazilian Tapir, Ocelot, Giant Anteater, Toco Toucan and Hyacinth Macaw, plus a multitude of other exciting species.
Why Our Jaguar Watching Tours are So Successful
- 100% sightings on our “Just Jaguars!” holiday
- Led by expert naturalist guides
- Visit regions famous for their density of wild Jaguars
- Up-to-date information from local contacts
- Outings at optimal times of the day when the wildlife is most active
- Night drives, plus early morning and late afternoon excursions
- Superb local guides whose expertise and knowledge guarantee us the best sightings
- We stay in the right areas for the right amount of time
What can I expect on a Jaguar watching holiday?
- Explore the Pantanal by day on boat trips & in open vehicles
- Night outings with spotlighting
- Spend time in prime big cat habitat with two dedicated outings each day
- The chance to be immersed in another culture
- A host of other wildlife including Ocelots, Giant Anteaters, Hyacinth Macaws, Giant River Otters, Caimans and Capybaras
- The security of a small friendly group and a highly experienced leader
Our specialist recommends...
"If you want a holiday dedicated to looking for these magnificent cats, you can't do any better than our 'Brazil – Just Jaguars!' tour. This tour gives you the optimum amount of time for not only finding Jaguars but also to enjoy a great range of behaviours. We’ve seen them hunting Caiman, swimming the river channels, mating and even having a tug of war with a Yellow Anaconda! For those who want to stay longer and explore a greater variety of habitats I'd recommend our 17-day 'Brazilian Pantanal & Iguazu Falls' tour. You’ll see a host of fantastic wildlife on either trip!"
Tom Mabbett - Operations Manager
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Why Naturetrek?
At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:
- The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
- Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
- Outstanding value and exceptional customer service
Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!
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