Brazil | Wolf Valley Camps Pre-trip Extension with Ann and Rob Simpson

Overnight flight.

Arrive in Belo Horizonte, transfer to hotel and have dinner.

Take shuttle back to the airport for your flight to Barreiras. Upon arrival you will be met by your local guide and then journey the 150 miles by way of paved roads to the cliff and valley region of Wolf Camps, situated in the Parnaíba Headwaters National Park. Located in the wild savannas, Wolf Camp is the only place in the world where you are almost guaranteed to see the endangered, Maned Wolves and flocks of 40-100 Hyacinth Macaws in perfect light. Settle in at the camp and then begin with wildlife viewing and dinner.

This morning (4:30 am), coffee and a light breakfast will be served before you head to the macaw blind, just before dawn, to prepare for the arrival of Hyacinth Macaws who will come to feast on palm nuts in the dry forest clearing. The rare Hyacinth Macaw was near extinction, but conservation efforts, including ecotourism, helped save this spectacular bird, that is actually the largest species of Macaw. Locals now help guard the bird and protect its habitat as an economically significant natural resource. Return to camp at around 9 am for a proper breakfast and then drive 16 miles out to the center of the park to enjoy the amazing cliff scenery and search for birds such as Burrowing Owls, Red-legged Seriemas, Greater Rea and also nesting Blue and Gold Macaws. In the evening, you’ll have the chance to see the Maned Wolf. The world’s tallest wild canid, this long-legged, approximately 55 lb. wolf is considered to be the most attractive wild member of the canid family. The wolf is a solitary, specialized hunter of large rodents and birds in the tropical savannas and open, dry woodlands of Brazil and Bolivia.

Full day exploring on the Wolf Cliffs Camp, Hyacinth Macaw blind, birding. Some species are more readily observed in the MatoGrosso Do Sol than on the main Pantanal trip including Giant Anteaters, Giant Armadillo, Peccaries (2 sp.), Pampus deer (4 sp. of deer), Tufted eared Marmosets, Black and Gold Howler Monkeys, Brazilian Porcupine, the rare Hoary Fox and of course Maned Wolves. Birds more easily observed include King Vulture, Swallow tailed Hummingbird, Russet mantled Foliage gleaner, Collared Crescentchest, Curl crested Jay. Some species are cerrado (tropical savannah) specialists like Cock tailed Tyrant, White rumped and White banded Tanagers. Hyacinth Macaws are readily seen but there will be others commonly seen like Blue and Gold, Red shouldered, and Green Macaws which will be nesting when we visit. The rare Blaze winged Parakeet is a specialty of the area. Also rare the Jenday Parakeet, a close relative to the extinct Carolina Parakeet, is a good possibility at Wolf Cliffs Camp. In the evenings watching Maned Wolves.

Early morning Hyacinth Macaw blind and then breakfast. Time a leisure to explore on own. Evening watching Maned Wolves.

Early morning Hyacinth Macaw blind and then breakfast. Morning at leisure or in the blind. After lunch en route back to Wolf Valley Camp stop at a century old grove of mango tress where Black and Gold Howler Monkeys lounge en route back to Wolf Camp.

This morning drive approximately 40 minutes to an area of the park where habituated Bearded Capuchin monkeys use their own specially selected igneous rock to smash open the same palm nuts that the Hyacinth Macaws love to eat.

This morning drive to Barreiras for flight to Belo Horizante and then continue to Sao Paulo to connect to Cuiaba to start your main program.