The Pantanal is one of the best safari destinations in South America.

The grasslands, the river systems, and the wetlands of the Pantanal are home to nearly 600 species of birds, 150 species of mammal, 170 species of reptiles and amphibians and around 2000 species of plants.

Nowadays the biggest attraction is seeing jaguars in the wild as the wetlands are home to approx. 4000-7000 individuals.  The biggest jaguar density (400+ individuals) can be found in the Encontro das Águas State Park, that is situated near the town of Porto Jofre at the end of the Transpantaneira Road.

Due to the jaguars being habituated, you can spend more time with them from the distance to watch and photograph their natural behaviour.

The region is also a famous birdwatching destination, and one of the best places to see giant anteaters and giant river otters too.

The dry-season is between May and October, when the water from teh rivers start receding. As the water levels drop it becomes easier to spot animals. Temperatures are hot (can reach up to 40 degrees) and humidity is somewhat high. Periodical rain showers can still happen. This period is considered the main tourist season. The area is lush and green in May and June with higher water levels. July, August and September is considered high season due to the lower water levels which expose the river banks and jaguars and other mammals can be seen more often and for longer periods. These are a prime months for wildlife and jaguar photography tours too.

The flooding of the rivers is happening between November and April. During this time humidity is higher, and high water levels make it difficult to spot jaguars on the riverbanks. This is of course a vital part, as the flooding guarantee the survival of the Pantanal. During the heavy rains, the Transpantaneira road can also be flooded, which makes it very difficult to get to Porto Jofre.  There are also more mosquitos in this period.

The Brazilian Pantanal spreads out on an extensive area. For visitors we can divide it to the Southern Pantanal and to the Northern Pantanal. The two regions are not connected on the road, to visit both areas you must fly between Campo Grande and Cuiaba.

The Southern Pantanal is great for bird watching and bird photography, there is also a very high chance to see Giant Anteaters and armadillos. Actually the likelihood to see these 2 species is higher than in the North.  In the south you can also see 3 macaw species easily: Hyacinth Macaws, Red-and-Green Macaws and Blue-and-Yellow Macaws. Further south you can visit the geographic formations of the Buraco das Araras (Macaw Sinkhole) with a chance of photographing Macaws in flight. You could also snorkel i the crystal-clear waters of the Rio da Prata.  Caiman Lodge is one of the best places in the South to see jaguars due to their continuous and successful conservation efforts.

The highlights of the Northern Pantanal can mainly be divided between two destinations.

The most popular destination in the Northern Pantanal is Porto Jofre, which is the base for visiting “Jaguarland”, the Encontro das Águas State Park. This is the best place in the World to see jaguars in the wild. The safaris are done on boat safaris on the Cuiaba, the Piquiri Rivers and their tributaries. Besides jaguars, you can easily see Capybaras, Yacare Caimans and close to 100 species of birds (including Hyacinth Macaws, Toco Toucans, Chaco Chachalacas, multiple Heron and egret species, 5 species of kingfishers and the iconic Jabirus) With some luck Giant River Otters and the Brazilian Tapir can be seen too. If you are interested in photographing jaguars this is the place to be.

Further North, 2-hours away from Cuiaba, there are some great lodges near the town of Pocone. Most of these lodges are huge conservation successes and you could explore a different habitat, the grasslands.

Here the most sought-after animals are Giant Anteaters, Crab-eating Foxes, Peccaries,  and 6-7 raptor species along with Red-legged Seriema, the Greater Rhea.