Terry in Indiana Loc: rural Indiana

My husband and I are going to the Pantanal area of Brazil the end of September. Hoping to see some jaguars as well as some other unique wildlife and beautiful birds. Anyone been there? Recommendations welcome. Thanks!

Timmers Loc: San Antonio Texas.

Well Terry, there is a place right at the base of Texas on the Rio Grand River called Big Bend National Park, It is not unheard of for the big cats to be seen daily in the Park, the head quarters is called Panther Junction for obvious reasons. The man who built Panther Junction was JD Burk of JD Burk Construction Co. and he liked cats, domestic or wild. He use to scare them off the construction site by discharging a rifle in the air, but he would also kill deer and leave them for the large cats.

When I was first living in San Antonio in the early 1980's I had a place at the junction of 1604 and I-10, it was in the country back then. A black panther left paw prints around the building the size of a man's clenched fist.

And, just outside San Antonio around Natural Bridge Caverns are the largest bat caves in the world, the bats take off just at sun set, and mind where the signage tells you to be, bats release all manner of nasty bodily fluids just out side the caves!

The lower part of South West Texas has some truly amazing things to see and you don't need a pas port to visit!

Terry in Indiana Loc: rural Indiana

Hi Timmers! I love the San Antonio area and visit there about every year, as my brother lives in New Braunfels. I will check out Big Bend next visit...but I'm still going to Brazil in September. 😁

rogerl Loc: UK (Harrogate, North Yorkshire)

We were there early June (Winter, of course). It was hot & a little humid so prepare for hotter & more humid in Spring! Wear long-sleeve shirts to protect if you're on the rivers (our boats, like the vast majority, didn't have canopies); take 50% deet + suncream + hat. We didn't encounter lots of other boats at that time of year but (according to our guide) be prepared for many other boats at any sightings in September. We saw jaguars (plural) + giant river otters (several sightings) + multitides of birds. Take a long lens plus, if you have one, a wide apperture lens for low light. Our South Wild lodge had a night hide for attracting ocelot (they bait them but don't feed them) - we saw, & photographed them on each of two nights (there is illumination but a 2.8 lens was useful) + they are developing a night hide for tapir which we photographed.

PM me if there's anything else I can help with.

larryhav Loc: Charlotte, NC

Hi, my wife and I were there two years ago at the end of September. We went with a company called Natural Habitat. We saw 15 different Jaguars over the course of 6 days. There were 8 of us on the trip with two guides. They had radios much like African Safari trucks to communicate with the other boat drivers. The boats were like large row boats with motors that go very fast. We were on the Cuiaba river in the Pantanal (which runs about 2500km into Argentina. We also saw giant River Otters, giant Anteaters, and many, many different species of birds. We also spent time at an Eco lodge that focuses on saving Jaguars that were being hunted by local farmers for killing their cattle. It was an amazing trip! Here are a couple of photos.

Timmers Loc: San Antonio Texas.

A little heads up, use diets as a repellent for vermin like ticks (they climb) on heavy socks and then around the lower part of the covering trousers. For mosquitos, Here in Texas we use the product called Bull Frog, Mosquito Coast, use it directly on exposed skin and clothing to repel mosquitos, further, it contains A and B UV protection to a high degree. The absolute top mosquitos repellent is called Kite, it repels perfectly but is not sold in the US due to stupid and greed in US manufacturing.

If you come to Texas the worst time is now (August), September is not much better. Starting in mid November begins a good time and through the winter up and into Spring (April/May).

berchman Loc: South Central PA

Kite is sold by Amazon.

Timmers Loc: San Antonio Texas.

Thanks! I'll get my sister to order them.

By the way, anyone who is fed up with spray repellent, Kite is a two inch square that uses natural ingredients to repel them air sharks. How safe? The guy who developed it had his kids and himself eat one in from of a review board, it is that safe. Lasts a full day.

Jacqui Burke Loc: Perkiomenville, PA

I recommend Pouso Allegre Lodge and the lodge at Porto Joffre. Both have excellent wildlife viewing right around the lodge.

rogerl Loc: UK (Harrogate, North Yorkshire)

This was the tour we took (from the UK although one of our ten booked it from New Zealand)> It'll show you the lodges we used: http://www.wildlifeworldwide.com/group-tours/wildlife-of-the-pantanal

Redmark

Hi Terry in Indiana, I was there last year and took a tour from Cuiaba ( the Northern entrance) for 4 days with 3 other traveller's I met. I love the Transpantaneira Hwy and the small area of Porte Jofre. We saw 3 Jaguars ( from a boat) plus many other animals and many exotic birds. I just want to point out that upon arrival at Cuiaba Airport, there are 3 car rentals and I asked 2 of them can I rent and take a vehicle down the Transpantaneira Hwy. Both company's said yes. I met other traveller's and made a plan with them through a organized tour.We all got on and had a very good guide.
If I was to do it again ( quite possible next year as I am in Brazil) I would do this trip independently to explore other areas. There are all types of accommodation along the way for budget traveller's and very good lodges. The Hwy is only good to drive down in the dry season through.
I hope you have a great time.

Bonnie Halsell Loc: Ocala, Florida USA

I, too, along with my husband will be in The Pantanal from September 26th to October 9th. Our guide, Octavio, sent us invaluable information about our trip - day by day and what gear recommendations to expect to use each day. Are you going independently or are with with a guided tour? I can share some of the recommendations if you so desire.

Terry in Indiana Loc: rural Indiana

Thanks so much for the helpful info! I had not planned to bring a 2.8 lens, but I think I might now. :) And plenty of bug deterrent! :)

Terry in Indiana Loc: rural Indiana

Thank you, rogerl. Great info...I had not thought about bringing a 2.8 lens for low light situations, but I think I will now. Sounds like you had a great trip! Thanks for your help!

Terry in Indiana Loc: rural Indiana

Great photos, larryhav! Natural Habitat is a great company...we just did a trip to see Baja whales in March, Ben Bressler himself was on our ship. We checked into them at first, but their trip for this year was booked so we went another route.

You were there in September. How was the weather??? And the bugs???