This
adventure takes places in the Pantanal, the world’s largest wetland, located
in South America and home to the richest variety of birds, mammals, and reptiles
found anywhere in the Americas.
During
this week-long, magic-filled adventure, you can expect unbelievable photo
opportunities. Completely tame, wild giant river otters play and cavort within
10-feet in the river. Enormous wading birds flying next to your boat, landing on
the river bank to pose in ideal, golden afternoon light, framed by lush tropical
vegetation. Agami Herons, very tame Black-collared Hawks, Sunbitterns, Sungrebes,
Bare-faced Curassows, Jabiru Storks, the world’s largest stork, and a
profusion of other water and forest birds, including the Giant Potoo and
Hyacinth Macaw. Troops of Brown Capuchin Monkeys, Black and Gold Howler Monkeys,
and Silvery Marmosets. Brazilian tapir, the largest land animal in South
America, often as close as 30 feet. Coatis, capybaras, anteaters . . . the list
goes on.
A
4-day Jaguar Extension takes participants into the core of the new, Jaguar-rich
270,000-acre Meeting of the Waters State Park, the world’s best location to
see wild jaguars. All 23 groups to this location in 2006 and 2007, who
participated a full three days between June and October, were successful in
locating Jaguars, often from distances of only 6-20 meters. No other
location in the world can offer this success rate.
Small
group size - 8 participants - allows personalized one-on-one instruction.
Participants learn how to produce award-winning images of wildlife. We do
everything in our power to transform this workshop into a once-in-a-lifetime
adventure.
Leader:
Weldon Lee
Join
us
in
one of
The
World’s Great Wildlife Paradise
Itinerary
Day
1 (Saturday) - Arrive in Sao
Paulo, Brazil, and transfer to our hotel, where you will join our group for
dinner and a briefing on the week’s activities.
Day
2 (Sunday) - Fly to Cuiaba, where
you will arrive mid-day and be transported via the Transpantaneira Highway to
our lodge deep within the Pantanal. This gravel-and-dirt road offers a greater
quantity and variety of wildlife than any other road in the Pantanal. All parts
of the Pantanal are exciting, but there is nothing that can compare with the
wildlife pay-off on this road. Along the way you will have opportunities to
photograph a variety of wading birds, including the Jabiru Stork.
Day
3, 4 (Monday, Tuesday) - Mornings
and afternoons during your stay at the lodge will be spent exploring the
surrounding countryside by boat and motor vehicle. Likely birds that will fill
your viewfinder include toucans, rheas, ibis, Jabiru Storks and Hyacinth Macaws.
As for mammals, this list includes monkeys, coatis, capybaras, anteaters, and
tapirs to name just a few. Let’s not forget that the Pantanal is also home to
huge numbers of caiman.
Day 4 (Wednesday)
- Today, you will travel to a lodge situated on the forested banks of the
wildlife-rich Pixaim River, a true wildlife photographer’s paradise. This
lodge is the number one birding lodge in the Pantanal. It is also the best site
for predictable viewing of giant river otters and Brazilian tapirs. Plus, it is
the only lodge in the Pantanal offering electric catamarans for long-lens
photography on the intimate, wildlife-rich river that flows next to the lodge.
Day
5, 6 (Thursday, Friday) - During
these two, magic-filled days, you can expect unbelievable photo opportunities.
Completely tame, wild giant river otters within 10 feet as they play and cavort
in the river. Enormous wading birds flying next to your boat, landing on the
river bank to pose in ideal, golden afternoon light, framed by lush tropical
vegetation. Agami Herons, very tame Black-collared Hawks, Sunbitterns, Sungrebes,
Bare-faced Curassows, and a profusion of other water and forest birds, including
the Giant Potoo. Troops of Brown Capuchin Monkeys, Black and Gold Howler
Monkeys, and Silvery Marmosets. Brazilian tapir, the largest land animal in
South America, often as close as 30 feet. The list goes on.
Day
7 (Saturday) - All good things must
come to an end, including your Pantanal adventure. Following breakfast, you’ll
be transported to the airport in Cuiaba, where your afternoon flight will take
you to Sao Paulo in time to connect with your overnight flight back to the
United States.
This itinerary is
meant as a guide.
Weather conditions
and water levels will dictate when,
and if, we photograph
certain subjects.
Jaguar
Extension
4days
/ 3nights
Your cost $???
This
extension takes place in the core of the new, Jaguar-rich 270,000-acre Meeting
of the Waters State Park. All 23 groups to this location in 2006 and 2007, who
participated a full three days between June and October, were successful in
locating wild Jaguars, often from distances of only 6-20 meters. No
other location in the world can offer this success rate. As a participant, you
will explore rivers, both narrow and small, by small boat in the amazingly wild
core of this huge park, the world’s best location to see wild Jaguars
Dates: June 13-20, 2009