Brazil: Rare Mammals & Brilliant Birds - September 2008 SORRY - SOLD OUT FOR 2008!

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Brazil, a country larger than the continental United States, has an amazing diversity of flora and fauna, habitats and biomes. Our trip takes us to two important yet very different regions, the dense southeastern rainforest and the more open wetlands and savannah of the Pantanal. The southern Pantanal is the best place in the Neotropics for encounters with large mammals, as well as an amazing area for birds and reptiles. We stay in two lodges where there has been no hunting for many years, and wildlife is accessible and easily seen. Even the elusive Jaguar is seen regularly at both our lodges. In the southeast we visit the last remaining stronghold of the Muriqui, the largest primate in South America. A large tract of forest protects this species along with a diversity of endemic birds and mammals.

From Sao Paulo we head to the southern Pantanal. We spend 3 nights at two lodges, each with its own special attractions. Mammals that can be seen here include Marsh, Pampas, and Gray Brocket Deer, Giant Anteater, Yellow Armadillo, Brown Capuchin Monkey, Black and Gold Howler Monkey, White-lipped and Collared Peccaries, Crab-eating Fox, Crab-eating Raccoon, and Capybara. On night drives we may see Maned Wolf, Brazilian Tapir, and Ocelot. We will see numerous ibis, storks, and herons. Hyacinth Macaws and many other parrot species will be seen daily. Moving east, we visit Caraça National Park in the mountains, where we stay in a converted monastery. The highlight here are the semi-tame Maned Wolves that are called up onto the monastery steps by retired monks. Almost every night these rare carnivores come to feast on chicken, allowing us a close and unforgettable encounter. Surrounded by spectacular scenery, this area also has numerous highland birds and several monkeys and other mammals. We move east and spend two full days at Fazenda Montes Claros, a private reserve that is home to 4 endemic primates. This is a rich area for birds too, and we will see many of the 205 species that have been recorded here, as we walk in the forest accompanied by local biologists. NEW FOR THIS YEAR: we will travel east to Espirito Santo to visit a reserve where we will see Maned Sloth, a very rare mammal. Please join me on a trip with a unique focus on endangered mammals in Southern Brazil.

Cost: 2008  $4,850 US
from Sao Paulo Dates: Sept 21 to Oct 6