The wildlife in Brazil is so rich and abundant that you’d have to try very hard not to see it. Even better, there isn’t only one way to explore Brazil’s natural world. 

From the Cristalino and Teles Peres rivers in the Southern Amazon, to the immense lattice of waterways and floodland in the Pantanal, boats are at the centre of wildlife safaris in Brazil. In the northern Pantanal, you’ll find a number of “flotels” such as the Southwild Jaguar Suites; mobile structures built on a floating system and firmly fixed to the river banks, offering a prime combination of comfort and location. Thanks to balconies and completely unobstructed views of the forest and the rivers, wildlife can be seen directly from your hotel. In this region – home to the highest concentration of jaguars in the world -  the third largest big cat in the world is best tracked and admired as it prowls and rests on the river banks. As a guest of the flotel, you’ll spend about 8 hours a day on the water, following the guidance of your expert guide as you are whisked from one end of the river to another in search of the majestic predator. 

While the focus of these boat outings is to see jaguars, they present opportunities to see more, as the river is teaming with birdlife and other mammals such as capybara, giant river otter, deer and tapir. Further south, while staying at Refugio Ecologico Ararauna, you might enjoy a more leisurely outing on the calm waters of the Rio Correntoso. Running through this large privately-owned farmland, the river is full of exciting sightings. Otter, capybara, tapir, peccary, agouti, jaguar, ocelot, deer, feral pig, coati, spider monkey, howler monkey and more birds than you knew existed…

My favourite water-based safari in Brazil: a sunset canoeing excursion on the Correntoso River in the Southern Pantanal, trying to keep up with a family of giant river otters on the hunt for fish. 

At the top of your Brazil safari packing list should be a sturdy pair of walking boots and socks - a lot of socks! To manage your expectations, the odds of spotting a jaguar while walking on a jungle trail are extremely low. The animal itself will most likely scamper off if it hears your footsteps, and no guide will deliberately pursue a jaguar on foot with guests, for obvious safety reasons. You are likely, however, to come across jaguar footprints, and that alone is absolutely exhilarating! That being said, guided walking safaris might be the best way to not only see a lot of wildlife in the Amazon and the Pantanal, but also get a wider understanding of these habitats. Thanks to the limitless knowledge of the guides who have been walking these trails their whole lives, you are sure to learn a tremendous amount about the surrounding fauna and flora, in all its shapes and sizes, but also about how the indigenous people of these forests live and survive in such unique environments. 

Your sense of smell is also peaked as that distinctive musky odour lingers near a clay lick just visited by peccaries… 

These forest trails don’t require any particular level of fitness and usually are two to three hours in length, leaving heat and mosquitoes as the main challenges to overcome, so don’t forget plenty of water and repellent!