Southwild Naturezas

guide team built around two decades of jaguar knowledge

SouthWild Naturezas is a seven-room expedition flotel moored on the Cuiabá River in northern Pantanal, at the point where the Three Brothers River (Rio Três Irmãos) meets the main channel, around 6 kilometres upstream from Porto Jofre. The vessel launched in 2025 as the smallest and most intimate offering in SouthWild’s portfolio.

SouthWild is driven by American biologist and conservationist Dr Charles Munn, whose work over three decades has made the northern Pantanal the most accessible place in the world for jaguar observation. When BBC Wildlife or NatGeo documentary crews have filmed jaguars in this region, they have typically done so through SouthWild’s network and expertise. The Naturezas is SouthWild’s most focused property: smaller than the adjacent Jaguar Lodge, and designed specifically for guests who want minimal numbers and maximum attention from the guide team.

The vessel sits at one of the most productive sections of the river. Jaguars in northern Pantanal have developed the habit of hunting along the raised riverbanks, which brings them into clear, prolonged view from low motorboats on the water below. Sightings are consistent and often close.

The public areas centre on a large, mostly glass-walled dining and lounge space that wraps the upper interior and gives panoramic views over the river and surrounding wetland. This is also where wildlife lectures are given each day. Above it sits an expansive open top deck with shaded areas and a bar, the best vantage point for scanning the treeline and open water between outings.

Rooms

Guest accommodation at SouthWild Naturezas is in 7 en-suite rooms, all with air conditioning (silent, adjustable) and screened windows that allow cross-ventilation from the river. The small room count is a deliberate design choice: it keeps guide-to-guest ratios low and ensures prime positions on the observation boats during outings.

• Cabin : x7 : en-suite, with air conditioning, screened windows, river views

Activities

SouthWild Naturezas is almost exclusively focused on wildlife observation by motorboat, with jaguar sightings as the centrepiece and a strong supporting cast of other Pantanal species throughout.

• Motorboat safari (twice daily, 4 hours each, jaguar-focused)
• Daily wildlife lectures by onboard naturalist guide

The twice-daily jaguar outings are the core of every day. Each runs for four hours, covering river channels across the wider area in low, stable motorboats with cushioned seating and expert naturalist guides whose primary role is tracking, positioning and reading jaguar behaviour. In our experience with the SouthWild team, the quality of the guides is consistently high.