PANTANAL
Pantanal is one of the World’s most biodiverse areas. It is often called the World’s largest wetland, spreading across hundreds of thousands of square kilometers in Brazil, eastern Bolivia and eastern Paraguay. Thanks to the high concentration of wildlife, high biodiversity and a number of varied habitats, Pantanal is really one of the natural wonders of the World.

This extension tour gives you an opportunity to experience the best of the southern parts of the Pantanal. Here we will be given great opportunities to photograph giant anteaters, Tamandua, caimans and lots of birds with large flocks of Red-and-green macaws as the main attraction. At one of the lodges we also have really good opportunities to photograph the shy cat ozelot.

THE ANIMALS AND BIRDS
In the Pantanal, wildlife is constantly present and here 405 fish species share the space with 600 bird species, 80 mammal species, 1100 butterfly species and 50 reptile species. Endangered and repressed animals such as jaguars, cougars, giant otters, wolves, ozelots, macaws, tapirs and giant anteaters, have found refuge in the difficult-to-force wetlands. On this extension tour, we focus on experiencing and photographing giant anteater, tamandua, capuchin monkeys and Red-and-green macaws and with a good portion of luck ocelot.

In a so-called sinkhole nest large numbers of Red-and-green macaws. The birds are very active and give us unique photo opportunities when they fly over the deep hole and sit on the sandstone wall. We will visit this place several times, which gives opportunities to try some new photo techniques to get some different images. In the vicinity of the gRed-and-green macaws, we will also look for blue-yellow macaws, buff-necked ibis and other exciting birds that can appear in the forest. It’s not uncommon for us to see Puffbirds and Motmot. We will also pay a visit to Rio da Prata to snorkel in the crystal clear water. The river has an enormous wealth of fish, you can almost get the feeling of swimming in an aquarium. Snorkeling equipment is available to borrow. Here in the area there are also plenty of Burrowing owls and at the restaurant where we have lunch, a bird feed usually attracts many different birds such as gold-plated parakeet.

At the next stop on the tour, it’s time to look for ant-eaters. In the area where we live, there is plenty of giant ant-eaters and with a little luck, we have good opportunities to approach them on foot, which means that we can get down to much better photo angles than from vehicles. Here we can also find the smaller and more shy Tamandua, which we hope we will be able to photograph. Of course there is also a lot of other things to photograph here, there are e.g. capybara, cayman, foxes and armadillos. With a little luck, we will be able to photograph both six-band and nine-band armadillos.

The bird life is very rich with i.a. macaws, toco tucans, owls and jabiru storks. With a portion of luck, we can take part in the other major attraction here, the ozelots that are in the area. After dark, one or more ozelots usually come near the lodge and they can be very fearless. This gives us good conditions to be able to photograph these beautiful cats.

During the trip, we will also have time for a photo workshop where we go through techniques and photo ideas for the coming days photography. As usual, we also look at image composition and each other’s images, all to develop your particular photography.