Brazil Wildlife of the Pantanal Photographic Expedition 12 th to 22 nd August 2013 (11days) Considered one of the ten "mega-diversity" countries of the world, Brazil is a dream destination for
any naturalist photographer. Your adventure to this magical land focuses on the vast Pantanal, an endless mix of backwaters, lakes, rivers, gallery forests and forested islands. This is the planet s largest wetland and is home to some of the most spectacular concentrations of wildlife on Earth. Your journey has been hand crafted to provide you with an once-in-a-lifetime experience; this wildlife photographic expedition cannot come more highly recommended! Your photographic highlights The Jaguars of the Pantanal Family groups of Giant Otters Wild Brazilian Tapirs Colourful striking birdlife, including macaws, toucans and Jabiru Storks Floodplains and Rainforest landscapes Tropical plants, trees, fruits and flowers, including some stunning orchids Caiman and other reptiles, including chances for anacondas Your tour at a glance Tour Dates Tour Price Tour Size 12 th to 22 nd August 2013 (11 days) US$5,312.00 * BRL9,975.00 * * 3,293.00 * 4,019.00 per person sharing (see below) (Tour price fixed in BRL, other rates subject to exchange rate fluctuations) Limited to 6 participants with 1 Oryx Photographic Leader Day 1, 12 th August Day 2, 13 th August Day 3, 14 th August Day 4, 15 th August Day 5, 16 th August Day 6, 17 th August Day 7, 18 th August Day 8, 19 th August Day 9, 20 th August Day 10, 21 st August Day 11, 22 nd August Cuiabá to Rio Claro via Transpantaneira Road Rio Claro area Rio Claro to Pantanal Pantanal Pantanal Pantanal Porto Jofre to Pousada Piuval Pousada Piuval Pousada Piuval and drive to Serra das Araras Harpy Eagle site Serra das Araras to Cuiaba Airport Your tour in detail Day 1, 12 th August: Cuiaba to Rio Claro via Transpantaneira Road.
When you arrive at Cuiabá airport, the capital of Mato Grosso state, you will meet our local guide and then transfer directly to the Pantanal. After driving for about one and a half hours on paved road, you will encounter the Transpantaneira Highway, a dirt road that transects the northern portion of the Pantanal. The roadside water ditches attract all sorts of birds and mammals for easy wildlife sightings, making this a great way to start your safari. On the drive to the lodge you may already see such species as the giant Jabiru Stork, beautiful Roseate Spoonbill, Rufescent Tiger Heron, several species of egrets, Plumbeous and Buff-necked Ibises, Southern Screamer, Savanna and Roadside Hawks, Scarlet-headed Blackbird and many others. Other creatures might include Capybara, Marsh Deer and Caymans. Overnight Pousada Rio Claro or Similar (L,D) Day 2, 13 th August: The Rio Claro area. Here we have a full day to explore the forests and savannas of the Rio Claro area, which is an extension of the Pixain River. This river is one of the most renowned in the northern Pantanal among both birders and photographers alike. The Rio Claro is a narrow river surrounded by gallery forest and, simply put, is a bird s paradise. On the boat drives along its quiet waters we will be looking for (and photographing) Great and Snowy Egrets, Cocoy, Striated and Agamy Herons, Sungrebe, Sunbittern and all five species of South American Kingfishers. A special assignment for us here is to photograph the attractive Blackcollared Hawks that fly down from their perches along the river to catch fish on the water surface. At the lodge s bird feeders we might find Red-crested and Yellow-billed Cardinals, Shiny and Giant Cowbirds, Saffron Finch, Grey-crested Cachalote, Black-hooded Parakeet, Red-necked Aracari and perhaps even a lovely Toco Toucan! Other birds we could find on the surrounding trails include Helmeted Manakin, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Barred and Great Antshrikes, Mato Grosso Antbird, Rusty-backed Antwren, and Great Potoo.
Overnight Pousada Rio Claro or Similar (B, L, D) Day 3, 14 th August: Rio Claro to Pantanal. After an early breakfast and checkout, we will drive further into the Pantanal. This journey deep into the northern Pantanal a huge, gently sloped basin that seasonally inundates with water runoff from the surrounding upland areas of the Planalto highlands will provide amazing wildlife and photographic opportunities. There should be plenty of wildlife along the road, as we have to drive all the way to the end of the Transpantaneira Road to a place called Porto Jofre in order to get to our hotel, where we should arrive by noon. After lunch we will then embark on a boat excursion, and once we get onto the river, the hunt begins: this is the area with the greatest concentration of Jaguars in the world! Overnight Hotel Porto Jofre or Similar (B, L, D) Days 4 to 6, 15 th to 17 th August: Pantanal. Over the next 3 full days we will have the amazing opportunity to search for our main photographic subject, the mighty Jaguar, with a series of early morning and late afternoon boat rides. Pantanal Jaguars are the largest form of this, the world s 3 rd biggest cat (they are up to 50% heavier than those of the Amazon or Central America, with large males reaching 350 pounds (or 155 kg!) and kilo for kilo they are the most powerful of all the big cats, capable of killing a full grown Tapir. Although Jaguar sightings are not guaranteed, this region offers the very best chances for finding these powerful and elusive cats. Our outings will always be during the day, when we will cruise along the rivers looking for any Jaguars that may have come to the river banks in search of food, water, or just a cool breeze. We also have the fabulous opportunity for intimate encounters with family groups of Giant River Otters. These otters are 70 pound (30 kg), 7 foot (2m) long top predators that live in family groups of 4-13 hyperactive animals, which are delightful to photograph and observe. In most parts of their range they are very shy and hard to see, as they are still recovering from the brutal fur
trade of the last century. Other wildlife we should encounter include Black Howler Monkeys, which may be seen in the treetops along the water s edge or heard roaring from up to a mile away, entertaining groups of Capuchin Monkeys, sounders of shy White-lipped and Collared Peccaries, huge Brazilian Tapirs (South America s biggest land mammal), hundreds of Capybara, the smaller Neotropical River Otter and, if we are very fortunate, perhaps even Puma and other smaller cat species. Furthermore, the bird photographic opportunities in the region are excellent and some of the species we should encounter and photograph include the cute American Pygmy Kingfisher, fishcatching Black-collared Hawks and countless waterbirds. Overnights Hotel Porto Jofre or Similar (B, L, D) Day 7, 18th August: Porto Jofre to Pousada Piuval. Today we have a long drive back on the Transpantaneira Road to our next lodge, but we also have the option to spend the morning on the river, depending on our photographic requirements. This evening we will be based at Pousada Piuval, our home for the next two nights. This property is a working cattle ranch with over 15,000 acres of forest; swamps, savannas and natural pasture, and is one of the best places for birds and mammals in the northern Pantanal. During the drive we might see Bare-faced Curasow, Green and Bare-faced Ibis, and the strange looking Limpkin. This place is also home to one of the photographic highlights of our trip: the Hyacinth Macaw, the largest parrot in the world! Overnight Pousada Piuval or Similar (B, L, D). Day 8, 19th August: Pousada Piuval. The lodge here affords us chances to find other birds and animals that we might not have seen or photographed previously on the tour.
Most of our time will be spent driving or walking the lodge surroundings and the access road in search of species that might include Great Rufous, Cream-colored and Pale-crested Woodpeckers, Red-billed Scythebill, Blue-fronted Parrot, and Yellow-chevroned and Peach-fronted Parakeets. As we drive through the surrounding plains we might come across the threatened Chestnut-bellied Guan, smart looking Red-throated Piping Guans, elegant Red-legged Seriemas, and Greater Rheas South America s version of Africa s Ostrich. Mammals common in this area include Azara s Agouty, and both Black Howler and Capuchin Monkeys. Overnight Pousada Piuval or Similar (B, L, D). Day 9, 20 th August: Pousada Piuval and drive to Serra das Araras (Harpy Eagle site). This morning we drive for approximately 4 hours to the Serra das Araras, a narrow peninsula situated between cerrado (savannah-like) and Amazon rainforest vegetation. This site is known to have the most accessible Harpy Eagle nest and we have a good chance to find this most spectacular rarity. The lodge where we will be staying is also superb, and is just a quick 15 minute drive from the nest site. Overnight Serra das Araras or Similar (B,L,D) Day 10, 21 st August: Harpy Eagle site Even if the Harpy Eagles are not sitting on their nest, our chances of seeing an adult Harpy Eagle are good due to the resident couple using this area as its territory throughout the entire year. Also, the fledged juvenile Harpy will probably be hanging around the nest tree, making for good photo opportunities as well. Birding around the nest is also excellent, and here we should experience some great Amazonian rainforest species including Black-tailed, White-tailed and Collared Trogons,
Striolated Puffbird, and the delightful little Short-tailed Pygmy-Tyrant, among many, many others. Overnight Serra das Araras or Similar (B,L,D) Day 11, 22 nd August: Serra das Araras to Cuiaba Airport Depending on our flight schedule, we might still do some final photography in the morning before checkout. Thereafter we will drive back to Cuiabá Airport in order to catch our international flights home. (B,L) The cost for this private Oryx - Brazil Wildlife of the Pantanal Photographic Expedition is US$5,312.00 * BRL9, 975.00 * 3,293.00 * 4,019.00 per person sharing. A single supplement of US$475.00 will be charged if you wish to have single accommodation. This includes: Financial Arrangements Fulltime professional local guiding services; All ground transportation (in comfortable and roomy vehicle - Mercedes Sprinter with airconditioning); All accommodation as stated in the itinerary (or other similar places depending on availability); 6 hours of river boat excursion at Pousada Rio Claro; 4 days of Jaguar searching by boat; All meals as starting with Lunch on Day 1 and ending with lunch on day 11; and Hands on photographic tutoring by an award winning Oryx leader Dale Morris. This excludes: All international and domestic flights; Gratuities; All Beverages; Laundry; Excess baggage charges; Visa fees; Insurance for tour cancellation, medical or curtailment in arrangements; and Any personal items and optional additional excursions. IMPORTANT: a.) Rates are based upon group tariffs; if the tour does not have sufficient registration (a minimum of 5 paying participants) a small party supplement will have to be charged. Furthermore, these costs are subject to major foreign exchange fluctuations and unforeseen increases in tour related costs and may have to be adjusted as a result. Lastly, we may be forced to change or alter the itinerary at short or no notice due to unforeseen circumstances; please be aware that we will attempt to adhere as close to the original program as possible.
b.) Due to constantly fluctuating exchange rates, we now quote our tours in 4 currencies. The tour price is however fixed only in the currency printed in bold (Brazilian Real), and the actual cost in the other currency listed will be adjusted according to prevailing exchange rates at the time of final invoicing (usually 3 months before the tour.) Approximate flight and single supplement rates have been converted to US$ but are also subject to exchange rate movements. PLEASE NOTE: These costs are subject to major foreign exchange fluctuations and unforeseen increases in tour related costs and may have to be adjusted as a result. Furthermore, we may be forced to change or alter the itinerary due to unforeseen circumstances. The lodges and itinerary might still change due to room availability or to best fill the group s needs. During the tour, the daily itinerary might change according to the weather, the group s needs or due to unexpected circumstances. If you wish to arrive early and/or depart late and would like assistance or advice in this regard, then kindly contact the Oryx office. ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE DETAILS: This tour does not include any airfares. The tour will depart from Marechal Rondon International Airport (Cuiabá) on day 1. Further meeting details in this regard will be forwarded to you in due course. The tour will conclude on day 11 at Marechal Rondon International Airport (Cuiabá). If you wish to arrive early and/or depart late and would like assistance in this regard, kindly contact the Oryx office. TIPPING: Gratuities (drivers, porters, restaurants, local guides etc) are NOT included on this tour. FLIGHTS: As our guests reside throughout the world we do not include international flights to and from your home in our tour prices. Sao Paulo is one of the primary ports of entry for international flights in Brazil and is well serviced by many of the world s major airlines. We have the capacity to advise you on the best route according to your preferences, but your local travel agent will best be able to book these flights for you. We can, however, book the domestic flights on your behalf. IMPORTANT: please DO NOT book your international flights until you have consulted the ORYX office for confirmation on the status of the tour. Photo credits: Jaguar by Alan Sturrock, Giant River Otter by Adam Riley, all other images by Markus Lilje.
ORYX Worldwide Photographic Expeditions PO Box 13972, Cascades, Pietermaritzburg, 3202, South Africa Division of Rockjumper Birding Tours CC (registration number 2001/059480/23) Tel: +27 33 394 0225 Tel (USA & Canada) toll free: 1-888-990-5552 Fax: +27 88 033 394 0225 Email: info@oryxphotography.com Website: www.oryxphotography.com