Brazil, August 2018, Pantanal

[Photo-Kiboko]

Hello,

in 2012 I was in Guyana.

I haven't seen any Jaguar, any giant otter, any ant eater, any tapir, ...

I have seen only one baby Anaconda and two lousy Caimans.

 

I have given South America another chance with a trip to Pantanal.

I went to Brazil In August/September 2018 with my friend Axel.

It was a private photo-tour, with a private guide.

 

The tour:

1x Cuiabá

1x Piuval

1x Rio Claro

3x Porto Jofre Hotel Pantanal Norte

3x Pantanal Hotel (pixaim)

3x Rio Claro

1x Cuiabá

 

I took about 28000 pictures.

I did the post processing of about 1500 pictures.

Currently, I am writing the trip report.

The trip report contains over 300 pictures on day 6 of 12.

The  Trip Report Brazil - Pantanal is on my home page foto-kiboko.de

Unfortunately, I am writing the trip report in German.

You might need a translation tool or just enjoy the pictures.

 

Best regards

Kiboko

 

Here are some appetizers:

 

 

 

[Atravelynn]

No kibokos, but you made up for that very well!  Will check out your link.

[xelas]

Google has done a decent job translating kiboko's adventures! Great photography also. Looking forward to see the 2nd part of your trip.

Edited May 22, 2019 by xelas

[Atravelynn]

One spectacular encounter after the next, but the skimmer and chicks are very special.

 

Are Tag 7-13 still under construction?  I don't have links to them, but I do to the other ones.

Edited May 22, 2019 by Atravelynn

[Photo-Kiboko]

19 hours ago, Atravelynn said:

One spectacular encounter after the next, but the skimmer and chicks are very special.

 

Are Tag 7-13 still under construction?  I don't have links to them, but I do to the other ones.

Hello Atravelynn,

 

Thank you very much.

I am still writing the trip report.

Last night, I have finished Day 6.

Day 7 to 13 will follow as soon as possible.

However, the jaguar-safaris on day 4 and 5 were the highest highlight of the tour.

There are still some highlights left.

I can post a message after upload of additional pages of the trip report.

I assume, the complete trip report will have more than 500 pictures.

 

 

Best regards

Kiboko

[Photo-Kiboko]

On 5/22/2019 at 11:07 AM, xelas said:

Google has done a decent job translating kiboko's adventures! Great photography also. Looking forward to see the 2nd part of your trip.

 

Hello Xelas,

Thank you very much.

I am happy there are some good tools around to translate my text.

Sometimes you might have fun with the translation of bird names. The German name of the "rusty-backed spintail" might be translated into "fox panties".

Best regards

Bernd

[xelas]

Yes, that is so true ! Also, kiboko speak of himself in third person ... 

 

You have mentioned a 1000 Eur pp pn cost. That, hopefully, was not the average cost?! Even if it would include the guide and the transportation (by river and by land), is still very high ?

[Photo-Kiboko]

Hello xelas,

 

I have choosen Kiboko and the third person to avoid the "I".  "I" did this, "I" did that, "I", "I", "I".

On this trip it was a "We", because my friend Axel has joined the trip to the Pantanal.

 

The trip was quite expensive for me (and for Kiboko).

Brasil is not a cheap country. The EUR lost about 30% in value to the dollar.

The season in the Pantanal is short and the people (must) make their money in a short time.

The number of beds is limited and many people like to visit the Pantanal.

 

Very expensive was the Jaguar Safaris in Porto Jofre.

We had an offer for four days Safari for 3750 EUR (per person in a shared room) with full day Safaris in a private boot.

Therefore, we had to reduce the Jaguar Safaris to two days.

However, in two days you can ride on any river several times.

You get many "standard" pictures of Jaguars.

Maybe it gets boring after two days.

Then, you just have to sit and wait to get special pictures (Cat-fight, Jaguar with babies, Hunting scenes).

If we had more time, in Porto Jofre, we had tried to go to different places (go deeper into the state park or Rio Piquirí or the Rio Sao Lorenco downstream),

even if we might miss some Jaguars

 

The other Pousadas (Pantanal Hotel, Rio Claro) were cheaper.

Also, we had booked some activities with a private boat or private car.

However, these Pousadas were not so productive for good photos.

The boat tours on the Rio Claro and the Rio Pixaim were great.

The "safaris" on the transpantaneira with a modified cattle truck can be omitted.

Therefore, one night in Rio Claro and Rio Pixaim with a boat ride in the morning and in the evening are OK.

I would not spent three nights, there again.

I assume there are better Pousadas for wildlife photography in the Pantanal.

I would like to spent more time in Piuval. This was recommended by our travel agency.

But, we didn't because this Pousada is the first from Cuiabá.

Other trip reports has described Piuval as a noisy place were many Brazilians go for a weekend Party.

During our visit, it was quite in Piuval and it was our best Pousada.

 

I like to provide more informations in my conclusions in the trip report.

 

I have only very bad access to the forum from my home PC.

Then, I cannot answer. Also, I cannot see pictures.

I am sorry, if I need several days to answer questions.

[Atravelynn]

"Then, you just have to sit and wait to get special pictures (Cat-fight, Jaguar with babies, Hunting scenes)."

 

You might have to wait for days for something like that.  Your jaguar shots are outstanding.

 

Interesting you found that 3 nights Rio Claro and Pixiam was a bit much.  Thanks for that info.  I think I was there just one night.

 

I'll check the rest of your report once you have had time to finish.

 

Great info, obrigado!

[Hads]

Wunderbar - dankeshoen @Photo-Kiboko.

 

Your Photo's are amazing especially the otters feeding. 10/10

[Photo-Kiboko]

Hello @Atravelynn,

you are right, to get the special pictures it is a combination of time, patience, probability and luck.

 

I have uploaded the trip report until day 9.

The activities are limited at the Pantanal Matto Grosso Hotel.

The highlight was a boat tour on the Rio Pixaim to feed the kingfishers.

If you repeat this on several days, you might get better pictures.

The walking tour and the Safari on a cattle truck was not so spectacular.

 

 

 

Edited May 28, 2019 by Photo-Kiboko
mention included

[Photo-Kiboko]

@Hads thank you very much.

We have seen the otters several times a day.

Usually there were only a few boats around.

The otter pictures are all made in the state park.

This means no feeding.

The otters has hunted the fish themselves.

 

In Pixaim and Rio Claro, some boats feed the otters.

Then, you might get more spectacular pictures.

[Atravelynn]

1 hour ago, Photo-Kiboko said:

Hello @Atravelynn,

you are right, to get the special pictures it is a combination of time, patience, probability and luck. 

 

CASE IN POINT, RIGHT HERE!  WOW!

 

 

 

 

[Zubbie15]

Thanks for sharing @Photo-Kiboko, I really enjoyed the photos and the information, as well as the interesting translations of the bird names that google sometimes offered!

[Photo-Kiboko]

Hello,

 

the job is done.

The trip report is complete with 569 pictures on 79 pages.

Enjoy!

 

@Atravelynn Thank you. There was lots of luck to catch the king fisher on the sensor.

The bird is on the right upper corner of the pictures.

It needed a very hard crop (1980 pixel) to get the bird into the centre.

 

@Zubbie15 Thank You. Maybe some funny translations are caused by typos. I have already corrected many typos.

I am afraid, there will be lots more.

I am very happy these translation tools are available.

 

Best regards

Bernd

 

Some Pictures from Rio Claro:

 

 

 

Edited June 3, 2019 by Photo-Kiboko

[Atravelynn]

Thank you for disclosing you included 569 photos in your report.  It makes me feel better about the onslaught of photos in my Antarctica report.  Now I am feeling a bit more average. 

 

And 569/28,000 ≈

 

2%.  That's always a good figure to share with people who exclaim about your wonderful photos cuz it shows few actually make the grade.  To winnow 28,000 down to under 600 had to be a major task.  But your final results were well worth it.

 

Sonnenralle ohne Sonnenschein  is a gorgeous bird.  I think I might know it as a bittern.

 

Your beer photo proves you are a true German.  My 2/3-ish German heritage is not enough to make me like beer.

 

This is really a who's who (or what's what in the case of animals) for the Pantanal.

 

Edited June 23, 2019 by Atravelynn

[Photo-Kiboko]

20 hours ago, Atravelynn said:

Thank you for disclosing you included 569 photos in your report.  It makes me feel better about the onslaught of photos in my Antarctica report.  Now I am feeling a bit more average. 

[...]

 

Sonnenralle ohne Sonnenschein  is a gorgeous bird.  I think I might know it as a bittern.

 

Your beer photo proves you are a true German.  My 2/3-ish German heritage is not enough to make me like beer.

 

This is really a who's who (or what's what in the case of animals) for the Pantanal.

 

 

@Atravelynn

Thank you for reading the complete photo-reportage.

I enjoy your trip report to Antarctica. I am still reading.

I had 41140 clicks after the trip to Antarctica.

The pictures in my trip report are only from the selection of the "first view".

 

I also like the sunbittern. Unfortunately, we have seen this bird only two times without sunshine.

 

Even with 3/3 German heritage, I do not drink much beer.

Normally, I do not drink alcohol.

After a long Photo-day with lots of pee-warm and tasteless water out of a plastic bottle, Kiboko enjoys a cold beer.

 

I am happy, I got a good mixture of animals in the Pantanal. But, there are many more species.

It is just an overview of the more common animals and birds.

 

I am just back from a trip to Botswana.

Another 25059 pictures are waiting for selection and post processing.

 

Best regards

 

 

 

 

[xelas]

8 hours ago, Photo-Kiboko said:

I am just back from a trip to Botswana.

Another 25059 pictures are waiting for selection and post processing.

 

I will never ever again said a word to Zvezda about the number of clicks per day; she pales in comparison with you @Photo-Kiboko.

[Atravelynn]

12 hours ago, Photo-Kiboko said:

 

@Atravelynn

Thank you for reading the complete photo-reportage.

I enjoy your trip report to Antarctica. I am still reading.

I had 41140 clicks after the trip to Antarctica.  Please explain the clicks to me.  Mouse clicks?  Is this per year, per month, your whole life?

The pictures in my trip report are only from the selection of the "first view".

 

I also like the sunbittern. Unfortunately, we have seen this bird only two times without sunshine.  The sun makes a big difference with this species.

 

Even with 3/3 German heritage, I do not drink much beer.

Normally, I do not drink alcohol.

After a long Photo-day with lots of pee-warm and tasteless water out of a plastic bottle, Kiboko enjoys a cold beer.  I understand and you photograph the hops nicely.

 

I am happy, I got a good mixture of animals in the Pantanal. But, there are many more species.

It is just an overview of the more common animals and birds.  With fantastic shots.

 

I am just back from a trip to Botswana. Great.

Another 25059 pictures are waiting for selection and post processing.  Wow, it seems that will increase your click #s.

 

Best regards

 

 

 

 

 

[xelas]

On 6/24/2019 at 1:42 PM, Photo-Kiboko said:

Normally, I do not drink alcohol.

 

Hmmm, then there is no traces of a Slovenian heritage in you . 

[Photo-Kiboko]

2 hours ago, xelas said:

 

Hmmm, then there is no traces of a Slovenian heritage in you . 

@xelas Sorry, no traces of a Slovenian heritage.

Germany is not everywhere a beer country.

Because of the Roman heritage, the South-West of Germany is a Wine Country.

 

14 hours ago, Atravelynn said:

Please explain the clicks to me.  Mouse clicks?  Is this per year, per month, your whole life?

 

@Atravelynn

A "click" is a exposure with the camera. However, not every click will be a picture.

Wildlife photography might change quickly. Then, there is no time to switch from low speed to high speed.

Therefore, all cameras are in high speed mode (CH).

My camera is faster as my pointer finger. Usually, the camera makes two "clicks" for a single picture.

This doubles the number of clicks by accident.

Also, it is good practice to make several pictures from the same motive.

A bird might close the lid for a fraction of a second. You can avoid this, with a burst of two to three "clicks".

 

The number of clicks is for a trip. I note the numbers before and after a trip. Then, it is an easy calculation for Excel .

Antarctica was a four-week trip, including stopovers in Buenos Aires, Ushuaia and a visit of Colonia del Sacramento.

At this time I had about 10k to 15k clicks on a two week trip. Therefore, is  was in range.

 

The Pantanal was more than average, because of the impressive number of wildlife.

 

Botswana was also a special tour. I have been in the Khwai Region on an private concession fro a fly-in Safari.

Then, I was on the Pangolin-Gun-Ship on the Chobe.

I felt a little bit naked, with just a D500 and a 500/4  and a very old D4 with 70-200/2.8.

The other photographers on the "gun-ship" had several big lenses. (800/5.6, 600/4 and at least one D5).

We stayed long for interesting animals to get special photos (i.e. kingfishers in flight, hovering fish-eagle).

Also, Kiboko has played with camera settings (high-key / low-key) with limited success.

In this environment Kiboko had much more clicks as usual.

 

Best regards

Bernd

 

 

 

 

 

[Atravelynn]

A "click" is a exposure with the camera. However, not every click will be a picture.  --   Ok, I get it.  Thanks!  It was such a high # that I got confused.

 

Now this would be a catchy trip report title:  A Little Bit Naked on the Pangolin Gun Ship!

[Photo-Kiboko]

On 6/25/2019 at 8:38 PM, Atravelynn said:

Now this would be a catchy trip report title:  A Little Bit Naked on the Pangolin Gun Ship!

 

This will be a nice title.

 

The trip report will need some time. Sorry, it is not the first on the To-Do list.

I have done a first view of the pictures and did the post-processing of a small selection.

You may find two galleries with 24 pictures each (one from Khwai and one from Chobe)

Also, I have added a gallery with 24 pictures from Zakouma.

Picture Galleries on foto-kiboko

 

Have Fun

Bernd