Published on Sep, 2024
After a few years of communication with Fabricio we finally decided to make the Pantanal wildlife tour.
I've been a wildlife photographer for years - not professional, just a great hobby - and as all our previous wildlife tours were private I was hesitating between a shorter private tour and a longer group tour (to keep a budget).
Finally I decided for a 10-day-group-tour and it turned out to be a good decision. We are interested in all animals - not only jaguars - so I asked for a good balance between dry land and river programs.
2 nights in Piuval, 5 nights in Santa Rosa and 2 nights in Pouso Alegre exactly matched my wishes.
I know it is not so easy with a group tour - group members can have different preferences and wishes - but Fabricio and Beatriz planned the tour very well.
When on the tour we were also very lucky with our guide Roger. He is a smart and fine guy and he managed to provide an excellent Pantanal tour. It was not an easy task - remember it was a group tour and I'm really not an ordinary client (because of my photography expectations and previous private tours experience).
Roger simply has the main features of a great wildlife guide - he likes the animals and he also likes his clients. He actively found and arranged for a lot of good photography opportunities for me - from jaguars and tapirs to tiny birds like black-capped donacobius or vermilion flycatcher.
Thanks, Roger, I won't forget.
Accommodation and food in all 3 lodges were simply excellent. It's true the facilities at Pouso Alegre are more basic compared with other lodges but the rooms are still very clean and functional, including AC.
On the other side at Pouso Alegre you will find a huge number of wild animals and birds directly inside the lodge - more than in other lodges although which also have rich wildlife at your doors.
And you'll feel there as at a running cattle ranch - so feeling more in a real original Pantanal. Maybe you'll meet the owner, herpetologist Luiz, and he will show you some snakes typical for this place - everything in Pouso Alegre is more personal and original ...
If I'm so lucky to be back in Pantanal I definitely want to spend a few days in Pouso Alegre again.
To sum up - we saw and photographed a lot of animals, from the big ones to the tiny ones, and there are still a number of animals not seen or not photographed yet. Which is a good reason to return to Pantanal.
And when the decision is made then I'll ask Pantanal Safaris to organize the tour, and I'll express my preferences to have Roger as a guide and to visit Pouso Alegre once more.
I highly recommend Pantanal, Pantanal Safaris, Roger and all three lodges mentioned above, especially Pouso Alegre, to all wildlife lovers and photographers.
You won't regret.
The place is worth your money and time.
