Brazil - Birds & Mammals of the Amazon & Pantanal

This exciting holiday combines two of Brazil’s most remarkable, yet contrasting, ecosystems — the vast rainforest of the Amazon Basin and the open wetlands and grasslands of the Pantanal — each supporting its own very special assemblage of wildlife. Harpy Eagle, various macaw species, the striking Amazonian Umbrellabird and Hoatzin should be amongst the birding highlights in the rainforest, together with an array of endangered primates such as Woolly Monkey and White-nosed Saki. Then, in the world’s greatest wetland, the magnificent Pantanal, we will enjoy a myriad of herons, storks, kingfishers and raptors, plus an unforgettable suite of mammals that is likely to include Jaguar, Ocelot and Giant Otter to name but a few.

Our holiday begins, however, with a flight to Alta Floresta — via São Paulo and Cuiabá — from where we will drive for four hours and boat for a 4-night stay in Fazenda São Nicolau Reserve in the southern Amazon Basin, one of the largest protected areas in the state of Mato Grosso. During our time here we will visit a tower hide overlooking an active Harpy Eagle nest which should, we hope, offer unrivalled, and privileged, views of this magnificent apex predator! Our comfortable, air-conditioned lodge sits alongside the beautiful Juruena River, and offers easy access to a wide variety of habitats including primary and secondary tropical forest, mixed savannah, wetlands and seasonally flooded forest. We will also enjoy a cruise along the Juruena River itself. Over 500 species of bird have been recorded here, from Pavonine Quetzal that live high in the canopy, to Dark-winged Trumpeters that stride unobtrusively around the shaded forest floor. Our chances of finding many of these species will be increased by time spent in the lodge’s mobile viewing platforms which are positioned close to fruiting trees. These platforms offer wonderful views of a kaleidoscope of jacamars, macaws, woodpeckers, trogons, tanagers and many more. Eight species of primate can also be found in the reserve and, with our local guides to hand, we hope to find several rare species including Woolly Monkey, White-nosed Saki and Black-faced Black Spider Monkey. Collared and White-lipped Peccary, Brazilian Tapir and Neotropical Otter are also possible.

Leaving the Amazon behind, a short flight will take us back to Cuiabá and into the seasonally flooded plains of the Pantanal, the largest tropical wetland in the world. This region attracts an incredible concentration of wildlife and offers some of the finest birdwatching anywhere on the planet. Travelling along the legendary Transpantaneira to our first lodge, we are sure to pass vast numbers of waterbirds that crowd the wetlands either side of the road. Ringed and Amazon Kingfishers, Wood and Jabiru Storks, Capped and Rufescent Tiger-Herons and the beautiful Sunbittern are all likely, whilst raptors such as Great Black and Savanna Hawks circle overhead. The sheer numbers of Yacare Caiman also have to be seen to be believed! We will be based at Pouso Alegre Lodge for two nights. The lodge is located in an area of gallery forest and scrub, home to an array of neotropical birds including antbirds, woodcreepers, flycatchers, hummingbirds and colourful parrots; not least magnificent Hyacinth Macaws which nest in the grounds! Brazilian Tapir, or even Giant Anteater, are also possible on night drives, along with a variety of interesting nocturnal birds including nightjars, owls and potoos.

Moving on, we next continue to Porto Jofre and travel by boat to Fazenda Jofre Velho Lodge for a 3-night stay. The lodge is located within the Pantanal’s so-called ‘Jaguar Zone’ and boat excursions from here offer us our best chance of an encounter with this iconic feline, or perhaps a family of Giant Otters. Fortunately, both of these sought-after creatures are present in healthy numbers and we have a high chance of success! Birds to look out for include Black Skimmer, Large-billed Tern, the delightful Pied and Collared Plovers, Crane Hawk and the strange wader-like Pale-legged Hornero.

Retracing our steps back along the Transpantaneira we end our tour with two nights at SouthWild Pantanal Lodge. The profusion of wildlife that awaits us here is breathtaking with Toco Toucan and Orange-backed Troupial regularly present on the feeders, all five species of South America’s kingfishers likely on the Pixaim River and, hopefully, an after dark encounter with a beautiful Ocelot from the lodge’s specially constructed hide. Our tour ends back in Cuiabá from where we fly back to São Paulo and, from there, complete our journey home.