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swimming with anacondas

A Month and a half of Adventures... From Anacondas to Right Whales!

We are gearing up for the next month and a half of epic adventures.

We’re about to embark on back-to-back trips that promise incredible wildlife encounters, breathtaking landscapes, and unforgettable moments.

It’s going to be so good, and I can’t wait to share this journey with you all.

Week 1: Swimming with Anacondas in Brazil

We kick off our adventure in Brazil diving with anacondas. For the first week, we'll be diving in the clear waters of the Formoso River in the heart of the Brazilian Pantanal.

Here, we'll search for the elusive green anaconda, the largest snake in the world. There's something truly thrilling about being in the water with these massive ancient predators.

It’s an experience that challenges our perceptions of snakes and allows us to see them in a whole new light.

We'll also be on the lookout for other fascinating creatures, like giant anteaters, dwarf caimans, capybaras, and a plethora of bird species that make this region so unique.

Week 2: Jaguars and Maned Wolves in the Northern Pantanal

From the water to the dense, lush forests of the Northern Pantanal, our second week will be all about big cats and other iconic wildlife.

This region is one of the best places in the world to photograph jaguars in their natural habitat, and we’re hoping for some spectacular encounters.

There's nothing quite like the thrill of spotting a jaguar stalking through the underbrush or lounging by the riverbanks.

But jaguars aren't the only stars of the show. We’re also on the lookout for giant river otters, caiman, capybaras, tapirs, and the elusive manned wolf, with its long legs and striking red fur.

Week 3 and 4: Exploring the Amazon River with Botos

Our adventures continue as we head deeper into Brazil, this time to the Amazon River. For our third week, we will be immersed in the dense, vibrant rainforests of the Amazon, home to some of the most diverse wildlife on the planet.

Our primary focus will be the Amazon river dolphins, or botos, known for their playful behavior and distinctive pink color.

We have back-to-back trips planned, which gives us ample opportunity to photograph and interact with these incredible dolphins in their natural environment.

Alongside the botos, the Amazon offers an array of wildlife encounters, from colorful macaws, caiman, curious monkeys that are seen regularly at our eco-lodge.

A big goal for me while in the area is to see and photograph a sloth. There are three different species that can be found in the area we will be visiting. I really dont care what species we find. I just really want to photograph one.

Weeks 5: Right Whales in Argentina

After four weeks in the wilds of Brazil, we are flying to Argentina for one of the highlights of our season: spending time diving with right whales in Patagonia.

This part of the journey is truly a dream come true for me. There's a particular magic in observing these gentle giants up close, watching them breach, slap their tails, and with our special government permits, swimming alongside these gentle giants.

We will be based in the Peninsula Valdés, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where these whales come to breed and give birth. It’s a unique opportunity to witness these majestic creatures in a protected environment, and it always leaves me in awe of the beauty and complexity of the natural world.

Magellanic penguin in Patagonia

These trips are more than just a chance to see incredible wildlife; they’re an opportunity to connect with nature, to learn from it, and to help protect these wild places and the wildlife that inhabits them.

As much as we are here to enjoy and photograph the wildlife, we also have a responsibility to protect it.

Ecotourism plays a vital role in conservation efforts, providing financial support for the communities and the protection of habitats and wildlife.

My hope is that these adventures inspire you to appreciate the beauty of our planet and to consider how you, too, can contribute to preserving what remains of our wild places.

Stay tuned for a lot of photos, blogs and videos from our adventures, and thank you for reading and joining us on this journey!

Anaconda Diving Video

We finally created a vlog from our anaconda diving expedition. This was one of the best days I have experienced here in the water. It was an amazing time spent with good friends in an epic setting with amazing wildlife. This was taken from day three of our second week in Brazil. I am going to be cutting a couple more videos from this trip, but for now, here is this one. I hope you enjoy!

I Said Goodbye to Brazil!

Looking at the full belly of a very big snake.

Looking at the full belly of a very big snake.

September 22, 2021 - I am back from Brazil, today is a travel day… writing this up in the Houston airport, and I have proper wifi again! Sadly the wifi at our hotel in Brazil was getting upgraded. So we did not have any wifi for me to update our blogs for you all. I am working on a trip report to share two weeks' worth of craziness. Not sure how I am going to write it up, but it will be fun. The sad part is that I was not able to give nightly updates because this trip was so good. But I will do my best to capture the spirit and essence of what this trip was… a pure raw, off-the-beaten-path adventure in search of a very elusive giant snake.

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Of course, if the only reason we went to Brazil were for the snakes, then we would be missing out on what the heart and soul of the Pantanal wetlands are. It is so rich with natural beauty and wildlife both on land and in the water. It is just a fantastic place.

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So this blog was just to let you know that I miss writing and sharing and am happy to be back in an area where I can, and I will update you guys with a lot of images and possibly a short video vlog edited by my buddy Steve. I regret not getting more underwater video, but I was hell-bent on capturing stills for this trip. So I am hoping I will have a few clips to share for that in it as well. 

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I would get straight onto the trip report, but sadly I have a couple of things that need my attention first. That family emergency I mentioned in my last blog still needs attending too, and I have an article deadline that I missed due to Brazil and the family thing. My latest article for The Journal of Wildlife Photography fall issue is way overdue. So I will be writing through the weekend to get it to them by Monday. In the meantime. I thought I would get this up and to you to let you know I missed you guys, missed sharing stories and images with you all. I am hoping this storm passes quickly so I can get back to some normalcy in my world.

As always, thank you guys for reading!