The southern Pantanal is an expansive, largely uncharted area in South America blessed with magnificent wildlife and landscapes, providing excellent opportunities to observe some of the area's grassland inhabitants.
About South Pantanal
The capital of Brazil's Mato Grosso do Sul state, Campo Grande, acts as the gateway to the southern Pantanal. A drive of roughly three and a half hours (230 kilometres) takes you into untamed wilderness where you can stay at simple, but comfortable lodges or fazendas and embark on wildlife excursions by boat, safari vehicle, on foot and even by horseback. Pousada Aguape is a popular option and offers an excellent chance of encountering giant anteater.
South Pantanal Wildlife
With a greater extent of savannah compared to the north, this area has a diverse range of wildlife and is particularly rewarding for mammals such as giant anteaters, six-banded armadillo, pampas deer, and birds including burrowing owl and red-legged seriemas.
While the southern Pantanal undoubtedly possesses a healthy jaguar population, the region is not generally regarded as a reliable place to see the majestic elusive jaguar, unless visiting Caiman Lodge where jaguar ecotourism is being developed under the banner of Projecto Onçafari. Alternatively, the northern Pantanal provides more reliable jaguar watching opportunities.
Bonito, on the southern fringe, is a mecca for ecotourism, where you can find grottos with blue lakes, crystal clear snorkelling and walking trails surrounded by howler monkeys and an abundance of birdlife. Just 60 kilometres from Bonito is the Buraco das Araras sinkhole, where dazzling red-and-green macaws soar from the cliffs, providing remarkable photographic opportunities.
Wildlife holidays to South Pantanal
Our Brazil’s Big Five Photo Safari travels to both the northern and southern Pantanal providing the best of both experience and offers exceptional opportunities to photograph jaguar, giant anteater, hyacinth macaw, giant river otter, Brazilian tapir and much more prolific wildlife. Alternatively, we have a variety of other incredible wildlife trips in the southern Pantanal to choose from, or we can tailor-make an itinerary to suit your requirements - speak to our team to find out more.
View suggested itineraries
