A Wildlife Extravaganza in Brazil
During her first visit to Brazil, Wildlife Travel Consultant Helen Bryon was captivated by the wildlife and has been looking forward to returning ever since. Our new trip to Brazil led by Helen focuses on three of country's key biomes, showcasing the country's incredible biodiversity.
I'll never forget my first jaguar sighting. The lazy wave, no, let me re-phrase that, the downright nonchalance of the guide's arm as he indicated towards the shoreline. The Cuiaba River was wide, we'd only been on it perhaps six or seven minutes and it was midday … surely he couldn't be referring to a big cat?
Bursting with anticipation, we scanned the bank with fierce determination. It paid off. A face. A large, beautiful, whiskered face appeared in a gap in the vegetation above us. She stopped briefly, scanning the area for potential prey, before heading back into the undergrowth. Come back, I silently pleaded. Please, please. It worked. She appeared again, standing tall and statuesque, before moving down the sand bar towards us with that wonderful feline grace and elegance.
Unobstructed, she proceeded to stretch, sit down, lay down and preen as if she didn't have a care in the world. We had the sighting to ourselves and five days later, she proved to be the first of 16 individuals seen, spread over 24 sightings. It was September 2018 and when you consider the giant river otter, tapir, capybara, primates, brocket and marsh deer, Yacare caiman and plethora of birdlife also on offer, you can understand why I vowed to come back one day. Well, that day has been set, and I will have the pleasure of leading our inaugural Best of Brazil small group tour.
Although jaguar may be found at all three of our destinations to be visited, our target species at the first, Trijuncao Reserve in the Cerrado, will be the highly sought after, maned wolf. Its distinctive long legs enable it to navigate the long grasses of this tropical savannah and woodland habitat, on a constant quest for its rodent prey. Although rarely seen, other predators found here include ocelot, puma and jaguarundi, alongside giant anteater and tamandua to name but a few, so our time will be spent in the field searching on foot and by vehicle.
Shifting focus entirely, our next stop will be the incredible Cristalino Lodge in the southern Amazon basin. Verdant primary rainforest, this hugely rich area is teeming with birdlife, primates, reptiles and amphibians, as well as a wealth of invertebrates, and we'll happily let these smaller creatures take centre stage. Some giants will of course be on our agenda, from harpy eagle to giant river otter, as we climb observation towers and traverse the waterways and walking trails.
Finally, we head back to where it all began, jaguar country. Travelling to the Southern Pantanal, we visit the incredible Buraco das Araras, a sinkhole and nesting site for red and green macaws before finishing our journey at Caiman Lodge, an eco-lodge renowned for its jaguar research and conservation initiatives. Searching for big cats and giant anteaters on day and night drives, alongside their wide supporting cast, this wildlife extravaganza promises to be a trip to remember. Brazil's biodiversity is legendary, so let's go and experience it together!
Find out more about our Best of Brazil wildlife holiday, or to book your place, contact our team.
