WOW!!! Nat Hab is a great company! Sounds like a fabulous trip! I know...I always dread all the editing, as I hate getting behind with it. But seeing the photos gives you a chance to relive the great and memorable moments. Thanks for the reply, tips, and encouragement!

I use Nikon but also have the 400 lens. Glad to know that was enough reach. Thanks for all your help and sharing! After reading these wonderful comments, it makes me even more excited for our own experience!

I hear you! I tease my husband that he is my "pack mule"...he's good about helping me carry stuff. But we are both in our 60s and it gets heavy shlepping stuff around. We did lots of hiking in the Amazon and I wasn't sure how much hiking we will do in Pantanal, but our guide indicated that we would do some.

After being in Africa several times, the Amazon, and now Pantanal, zoos just don't have appeal for me any more. I do go occasionally with my grandkids, but our last trip I saw African wild dogs in an enclosure...after following them running through the bush for miles, it made me sad for them.

Your photos are gorgeous! Can I ask what camera gear you used?

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???

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!

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! :)

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. 😁

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!

I know this is already a lengthy thread, but I want to add that I LOVE this lens!!! It is on either my Nikon d500 or d7100 all the time...in fact, I'm thinking of getting another lens just like it so I can have on both. My 18-300 has been all over the world with me photographing wildlife...Africa several times, Peru, Costa Rica, Alaska...and I've never been disappointed. I like to put a big zoom on my d500 and then use this for all kinds of shots on my d7100. Best all-around DX lens I owned, hands down.

What country are you doing safari in? I've been on several safaris in different countries, and access can be quite different in Tanzania/Kenya than in southern Africa countries like South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, etc.

I ALWAYS take 2 camera bodies (in my case Nikon D7100 and D500), one with longer zoom and one for animals very close up. No tripods or monopods, a bean bag might be helpful but I usually just go handheld.

I'd be glad to give you more recommendations...message me if you're interested.

I'm going to the one in Indy too! Maybe we'll meet up! :) I attended Scott's Lightroom class last year and loved it, learned many new things and he's easy to follow and understand, very down-to-earth approach. We got a nice notebook with the outline info in it and I took notes in the margins. Can't wait to go next month!

A pangolin???!!! Wow!!! I've been to Africa 5 times and never had that great privilege! That's a once-in-a-lifetime, even for the guides! I hope you got a photo! Thanks for sharing!

Love these!!! We were in Sabi Sands (next to Mala Mala) last September...probably saw some of these very same animals. Africa gets under your skin...longing to go back....

What a fantastic trip that is!!! I've read everyone's suggestions and agree with most...I'd leave the monster lens at home but perhaps take a 1.4 or 1.8 extender to up your capability with the zoom (just be sure it's compatible with that particular lens). Unless your focus is primarily on birds, it's a lot of lens to lug around, even just in your carry-on luggage.

Yes, for the best birds you need to go to the cloud forest near Cusco or the Amazon rainforest near Iquitos. You will be AMAZED at the colorful and exotic birds there! Our guide had a high-quality spotting scope, and seriously some of my best photos from the trip are using my iPhone with the lens against his scope. (See images below...both taken by that method) There are LOTS of monkeys in the jungle too, several different species. Photography there is difficult, though, because of the dense and lush foliage. And lots of drizzle....be prepared to protect your camera.

At Machu Picchu, your iPhone will give you terrific and easy panoramas...and the guides know how to do that if you want to be in the photo yourself. I'm not big on phone cameras in general, but again some of our favorite shots from Machu Picchu were taken with our iPhone. (See images below, taken with my iPhone) Travel light to Machu Picchu...lots of climbing, narrow steps, people to dodge, and high altitude. I agree with the others...get on the early bus or the late bus...most of the people show up at midday. It's chilly up there too...you'll need to wear layers.

The colors and landscapes of Peru are absolutely amazing!!! Paracas is a fun place to go...a very cool place there called Ballestas Islands that you can go to if you want to see millions (not kidding!) of sea birds...boobies, terns, even some unusual penguins plus sea lions and seals. Gorgeous rock formations too. I've included a photo of that too (every single dot on those rocks is a bird!).

We were there in Sept. 2017...just a fantastic trip all around! Enjoy!!!