Jaguar Tours by Wildlife Trails

Jaguar Tours

The jaguar is the 3^rd largest feline after the tiger and the lion and the largest in the Western Hemisphere. This spotted cat most closely resembles the leopard physically, although it usually has a sturdier build. Its behavioral characteristics however, are more akin to that of the tiger. Jaguar tours offer an amazing opportunity to study these magnificent cats in their own environment.

Where to see them

The jaguar resides almost exclusively in South America where it is the chief predator, ahead of the Cougar. Their habitat ranges from rainforest to swamp areas, deciduous forest, pampas grassland and scrub woodland. Jaguar tours normally take place in central, west Brazil in the vast tropical wetlands of the Pantanal. The Pantanal is nothing like its Brazilian cousin the Amazon rainforest; it is actually more akin to the plains of Africa. Its wide open spaces make it much easier to spot wildlife than in the dark, thick Amazonian jungle.

For a comprehensive guide on travelling to the Pantanal you can visit Wildlife Trails.

Jaguar Tours in the Pantanal

The Pantanal is home to the largest, most dense jaguar population in the world, making it the best destination for jaguar tours. The region is an amazing network of rivers, lagoons and ponds, covering around 210,000 sqkm, making it the world’s largest contiguous wetland. It’s therefore the perfect habitat for the water-loving jaguar and an unmatched array of wildlife species. This includes the giant otter, banded armadillo, giant anteater, maned wolf and the bush dog. The region is also famous for its bird species, most notably the endangered Hyacinth Macaw.

Jaguar Safari

Jaguar spotting is normally done by boat; tours cruise up and down the rivers and tributaries in search of the elusive cat. Your chances of a sighting are extremely good with a tour guide who knows the water-ways well. It is estimated that on a day safari, you have around a 90% chance of an encounter. You’ll enjoy multiple sightingson jaguar tours over 4 or 5 days. The best time to view the jaguar is at dawn or dusk; safaris normally depart at these times. This enables you to spend the peak of the daytime heat resting in your lodge. Jaguar tours arebest taken in the driest months of September or October, where they’ll gather around well-known watering holes.

More Fascinating Facts

The jaguar gets its name from the Native American word ‘yaguar,’ meaning – he who kills with one leap.
A jaguar’s weight can vary from 124 lbs. up to 211 lbs.
It has one of the longest life spans of all felines.
Unlike other cats, jaguars love water, in fact they are very good swimmers. Seeing them in the water is a highlight of many jaguar tours.
In mythology, the jaguar is portrayed as the creature which gave humans the power over fire.
They have an exceptionally powerful bite, relative to the other big cats, allowing them to pierce the shells of armoured reptiles. They also employ a unique killing method; their bite pierces directly through the temporal bones of the skull between the ears and punctures the brain.
Its favoured prey is the capybara (the world’s largest species of rodent), you’ll also spot plenty of these on jaguar tours.

Black jaguars are often mistaken for panthers. They are never truly black though; on close inspection you can normally still see the tell-tale markings.

Jaguar tours offer a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity to come face to face with this captivating creature.

If you’d like any more information about travel, accommodation, Pantanal, tours and safaris on your jaguar tours, we’d be happy to help, click here to visit Wildlife Trails.

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