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 with our second group about to depart soon.
The Transpantaneira also holds a range of other cats; Ocelots have been seen on both recces and four of our five tours up to 2006 with up to 4 individuals per tour, Jaguarundi was seen on the second recce and the 2004 tour, 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. 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 will include Giant Anteater, up to 20 in a day in 2005, 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 tour provides a unique opportunity to see some of South America’s most spectacular mammals and birds with excellent photographic opportunities throughout.
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
Holiday Information
Dates:
19th July – 4th August 2008, leaders Regina Ribeiro, Mark Andrews and local guides.
23rd August – 8th September 2008, leaders Regina Ribeiro, Richard Webb and local guides.
Cost: £4199 / £4099 per person sharing a twin room.
Single supplement: £399
Deposit: £300
Max. Group size: 10
2009, Advance register for only £50 per person, 18th July – 3rd August (Mark plus Regina) and 29th August – 14th September (Richard or Mark plus Regina)
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.
Full 2004, 2005 and 2006 trip reports and photos are available on our website or from us. The 2007 tours are just about to depart and their reports will be available from the autumn.
Potential mammal list – species seen on one or more of the 2004–2007 tours:
Brown & Gray Four-eyed Opposums
Giant Anteater
Southern Tamandua
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.
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