Jaguar August Trip Report 2025

Porto Jofre, Brazil
August 23 - 29, 2025


 August 23, 2025 — Arrival Day

We woke up in Cuiabá and were picked up by our driver for the four-hour journey to our lodge in the Pantanal.

I don’t pay much attention to cities when I am there, I’m not a fan. I just want to get in and get out as quickly as I can.

For me, the adventure begins out here in the bush, where the real story starts.

It takes about an hour to leave the pavement behind and hit the dusty, bumpy Transpantaneira road. That’s when the wildlife starts appearing.

The heat today was intense, though, and most animals were tucked away. Early mornings and late afternoons are always best for wildlife, midday during the dry season is just too hot.

What struck me most was how different the road felt compared to July. 

Back then it was alive: birds everywhere, caiman stacked on top of each other, just teeming with life. 

Now in the dry season, much of the water is gone, and so are the birds and caiman. I’m excited to get on the river tomorrow, where the wildlife will be concentrated. 

It should be good.

By 7 PM we were out on a night safari along the Transpantaneira. I love these drives, you never know what’s going to appear.

Photography isn’t the best since you’re shooting strobes, and most animals are shy, quick to run or fly off.

But it’s still exciting to catch a glimpse of the nocturnal world.

Tonight, we found a great horned owl, a bit distant, but always impressive to see. 

Owl’s are my favorite bird species.

I managed to capture a nice proof-of-life shot, better than I expected, honestly. The backdrop helped a lot. The colors of the leaves in the trees behind the owl added some texture to the image, almost as if the landscape itself was painting the picture for me.

The wind picked up while we were out there, which made things harder. Mammals rely heavily on scent, and when the wind’s strong, they tend to lay low and move much more cautiously.

On the way back to the lodge, we came across a nightjar (or nighthawk) laying down on the side of the road.

We got super close. It never moved. This little guy relied on its camouflage to stay hidden. 

A fun little encounter to end the night.

Overall, a nice way to start the trip.

Tomorrow the adventure really begins, the day kicks off at 6 AM.

LETS GOOO!!!