It was a great trip, with so much to appreciate. The boat was most likely the best one on the river – fast, very stable and spacious enough for photography. Drinks were always plentiful and ice cold, which was much appreciated on long, hot days, as was the Starlink connection! Our boatman, Yco, was amazing at finding wildlife and positioning the boat for good photography. We also really enjoyed Berço Pantaneiro lodge – friendly service, a lovely garden and good food with plenty of choice, even for non-meat eaters. And I appreaciate some accommodations made for me when it turned out I was having a rather severe reaction to the mosquitos (eg finding me bathroom breaks in areas with less mosquitos etc). And of course, the Pantanal itself is one of the very best wildlife photography destinations. However, there was one significant aspect of the experience that fell short of our expectations as wildlife photographers: the time spent on the river during the best photographic light. The standard daily safari hours are clearly communicated in advance, so this wasn't a case of being misled about the published schedule. However, I had understood that, particularly on a private safari, there would be some flexibility to adjust the hours in consultation with the guide and boatman. In practice, we encountered some difficulty in arranging this. We did eventually agree on some adjustments, which we appreciated, but these remained quite limited and ultimately meant missing much of the most beautiful light. I also found myself feeling uncomfortable about having to ask repeatedly, which added some unnecessary stress to what should have been a relaxing experience. For wildlife photographers, this is not a minor detail. The quality and direction of the light can make an enormous difference to the images, and being on the river around sunrise and sunset is an important part of the experience. This level of scheduling flexibility is typically accommodated by photography-focused operators and is also offered by other operators in the Pantanal, including those based in Porto Jofre. We fully appreciate that longer days can be demanding for guides and boatmen, and we offered to return to the lodge for an extended break during the harsh midday light to make the working hours more manageable, as we certainly didn't want to be unfair. Unfortunately, we couldn't quite find an arrangement that met our photographic priorities. I want to emphasise that this feedback isn't intended to diminish the efforts of our boatman and guide. Rather, it is about the overall approach to scheduling and the expectations of guests booking a private photography safari. Journey with Jaguars has a lot to offer, and we genuinely enjoyed all the other aspects of the trip. However, for photographers who prioritise early-morning and late-afternoon light, I would strongly recommend being crystal clear on the hours and what is and is not possible. If sunrise and sunset outings could be accommodated as an agreed option, I think Journey with Jaguars would be very hard to beat for serious wildlife photographers.

We had a great trip. Mateus and Chico were great….so knowledgeable. Great experience Accommodation at Barco Pantanerio was adequate … would’ve been nice to have some way to hang up clothes on hooks or string a clothesline as we had wet clothes that we had no way of drying. Food was great. Electricity was intermittent so therefore the air-conditioning was intermittent, but we managed.

We had an amazing time. The entire experience was absolutely fantastic. We are planning to return for another visit. I highly recommend Journey with Jaguars. You folks have the best guides and drivers by far!

I had six 11-hour days on the water with Ben & The Team in early Sept, 2026. Details matter, and Ben knows this, as he’s gone to great lengths to ensure that his guests arrive well briefed and suitably prepared for the adventure to come. All logistics & pre-trip communications were flawless. All the JWJ guides & boat drivers who I came in contact with were polite, well drilled, competent and friendly. We were on a mission, but it never felt rushed. The accommodation was simple, suitable, comfortable and provided us with some great food. We didn’t just SEE the wildlife, we had some great ENCOUNTERS. By using experienced drivers and guides, I believe that we were able to view (and photograph) the wildlife in a manner not possible on some of the other tours/boats. It was a high-end, high-quality trip, and my resultant photos (and memories) bear testament to its success. In my view, 2 days (on the water) would most likely be too short for some (but not all) people, depending on expectation. 4 days is most likely the sweet spot, but I was certainly happy that I’d booked 6. Bravo to everyone associated with such a great operation.

We had a fantastic experience with Journey to Jaguars. The jaguar sightings were incredible. We saw so many, including cubs, and even witnessed a kill! In one afternoon we saw five tapirs. And we witnessed the river otters eating fish and playing. We also spotted anacondas. Ben, who runs the company, was extremely responsive and made a point of checking in with guests throughout the trip, which we really appreciated. A huge shoutout to our guide, Dani. She was an absolute standout. Dani was exceptional at spotting animals and incredibly knowledgeable about the wildlife and habitat. I would hesitate to book again without Dani as a guide, as that level of expertise made all the difference. If you book this trip, definitely request Dani!