Albeit we are now in a much cooler place - Sao Paulo - my photograph today is a last reminder of the Pantanal - a Tabebuia tree - you see the yellow and pink ones all over the drier northern end of the Pantanal - they only flower in the dry season and having no leaves seems to enhance the vibrancy of the colours.....the purplish variety were just starting to come out as we left - in a couple more weeks and they will be as vibrant - you don't however see any of th...

We left Araras lodge yesterday after breakfast -but not before watching two hyacinth macaws sitting squawking - then going absolutely silent and preening each other - one even had its wing around the other - convincing me even more that the trade in these birds is nothing but cruel - they were clearly very content and as happy as birds can be! We set off up the Transpantaneira for the last time stopping and watching the array of birds and caymen at some of the d...

Again we beat the alarm - we were awake by 4.15 and up and about before the alarm timed for 4.30 could activate! We met Sergio at 5am and walked using torches to the tower - our arrival caused a rapid evacuation of it by some capuchin overnight stayers. This also meant we needed to be careful where we trod as they had left some new poo parcels! We sat and watched everything wake up starting with the chachalacas - the first one setting off a chain reaction with ...

Today, after breakfast, we left the Jaguar ecological reserve - a grand title for a compact lodge - but the welcome and the closeness to the worlds jaguar hotspot made our 5 nights and 4 days an absolute must for this holiday. With everything packed we wended our way back up the Transpantaneira highway - not a lot of wildlife to stop and view - a marsh deer in water with a smooth billed anni on her back, some jabaru storks and a few hawks - so we we were at ou...

Up at the usual time albeit the first chachalaca called at 4am - they are the earliest birds I know. At 6.25 we walked to breakfast and as it wasn't out we walked up the path looking at the birds in the garden. We noted a new car outside the gate so reckoned Sergio had arrived. A few moments later a tall slim middle aged Brazilian approached us and introduced himself - this was Sergio our guide for the next 3 days - he had arrived at 2am after a day guiding in th...