The Pantanal in Brazil is one of the best places in the world to photograph jaguars in their natural environment. On a river in this vast wetland, a jaguar can suddenly emerge from the vegetation. It rests on a fallen tree, patrols the bank or swims across the river. In this blog you can read when to go, where to be and how to prepare.
Where do you photograph jaguars in the Pantanal?
The northern Pantanal around Porto Jofre is internationally renowned as one of the best areas to see jaguars. The animals live here along the Cuiabá River and its tributaries. You reach Porto Jofre via the Transpantaneira, a long road straight through the wetland that starts near Cuiabá.
Because the jaguars are mainly found along the water, most of the photography takes place from a boat. That gives you a fixed base in their habitat and the opportunity to position the boat well for light and background.
What is the best time to photograph jaguars?
The best period falls in the dry season, roughly from June to October. Water levels in rivers and marshes are lower then, so many animals concentrate around the remaining water. That makes these months attractive for searching for jaguars along the banks.
Our photo tour to the Pantanal takes place in September, in the middle of this dry period. Of course, wildlife and weather remain unpredictable: a good tour therefore responds to the conditions of the day.
Tips for photographing jaguars
Bring the right lenses. Lenses up to 600 mm are useful. Animals often come close to the boat, so we usually work with a 400 mm prime and a 70-200 mm.
Watch the behaviour. A jaguar walking along the bank may suddenly enter the water or make a hunting attempt. If you learn to read behaviour, you can anticipate such moments better.
Take your time. Waiting patiently often produces the best images. So stay with an interesting situation for a while instead of moving on straight away.
Look at light and background. Early in the morning and late in the afternoon the light is often at its best. Pay attention to the background too: calm vegetation makes the animal stand out better.
More than just jaguars
The Pantanal has much more to offer. On the river you may encounter giant otters, caimans, capybaras, anacondas, kingfishers and macaws. On land you can see tapirs, giant anteaters, deer, monkeys and a wide variety of birds. That makes the Pantanal suitable for photographers who want to focus on more than one species.
Photographing jaguars yourself?
On our 9-day photo tour we combine the river around Porto Jofre with the drier parts of the Pantanal along the Transpantaneira, with personal guidance from Nadia and Jan-Joost and together with experienced local guides. Also have a look at our other photo tours.