Pricing:
$ 9,950 per person sharing
(Single Supplement is $1,500 subject to availability)
Trip Dates:
August 18-29, 2025
Trip Length:
12 Days / 11 nights
Trip Details:
Brazil’s Pantanal, the largest continuous wetland on the planet, was declared a World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO and is South America’s primary wildlife sanctuary. With a total area of approximately 150,000 km² and located in the center of the continent, the Pantanal is a biogeographic mixing bowl containing elements of the Amazon Forest, the Caatinga, the Brazilian Savannah, the Atlantic Rainforest and the Paraguayan Chaco. It was formed between 2 and 5 million years ago as a large sedimentary basin and is now an isolated flatland surrounded by several mountainous areas. Biodiversity in the Pantanal includes 656 birds species, 135 mammals, 260 fish species and 50 reptiles. There are excellent populations of caiman, capybara, jaguar, armadillo, giant otters, coati, giant anteater and much more.
Ocelot Research Team
This expedition supports our partnerships with cat researchers. We have a unique opportunity to engage with an Ocelot research team (The Wild Source pioneered this in 2018), providing an outstanding chance to observe South America’s next largest spotted cat. The ocelot researcher will lead a number of activities, including game drives in an area where ocelots are frequently observed hunting along irrigation ditches and we plan to attempt to capture/research collar an ocelot under an effort funded by The Wild Source Foundation. We also feature time with a researcher from the Jaguar ID project, including joining us on a boat outing as we search for jaguars, and an evening lecture about the project.
Jaguars have become a magnet for tourism. They are certainly the focal point of this expedition but the thriving jaguar population is also an indicator of the health of this natural system. Many of these species are charismatic, colorful, and/or simply fascinating. There is no doubt this is one of the world’s premier wildlife-watching destinations.
This safari is led by an outstanding guide, Fred Crema, who has been guding for The Wild Source’s groups since 2022. The combination of exploring The Pantanal’s waterways by private chartered boat, with a prime land-based area in the wild southern Pantanal delivers a remarkable wildlife experience.
View Full Safari Itinerary:
This safari features a number of exceptional factors to ensure the highest quality wildlife viewing experience:
Jaguar Pantanal Detailed Itinerary
August 18 - 19
Arrive to Campo Grande, Brazil. Met at the airport and transferred to the Deville Prime Hotel. Your safari guide from The Wild Source, Fred Crema, will host you at a welcome dinner at 7:00 pm and give an overview of the safari.
NOTE: most people will fly to Sao Paulo Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) with International flights arriving very early in the morning, from which you can connect onto a domestic flight to Campo Grande (CGR). Alternatively we can assist with an overnight arrangement and tours in Sao Paulo if you prefer to arrive to the country and settle in before flying onward to the Pantanal gateway.
Deville Prime Campo Grande
1 Night
August 19 - 23
On August 19th you have a leisurely morning to rest and have breakfast before meeting in the lobby at 11 a.m. to embark on a road transfer of approximately 4 hours into the Pantanal and our lodging at Fazenda San Francisco.
We will have lunch along the way in Aquidauana. Arrive to the lodge around 3:30 and settle in before getting out for a short game drive, then following dinner our first night drive.
Fazenda San Francisco is in the wild Southern Pantanal and has arguably the best wildlife viewing of any tourism lodging in the Pantanal. It is without doubt the best area for ocelot viewing, and has been outstanding for giant anteater, armadillo, and an array of stunning birds. On average they see a jaguar every 3 days as well, so it is a unique location where there is a solid chance of finding a jaguar on a game drive (usually night drive).
Four wheel drive vehicles are used for game drives and night spotlighting, and there are opportunities for hiking. It is possible to horseback ride (additional cost) on the Pantaneiro horses that work on the ranch.
The Wild Source Foundation is a sponsor of on-going Ocelot Research led by Henrique Villas Boas Concone – Ocelot Researcher This provides us with unique opportunities for interaction that will include night drive ocelot searches and research collar-tracking. We are also planning to attempt (no guarantee of success) to capture an ocelot to place a research collar donated by The Wild Source Foundation.
Fazenda San Francisco
4 Nights
We will use our multiple days at Fazenda San Francisco to coordinate opportunities with the Ocelot research team and to maximize the diversity of our experience. We have lots of flexibility but typically will have an early morning wildlife activity, with mid-day siesta, followed by an afternoon activity, dinner and a night drive.
August 23 - 29
On August 23rd after breakfast we will transfer by paved road (approximately 3 1/2 hours) to the lovely historic town of Corumba. Upon arrival, you’ll enjoy a traditional Pantanal lunch, complete with a live music presentation that offers a delightful taste of local culture. In the afternoon, at 2 pm, you’ll embark on a cultural visit, starting with an interpretative walk through Corumbá’s General Port. This will be followed by visits to the Homem Pantaneiro Memorial and the Memory Room of Mestre Sebastião Brandão, Mestre Cururueiro, where you’ll gain insight into the region’s rich history and traditions. By 4:30 om, you’ll board the AKAIA Voyager, ready to continue your adventure.
The Akaia will be our mothership for the 6 nights as we move through the rivers that are the heart of the Realm of the Jaguar.
Pantanal Akaia Boat
6 Nights
Each day we will have morning and afternoon outings/river safaris, done in a comfortable and safe speed boat, exploring river channels and lagoons searching for jaguars and other wildlife roaming along the river banks, beaches and in the water.
Our typical day from our private boat will be to have an early breakfast, and board our river safari boat to explore this region’s wild environs. Return on board for lunch, while the Motor Vessel continues its cruise upriver. In the afternoon we will again board the speed boat and explore its waterways and forested river banks. Return to the Akaia for dinner and overnight.
Our first day of travel on the river is not in prime jaguar territory and we will add diversity with an opportunity to explore in crystal-clear water. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to swim and snorkel downstream. We’ll then return to the vessel to relax and enjoy lunch onboard. In the mid-afternoon, we’ll set off for a visit to the riverside women artisans of Barra do Sao Lourenço. In the evening we will arrive to anchor at the Acurizal Private Reserve.
We will disembark to explore the Acurizal Private Reserve in the Serra do Amolar region, located on the border with Bolivia. Your morning adventure will take you on a hiking trail with flat terrain (a bit rocky) and an easy level of difficulty. This scenic trail leads through open fields and into the lush woods, offering the possibility of encountering wildlife such as the Titi Monkey, the Robust Capuchin Monkey, various other mammals, as well as a diverse array of bird species and butterflies. Following your morning activities, enjoy lunch and some free time for relaxation.
In the afternoon we will wildlife view by speedboat exploring the Amolar and Pantanal National Park, beginning our time in prime jaguar habitat. Pantanal National Park is a hidden gem, accessible only by boat, and remains a remote and relatively unexplored destination. During this expedition, we’ll navigate through various Corixos, which are small tributary rivers, while keeping a keen eye out for the region’s diverse wildlife. The chances of spotting jaguars increase as we continue North. We will have one day where by special arrangement we are joined by a Researcher from the Jaguar Research With The Jaguar Identification Project
We will spend significant time exploring the Meeting of the Waters’ State Park, featuring the Three Brothers, Piquiri and Cuiaba Rivers. This is the #1 place in the world to see jaguars as there is a high density of the cats, many are well habituated to boats, and there are many eyeballs searching as this is a heavily touristed area. However, while most tourists are based a 40 minute boat ride away we are able to anchor our cruise vessle in a prime jaguar location which gives us time to start ahead of most, and finish later, sometimes resulting in our own private jaguar time.
When the pinnacle predator is so successful it is a great indicator of the overall richness of the natural world. While we put emphasis on finding jaguars there is exceptional (some of the best in the world) birdlife, and the riverside environment is ideal for tapir (biggest animal in South America), giant otters, capybara, caiman, anaconda, and much more.
August 29
After breakfast, we disembark and proceed to the local airstrip for our private charter (30 minute flight) to Cuiaba Airport. You can book flights departing Cuiaba Airport anytime from 12:30 and later (you will likely need to fly to Guarulhos Sao Paulo, and then connect onto an evening International flight).
Note: we can assist with an additional night in Cuaiaba or Sao Paulo if needed.
Key Dates
August 18 - 19
1) August 18 – 19: Deville Prime Campo Grande, Campo Grande
2) August 19 – 23: Fazenda San Francisco, Miranda
3) August 23 – 29: Pantanal Akaia Boat, Pantanal
Pantanal Vs. African Safari Comparison
As this expedition is being offered to our experienced African safari clientele it is useful to discuss this trip in the context of our African safari experiences.
From a wildlife viewing point of view, the Pantanal stands up strong for close-up viewing of an incredible diversity of animals. Like Africa, we also have a very high percentage chance of having great viewing of the key species in the area such as jaguar, ocelot, giant otter, giant anteater, armadillo and so much more. There are sometimes longer gaps between sightings than what we typically experience in Africa where there seems to always be another antelope ahead.
When it comes to the standard of accommodation the experiences are quite different. The classic Pantanal experience is to stay on working ranches that have turned much of their land over to conservation. In keeping with this traditional operation housing is in ranch-style chalets or rooms, rather than the custom safari tents we are used to. To fully explore the best jaguar viewing areas we need to be based on the rivers. The boats available to us for this purpose were built originally to serve fishing parties (still big business for them throughout the year) but they have now adjusted to serve wildlife tourism during the peak jaguar viewing months. There are also houseboats that remain anchored to the shore and only serve as accommodation but we opt to use a real cruising vessel so that we are able to cover the river systems that are prime for jaguars and ensure advantageous starting points for our days. Food is known to be good and hearty. Drinks are rarely included and a tab is kept but we are including them with The Wild Source settling the tabs at the end.
Likewise, even at the best properties, the game drive vehicles are more like converted farm vehicles than the meticulously crafted safari vehicles we use in Africa. While things like the vehicles won’t measure quite up to what we are accustomed to in Africa there is amazing flexibility for some independence that isn’t possible to safely offer in Africa. For example, you may be able to independently go walking around the property. This adds to the independent adventure opportunity that some of us miss in Africa.
This trip is built for wildlife enthusiasts who crave to dive deep into the natural world and are happy to experience it on a well-supported Brazilian traditional level. For sure we will see some things that we know from Africa can be done better, but we will also be blown away on this new adventure to savor some of the best wildlife viewing in the Western hemisphere.
Fred Crema - Brazilian Guide for The Wild Source
Fred Crema is a Brazilian guide certified by the Ministry of Tourism and has been working in tourism and wildlife guiding since 1992. Fred has outstanding knowledge of the Pantanal, including it’s diverse flora, fauna, and culture. He is an expert birder, knowledgeable photographer, and has become very experienced with jaguars as the only guide regularly leading cruises throughout the entire Paraguay/Cuiaba River systems. Fred has a passion to guide people in an immersion of nature so they can learn with the experience. Fred’s other passion is with music, and he likes to bring some entertainment to his guests.
Fred has been a natural fit for The Wild Source’s specialty of catering to keen wildlife enthusiasts as he has relentless energy to lead, very passionate about the joy of finding and observing wildlife, and he is strategic in making good plans to provide the best viewing opportunities. Pioneering the wildlife exploration of these great river systems was challenging and Fred has excelled in being the Guide to develop this ultimate wilderness experience through the Realm of the Jaguar.
August 18 - 19
Campo Grande, Brazil
Campo Grande Area Overview
Campo Grande was made the capital of the state of Matto Grosso du Sul when the state separated from Matto Grosso in 1978. The area was especially known for ranching and, in more recent times, regular agriculture. However, it is also the gateway city to the southern Pantanal and to the popular areas around Bonito.
Deville Prime Campo Grande
Deville Prime Campo Grande is located in one of the most valued neighborhoods in the capital of Mato Grosso do Sul. Close to Parque das Nações Indígenas, the hotel is surrounded by a large green area, and offers an excellent structure for leisure, events and business, as well as special services and Brazilian and local cuisine, to ensure the best stay for those traveling to the destination.
Since its opening, the hotel has collected several national and international awards. In 2020, it was elected the 6th best hotel in Brazil and the best in Campo Grande, according to the TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice seal, the Best of the Best.
Ocelot Research
The Wild Source was the first (in 2018) to offer the opportunity to engage with an Ocelot research team, providing a unique chance to observe South America’s second largest spotted cat. The ocelot research is ongoing at Fazenda San Francisco and there are a number of possible activities dependent upon what’s happening with the needs of the research team at the time of visit. Possibilities typically include radio-tracking individual ocelots, conducting night game drives in an area where ocelot are frequently observed hunting, and checking camera traps. For this special departure The Wild Source Foundation is sponsoring an effort to attempt to trap and research collar an ocelot. There is no guarantee of success but this effort has a high chance of success. This is a rare opportunity for cat fanatics.
During our 2022 safari with the Ocelot research team we were able to document by photograph what is believed to the first ever record of an Oncilla within the State of Mato Grosso du Sol. This was a huge discovery to be able to submit for a State Record for this beautiful species. There is a proposal to split the Oncilla into 4 different species so this may become the first record in the area of the Northern Tiger Cat should the new taxonomy be approved. In 2018 our safari group documented the very rare Pantanal Cat. Our groups have now seen 5 different cat species on Fazenda San Francisco – jaguar, ocelot, oncilla, Pantanal cat and jaguarundi. We have only missed seeing puma (mountain lion) which is a species they do spot sometimes.
Henrique Villas Boas Concone - Ocelot Researcher
Pantanal for over thirteen years. Currently Henrique is an Associate Researcher for Instituto Pro-Carnivoros, heading up research on ocelot spatial use and feeding habits. Previously Henrique spent seven years as a field biologist researching the ecology and promoting jaguar conservation and puma conservation within the Brazilian Pantanal. The focus of this big cat work dealt with predator-livestock conflict.
Under special arrangement Henrique will share his ocelot research, conducted at Fazenda San Francisco, with our group. In 2018 The Wild Source pioneered the opportunity for a specialized tourist group to participate with the ocelot research team. We will be able to radio-track collared ocelots, set and/or check camera traps and have Henrique take us to areas where we are likely to be able to observe ocelot behavior – in particular, he has discovered that in this region ocelots take advantage of where the natural habitat meets up with rice cultivation and the ocelots are able to hunt frogs and small rodents that utilize the rice irrigation channels. We will join Henrique on a number of night drives in search of ocelots and jaguars.
August 19 - 23
Wild Southern Pantanal, Brazil
Wild Southern Pantanal Overview
The Southern Pantanal features large, wild areas that are visited through stays on large Fazenda (Ranch) properties. We find this is the highest quality safari area because there’s vast land to explore that features the best opportunities for seeing some of the more charismatic mammals such as giant anteater, ocelot and on a couple of properties a fair chance of seeing jaguar from a game drive vehicle instead of a boat. These preferred areas in the South also offer a full range of safari activities making them a great diverse experience and worthy of longer stays.
Miranda, Brazil
Fazenda San Francisco
Fazenda San Francisco, like much of the Pantanal accommodation, is a traditional working farm that has split their 15,000 hectares between three operations – ecotourism, cattle ranching, and rice cultivation. The Fazenda hosts wildlife research projects, including a project on ocelots which specialize on taking advantage of easy hunting opportunities where the natural area comes to an edge with rice cultivation. The Fazenda is in a prime wildlife area, on the banks of the Miranda River, and also has the wildlife rich Sao Domingos Creek.
The area is unmatched for land based viewing of the spotted cats, with ocelot seen almost daily and jaguar sighted on average every third night (on night drives). Very rare for Pantanal the maned wolf is seen with fair regularity, as are both anteater species. The river trips provide opportunities to find giant otters, neotropical otters and a stunning array of birds, plus capybara and caiman.
A full range of activities are on offer to experience the great wildlife diversity of the area and its scenic beauty. Four wheel drive vehicles are used for game drives and night spotlighting, there are opportunities for hiking and canoeing, boat cruises and it is possible to horseback ride on the Pantaneiro horses that work on the ranch. By special arrangement we will have ample opportunities to work with the resident ocelot research team, including radio-tracking ocelots.
Apartments
Accommodation is in simple Brazilian style ranch apartments. The property has 18 apartments, which have air conditioning, ceiling fan, hot water shower and private en-suite bathrooms.
August 23 - 29
Pantanal, Brazil
Pantanal Area Overview
Brazil’s Pantanal has an unrivaled claim as South America’s top wildlife viewing region. In fact, many say it’s the top wildlife area outside of Africa. Pantanal is the world’s largest wetland, a staggering ten times the size of the Everglades and fifteen times the size of the famed Okavango Delta.
This environment makes it ideal for your jaguar safari. Like Botswana’s Okavango there is a fantastic variety of habitats including wetlands, savanna, riverine gallery forests, and cerrado (forested savanna). A number of rivers form the lifeblood of the Pantanal, and these have become reliable jaguar sighting opportunities.
Pantanal Jaguar safari opportunities have become a magnet for tourism. They are certainly the focal point for Pantanal expeditions but the thriving jaguar population is also an indicator of the over all health of this natural system. Your Pantanal tour offers a rich array of wildlife viewing opportunities. Pantanal wildlife includes over 135 different mammal species and 656 bird species have been documented in the Pantanal. Many species are charismatic, colorful, and/or simply fascinating. There is no doubt this is one of the world’s premier wildlife-watching destinations. Incredibly, the area is only 5% protected, with the remainder being under private ownership involving ecotourism and ranching so tourism is vital for conservation.
Pantanal Barco Akaia Boat
The Barco Akaia is our charming private chartered jaguar safari boat. Most ‘houseboats’ used for jaguar tourism are simply anchored to a bank for months providing an accommodation base but not cruising. On board the Akaia we are able to explore the full Realm of the Jaguar, as we cruise both the Paraguay and Cuiaba Rivers, and their prime tributaries and bays. Daily we make excursions on a purpose built speedboat to seek out jaguar and other prime wildlife. Our route allows us to uniquely visit all three prime wildlife areas, including the Amolar Mountains which has no tourist accommodation.
Accommodation is seven air-conditioned guest rooms with en-suite bathrooms. Common areas include a comfortable restaurant with a cozy TV room and excellent climate control, it also has a large deck with a table for games, comfortable chairs, a pressurized shower, and the chef’s corner which is an outdoor kitchen with a privileged view. Best of all, the entire boat is a balcony, allowing you to observe the Pantanal from wherever you are. The vessel maintains all the inspections and documentation requested by the Brazilian Navy, with guest safety top priority.
Experience & Activities
This exclusive cruise will take you through an impressive variety of environments inside the
Grand Pantanal. We will cruise along the Paraguay and Cuiaba rivers, in a comfortable Motor
Vessel with only 7 cabins, exploring three different Nature Reserves: the Pantanal National Park, Acurizal Private Reserve, and the Meeting of the Waters State Park in search of its fascinating and rich wildlife with the elusive wild jaguar, the playful giant river otter, the numerous caimans sunning along the sand bars, and staggering numbers of diverse bird species.
Accommodations
The Barco Akaia has 7 private guest cabins that are air-conditioned, and have en-suite bathrooms with pressurized hot water showers.
Jaguar Research with the Jaguar Identification Project
The northern Pantanal is home to the world’s densest and most habituated population of jaguars. Like human fingerprints, each jaguar’s spot pattern is unique, allowing researchers at the Jaguar Identification Project (JIP) to identify individual cats in the region. Through photographic analysis of these spot patterns, JIP has created an extensive database that reveals the behaviors, relationships, home ranges, and lineages of these elusive big cats.
JIP researchers embark on daily boat expeditions along the riverbanks to observe jaguars directly. They also enlist citizen scientists to share photographic sightings and maintain an extensive network of camera traps to capture images of cats that evade direct observation. By integrating all these data sources, JIP is able to develop a detailed understanding of the lives of individual jaguars and the ecology of the species as a whole.
We are privileged to partner with JIP during our time in the Porto Jofre region. A JIP researcher will join us in the field in Porto Jofre, demonstrating their research techniques, interpreting jaguar behaviors, and sharing their unparalleled knowledge through lectures and real-time narration of our encounters. This expert guidance will enrich our jaguar viewing experience and deepen our understanding of these magnificent yet mysterious cats.
Safari Costs
Notes
Cost: $9,950 per person sharing
Single Supplement is $1,500 subject to availability
NOTE: The above quote is a discounted price for payment made by check or bank wire. Payment by Visa or MasterCard would be at the non-cash discount price of $10,348 per person sharing, single supplement of $1,560.
Campo Grande
- Hotel on bed and breakfast basis
- Welcome dinner hosted by The Wild Source
- Transfers to Hotel
South Pantanal – Fazenda San Francisco
- Private road transfer from Campo Grande Airport to Fazenda San Francisco
- Daily activities at Fazenda San Francisco, including time with the Ocelot Research project.
- Game drives, night drives, boating, canoeing, and hiking are all possible activities that are included.
- All Meals
- Drinks (there may be a tab system but The Wild Source will cover the costs)
- 4 night accommodation at Fazenda San Francisco
- Private Brazilian Guide/Naturalist from The Wild Source
North Pantanal – Boat Cruise Expedition
- Private road transfer to Corumba
Lunch and cultural activities in Corumba - All meals
- Drinks
- 6 nights accommodation on the Akaia Cruising Vessel
- Daily departures by speed boat to search for wildlife
- Private Brazilian Guide/Naturalist from The Wild Source
- Charter bush flight from Porto Jofre to Cuiaba
This cost does not include:
- International air to and from Sao Paulo, plus domestic air from Sao Paulo to Campo Grande and from Cuiaba to Sao Paulo (we can assist with the domestic flight arrangements and add the cost to the invoice)
- Tips
- Any arrangements in Sao Paulo or before/after the itinerary (we can assist with arrangements)
- Travel Insurance is required. As a service to our clients, we provide complimentary quotes from Travel Guard or you are welcome to secure your own policy.
- Health – visit to a Travel Clinic and any medications or vaccines needed.