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July 22-28, 2024 - Space Available
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Join us in Brazil’s Northern Pantanal for an exciting adventure filled with great wildlife photography opportunities, including the Pantanal’s signature jaguars hunting caiman and capybaras.
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2024 Rates
Double Occupancy $7,700
Single Occupancy $8,500
Deposit $1,000
Payment 2 - March 1, 2023
Double Occupancy $3,500
Single Occupancy $4,250
Final Payment
September 1, 2024
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Brazil’s Pantanal is a vast bioregion, bigger than many countries and states. In fact it holds the world’s largest tropical wetlands and the world’s largest flooded grasslands (savannah). As you can imagine, UNESCO and RAMSAR and World Heritage designations abound and the world’s conservation community is involved here. The majority of the Pantanal sits in western central Brazil and that is where our travels focus.
In the north, there are extensive wetlands and river systems. It is here, and only here, that jaguars hunt caiman and capybara during daylight hours along and in waterways. And those jaguars have, over time, become accustomed to boats with photographers and nature enthusiasts. Giant river otters abound, and have also become tolerant of photographers in boats. This region is rich in birds that fish by wading or diving – including the largest flying bird of the Americas, the jabiru stork.
In the south, there are expanses of savannah, broken by sinkholes and caves, and trees lining waterways. This region is noted for its diversity and abundance of birds. Here it is also possible to photograph anteaters, tamanduas, armadillos, and more! |
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For 2024, we are dividing our Pantanal explorations into two photography adventures.
In the north, our photography will be boat-based. We’ll lodge at a floating hotel and we’ll venture out in specially designed boats that give each photographer his/her own row to maximize photographic angles. We’ll seek jaguars, caimans, capybara, giant otters, and a host of birds.
In the south, we’ll be based in lodges and explore in safari vehicles and by walking. We’ll visit giant sinkholes that host breeding colonies of macaws. The lodges have extensive feeder systems that have built a “following” of amazing birds. You’ll be able to predictably photograph several species of macaws and many other colorful and exciting birds right outside your room!
These two adventures are separately priced, but we’ve built the logistics so that one can easily do both back-to-back. If you choose to do both, we’ll reduce your cost by $500 (assuming both groups meet minimum signups). If our numbers are strong in both, we’ll reduce your costs further. |
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Jaguars probably put the Pantanal in your bucket list – and for good reason. In most places, jaguars are elusive – you only know they are there by finding tracks, scat, or a bit of hair now and then. But, in the Pantanal, their primary prey (caimans and capybara) like to come out of the water in the middle of the day to sun. That is such a great opportunity for the hunting jaguar that they frequent river and back channel banks when the sun is high – and some even hunt from within the river!
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In the last decade a group of these Jaguars have become habituated to humans in boats – finally creating the opportunity to sit nearby and photograph them as they hunt or rest in the shade.
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Don’t, for even a second, think our Pantanal Photography Adventure is about jaguars and nothing else! The caimans and capybara that keep the jaguars well-fed are abundant – and fun to photograph!
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The waters of the Pantanal are teeming with fish – and those fish support a healthy population of endangered Giant Otters!
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The shores and nearby branches are alive with birds that want to eat fish! We’ll seek five species of kingfishers and try to capture them making their classic dive/splash/fly, taking back to the air with a fish in their beaks!
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The largest flying bird of the Americas – the jabiru stork – is shy and hard to photograph most places – but is quite approachable in the Pantanal.
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There are several raptors that dive and grasp fish and snails with their talons! We’ll find them sitting… watching… and maybe even diving!
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The wading birds, here are amazing. The cocoi heron is common, graceful, and beautiful!
The rufescent tiger heron is striking! |
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But the agami heron takes the cake for beauty! And the length of its beak will astound you! |
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Cormorants and anhingas dive beneath the surface where they swim like snakes and catch fish! In fact, the word anhinga comes from the Brazilian Tupi tribal language – meaning snake bird or devil bird (or perhaps both).
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And our guide keeps track of where to find hyacinth macaws, probably guarding nests!
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The Pantanal is a labyrinth of rivers and streams and connecting channels, probably created when the region sank and flowing water slowed and lost its sediment load… slowly filling the depression with layer after layer of flood bourn sediments and nutrients. The result is a vibrant landscape of savannahs and ponds and waterways edged with dense treescapes. And, filled with wildlife!
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Our Pantanal Photography Safari will start and end in Cuiabá, Brazil. We'll gather at the Cuiabá Holiday Inn, meet each other, get oriented, and prepare for our journey into the watery labyrinth of the Northern Pantanal's Jaguar's Lair.
We’ll journey from there into the Pantanal where we'll make our way to a floating hotel (a stationary deluxe houseboat) where we’ll set up camp for our jaguar “hunts”. Daily boat outings, broken by lunch back at the hotel, will feature multiple small craft, where each photographer has a row to herself! It will be up to our very talented guide to chart a course that will maximize opportunities to photograph jaguars, while also giving us great windows to photograph otters, capybara, and a wealth of birds. |
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All meals are included outside Cuiabá and breakfasts are covered in Cuiabá. Alcohol, soft drinks, and bottled water are at your own expense. Purified water for refills into your water bottles is provided.
You will also be responsible for taking a taxi from the airport to and from the Cuiabá Holiday Inn. And for tipping guides, boatmen and lodge staff.
Our group will be small. We will limit ourselves to 6 rooms – with only two of those rooms for singles – reflecting restrictions from the small lodging operators.
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2023 |
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Custom Pantanal Photography Safari Wild Adventure
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The Pantanal, in Southwest Brazil, is probably the best place in the world to photograph jaguars. And that photography is largely accomplished from a boat. We have concocted a photography safari that will take you to the best spots at the best time with a great local operator. Jaguars are the object, but we'll also find giant river otters, ocelots, macaws, caiman, capybaras, monkeys, anteaters, tapirs, and toucans! This is one of our wild adventures - as we'll journey far off the grid and lodging is about positioning us rather than luxury! |
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The Pantanal, in Southwest Brazil, is probably the best place in the world to photograph jaguars. And that photography is largely accomplished from a boat. We have concocted a photography safari that will take you to the best spots at the best time with a great local operator. Jaguars are the object, but we'll also find giant river otters, ocelots, macaws, caiman, capybaras, monkeys, anteaters, tapirs, and toucans! This is one of our wild adventures - as we'll journey far off the grid and lodging is about positioning us rather than luxury! |
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Custom Pantanal Photography Safari Wild Adventure
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The Pantanal, in Southwest Brazil, is probably the best place in the world to photograph jaguars. And that photography is largely accomplished from a boat. We have concocted a photography safari that will take you to the best spots at the best time with a great local operator. Jaguars are the object, but we'll also find giant river otters, ocelots, macaws, caiman, capybaras, monkeys, anteaters, tapirs, and toucans! This is one of our wild adventures - as we'll journey far off the grid and lodging is about positioning us rather than luxury! |
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The word Madagascar evokes mystery and wildness. Madagascar is home to all of the world's lemurs, a branch of primates from the same roots that also spawned humans. There are scores of species of chameleons. Several species of baobabs. And most of the birds here are endemic. The size of Texas, Madagascar has numerous ecosystems - each with its own set of creatures - and a number of exciting landscape opportunities. This round is a private tour. Another round in 2024 - with limited space. Contact us if you want on the list! |
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Sep |
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The vestages of the great Mayan world. Exciting caves. Rainforests and rivers filled with exciting flora and fauna. |
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Dec |
2024
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Venture out into the wilds of Rwanda with a small group, often on foot, to experience photographic encounters with wild gorillas, chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, golden monkeys, and much, much more. Dates are tentative until we secure permits. We are building custom groups of travelers we have field experience with. Ask if you fit this group! |
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Timed to meet the great migration in the Serengeti, our safari takes you to some of the great parks and protected areas in northern Tanzania in search of lions, zebras, giraffes, cheetah, hyenas... Of all our itineraries, anywhere in the world, this one has the best reviews - and is a real life-changing experience! If you'll only be making one photography foray into sub-Saharan Africa in your life - this is the trip! |
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We're headed back to the Galapagos with a new yacht and new itinerary. Join us in 2024 - and we'll explore favorite haunts and add new landings and vistas. Giant tortoises, flightless frigates, 3 kinds of boobies, land and marine iguanas, sea lions and fur seals, flamingos, and the northernmost penguin in the world. The list goes on and on! Truly an inspiring experience - ties the Serengeti in client feedback as the "most life-changing" experience of their lives. Contact us now to reserve space - dates and prices coming. |
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Apri19-29 |
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Journey with us through Ecuador's Chocó Cloudforest Ecosystem to find exciting birds. We have choreographed an adventure to help you build an outstand collection of images of colorful and exotic birds - including a number of unique hummingbirds! And, we'll have our very own bird "whisperer" along to help us find them! Did we mention nightwalks for spiders and other creatures? And butterflies and waterfalls? |
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Apr 30 - May 7 |
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The Southern Oregon Coast is one of the most wild and dramatic coasts in North America - and presents great photographic opportunities if you know when to be where. We do. This was home for us. Join us as we take you to our secret places - and use our "local knowledge of tides and weather" to get you to great opportunities. Sunrises and sunsets. Tidepools. Dramatic breaking waves. Reflections. Sea caves and arches. And ancient forests! |
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Jun 2-9 |
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Join us on a jaguar quest that will yield so much more than jaguars. The Pantanal is the only place in the world where jaguars routinely hunt during daylight - and the jaguars of the northern Pantanal are "patient" with photographers! We'll journey by boat to seek jaguar action - but we'll also find giant river otters, caiman, capybara, and a wealth of birdlife including the jabiru stork - largest flying bird of the Americas.. You are likely to come back with images of birds with fish in their possesion. Great place to master flying birds. A must do photo trip! |
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Jul 22-28 |
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Join us in one of the largest wetlands and flooded grassland habitats on the planet as we work to capture images of anteaters, tamanduas, armadillos, and several kinds of macaws. Expect toco toucans close enough for detailed images. We'll visit two sinkholes that host the rare red-and-green macaws. We'll explore by safari vehicle and foot - and enjoy some of the best bird feeding stations in the Pantanal. Expect to be wowed! |
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Jul 28 - Aug 4 |
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The Great Migration of wildebeest and zebras reaches Tanzania's Northern Serengeti in late July or early August. Rains furthern north, in Kenya's Masai Mara beckon the herds - and the route involves crossing the treacherous Mara River where crocodiles await. We've timed this safari to put you at the right place at the right time to capture the drama - and so much more as we explore the areas around the Mara, the Central Serengeti, Tarangire National Park, and the fabled Ngorongoro Crater! |
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Aug 19-30 |
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It's time to grab your spot on our Kenya Photography Safari. We have secured a set of logistics to put us in great positions to photograph great wildlife, superb landscapes, and some unique cultures. Your chance to create images of three kinds of giraffes, and several species not found in other southern and eastern Africa safari destinations. Our key destinations include Samburu, Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Elementaita Lake, and the Masai Mara! And there is an exciting extension to Amboseli National Park September 13-17. |
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Join us on a photographic journey to special ecosystems on the mysterious Island of Madagascar!. All of the world's lemurs are endemic here - 110 species and counting. Chameleons - 160 species! And more kinds of baobab trees than anywhere else on earth. Wet forests, dry forests, endemic plants and animals everywhere. We'll photograph during the day and again in the darkness! And an extension to Tsingy - a land of razor-sharp limestone blades and pinnacles! |
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Ice Caves. Glaciers exhibiting their winter "blues". Frozen Waterfalls. Outstanding icebergs and bits on black sand beaches and floating in both fresh and salt water. Unique ice formations. And, the opportunity to photograph the Northern Lights with great foregrounds. This is an adventure you don't want to miss. Join us! |
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2025 |
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Our Drones Photography Group is at it again! Back to Iceland to visit a number of unique sites, looking for great places, away from people, to position our drone cameras to capture unique angles. This time we'll find some great "interior" locations, some thermal features, some wild coastlines, and some exciting rivers. Waterfalls are always part of the game in Iceland - you'll be able to position your drone where no person has ever put a camera before. Bring your drone and come create great art with us! |
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Turkey sits at a geographical crossroads, which means that, over history, many cultures have passed through Turkey, each leaving a distinct imprint on the culture and the archaeological record. Let's explore some of the great archaeological wonders - while putting ourselves in great positions make exciting art with cameras. Mosques, Fairy Chimneys, Ephasus, Istanbul, Aphrodisia, Pergamum, Assos and so much more. |
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