Brazil Safari 2025 with Panthera Photo Safaris

Our 2025 Brazil safari was one of the most productive Pantanal expeditions we have ever run. Over the course of the trip we explored three key areas of the northern Pantanal: Pousada Piuval, Santa Rosa and Rio Claro. Each region offered its own habitat, wildlife behaviour and photographic opportunities. The combination of open savannas, gallery forest, wetlands and river systems provided a nonstop flow of sightings from dawn to dusk.

A Jaguar entering the water to hunt.

Why the Pantanal Is One of the Best Wildlife Destinations on Earth

The Pantanal is the world’s largest tropical wetland and one of the richest wildlife regions anywhere. It is famous for its jaguars, giant river otters, giant anteaters, tapirs, raptors and immense bird diversity. The wetlands concentrate animals along the river systems, giving photographers an unusual level of access to predators and behaviour that may take years to see in other regions.

Our group recorded 188 species of birds and had some of the most intense jaguar viewing imaginable. From kills to hunts to river crossings, the activity almost never stopped.

One of the many jaguars encountered during the trip.

Pousada Piuval

Piuval sits on the northern edge of the Pantanal and is known for its open vistas, large mammals and excellent birding. The mix of savanna and marshland gave us a brilliant start to the safari.

Our highlights included tapir, aguti, capybara, pampas deer, red and brown brocket deer, numerous reptiles and a fantastic run of giant anteater sightings. Birding was exceptional in the early mornings with macaws, raptors, ibis and storks dominating the wetlands.

Giant anteaters were seen regularly at Piuval.

Santa Rosa

Santa Rosa is one of the premier jaguar viewing zones in the entire Pantanal. The network of rivers and channels concentrates big cats along the banks where they hunt caiman, capybara and occasionally anaconda. This is also one of the best areas for giant river otters.

Across several days we had multiple encounters with well-known jaguars including Medrosa, Pantaniero, Bororo, Patricia, Makala, Ipepo, Apeiara, Saseka, Jaju, Ousado and several others. Many of these sightings involved active behaviour such as hunts, kills, fishing attempts and territorial interactions.

We also enjoyed giant river otter families, neotropical otters, buffalo and a wide range of bird species along the sandbanks and channels.

A pair of giant river otters play fighting.

Santa Rosa delivered constant big cat activity.

Rio Claro

Rio Claro added a fresh landscape with quieter waterways and thick forest. It is an excellent place for birding, primates, reptiles and rare mammals. It also produced another run of exceptional photographic opportunities.

Group two of the trip arrived here and was immediately treated to an anteater mother carrying her baby.

Peaceful waterways at Rio Claro before the big cat action began.

Summary of Wildlife Sightings

This trip produced an incredible diversity of wildlife. Here is a consolidated summary of everything seen across the safari:

Mammals

Multiple jaguars including Medrosa, Pantaniero, Bororo, Patricia, Makala, Ipepo, Ousado, Marcela, Solar, Guaraci and others
6 giant river otters and neotropical otters
Giant anteaters including one carrying a baby
Tapir
Aguti
Capybara
Pampas deer
Red and brown brocket deer
Buffalo

Birds

188 bird species recorded including macaws, toucans, herons, ibis, storks, hawks, owls, potoos and more.

Reptiles and Amphibians

False cobra
Amazon whiptail lizard
Golden tegu
Larva lizard
Anaconda (including a kill)

Birding in the Pantanal is world class with huge species diversity.

What to Bring

The Pantanal is hot, humid and often wet. Good preparation makes a huge difference in comfort and photographic success.

Light, breathable clothing in neutral colours
A wide brim hat
A light waterproof jacket
Comfortable shoes
Insect repellent
Sunscreen
Personal medications
Reusable water bottle
Dry bag for cameras on the boats
Binoculars
Microfiber cloths for humidity and spray

Medrosa with her giant caiman kill.

Recommended Camera Gear

Photographing jaguars and fast-moving river action requires reliable equipment and good reach. The river spray and humidity can also be tough on gear.

A fast primary camera body with excellent autofocus
A second body as backup
400 to 600 mm lens for jaguar and bird photography
70 to 200 mm for environmental scenes and boat approaches
A wide angle for landscapes and lodge life
Multiple memory cards
Two portable SSD drives for backups
Rain covers for camera and lens protection
Blower and microfiber cloths

Typical camera setup for river-based jaguar photography includes long lenses.

Final Thoughts

Brazil’s Pantanal delivered everything it is famous for and more. Exceptional jaguar action, rare mammals, huge bird diversity and a landscape that never stopped producing sightings. The combination of Pousada Piuval, Santa Rosa and Rio Claro created a perfect flow of habitats and photographic opportunities.