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South America

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Come watch wildlife with us! Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris' distinctive worldwide tours travel to destinations unique for abundant and photogenic mammals, birds and nature. We emphasize maximum field time and action-packed wildlife photography during the best season at each destination. Hand-picked leaders and local guides combine amiable personalities with extensive knowledge of each region. All our tours provide a non-smoking policy in small groups. As a small company, we provide a personal touch and attention to every detail - just as we have done for over thirty years. We are dedicated to delivering the best possible wildlife encounters to you. Join us for an amazing experience!

Reserve early! Our trips can fill fast. To reserve your space, follow the instructions in each itinerary. Please contact us if you have any questions. If a trip is full, ask us about our wait list and other options.

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Guyana

Destination (click for itinerary) Days Dates Group
Size
Leader
Guyana Birding the Wild Tropics 15 January 31, 2013 -
February 15, 2013
8 Jim Danzenbaker

Hoatzin
Hoatzin

Guyana is a hidden jewel in the expansive rainforest and savannahs of northeastern South America. Located between Venezuela and Suriname on the Guianan Shield, Guyana covers 83,012 square miles and boasts vast expanses of unbroken rainforests, stunning waterfalls, and healthy savannahs. Each habitat holds different and bountiful wildlife from Giant Anteater, King Vulture, Crab-eating Fox and Jaguar to Giant Otters, Guianan Cock-of-the-Rock, Harpy Eagle, and Crimson Topaz Hummingbirds. Wildlife is abundant and easily approachable so photographic opportunities abound. Guyana is home to over 770 species of birds and 225 species of mammals, including anteaters, armadillos, cats, sloths, coatis, peccary, tapir, and monkeys. We will travel by plane, 4x4 vehicle, and motorboat over unbroken tropical rainforests, across large expanses of savannah, and through large rivers and meandering channels. Comfortable lodges are located in prime habitat and wonderfully hospitable Amerindian natives will prepare delicious food for us. A visit to Guyana is like a visit to the Neotropics of the past.

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Brazil

Destination (click for itinerary) Days Dates Group
Size
Leader
Brazil Pantanal FULL 18 August 13, 2012 -
August 30, 2012
5 Helder Freitas
Brazil Pantanal 18 August 28, 2012 -
September 14, 2012
5 Helder Freitas

Jaguar in Argentina
Jaguar

This exciting tour is designed to maximize field time for watching and photographing the diverse wildlife of the Pantanal, especially Jaguar. The rivers and marshes that nourish the savanna and woodlands provide a diverse combination of ecosystems. Jaguars are sighted on the Paraguay River and along the Cuiabá upstream from Porto Jofre at the end of the Transpantaneira. We have included both of these Jaguar hotspots. Wildlife at this season concentrates around water in the hot, dry months before the big rains beginning normally in December. Jaguars appear along the riverbanks especially when the weather is hot and sunny. Encounter other Pantanal specialties, maybe Giant Anteater, Southern Tamandua, Tayra, South American Tapir and Yellow Anaconda. Hyacinth Macaws and many other birds are sure to provide great photography. This trip includes five days on the Paraguay River and eight days along the wildlife rich Transpantaneira.

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Argentina

Destination (click for itinerary) Days Dates Group
Size
Leader
Argentina FULL
Moreno Glacier and Orcas on Peninsula Valdes
8 April 1, 2013 -
April 8, 2013
6 Luis Segura

Orca in Argentina
Orca ©Adam Riley

This tour will take us on a wonderful visit to the Moreno Glacier, Estancia Marshes and Laguna Nimes in El Calefate, then we'll fly to Trelew in Argentina and drive to Puerto Pirámides on Peninsula Valdes on the east coast. There we'll spend days focused on Orca action when sea lion pups, the favorite prey for these huge acrobatic dolphins, are about to go to sea for the first time. Orcas learned how to use wave action to lunge onto the beach to grab naïve pups, creating a survival tension seldom witnessed. Although it's challenging to get photos and only eight beach permits are available per day, the experience is amazing. This extension includes four full days of Orca photography permits on the beach of Argentina's Peninsula Valdes.

This can be taken together with our Chile's Easter Island and Patagonia tour.

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Chile

Destination (click for itinerary) Days Dates Group
Size
Leader
Chile's Patagonia & Easter Island
(El Calafate extension available and
add Peninsula Valdes (see Argentina above))
20 March 12, 2013 -
March 31, 2013
10 Claudio Vidal

Greater Rhea in Chile
Greater Rhea

Chile is a country of contrast, from the arid High Andes in the north to the sub-Antarctic islands in the south. It includes more than 4,000 kilometers of Pacific Ocean coastline, including Easter Island 3,800 kilometers offshore. The central valleys of Chile are no more than 180 kilometers wide, with the towering peaks of the Andes framing a patchwork of cultivation. Travel to Easter Island for cultural sites and wonderful wildlife, then south to Puerto Montt where the Humboldt Current supports many seabirds and marine mammals. From pelagic trips in the north to the wilderness and mountains of Patagonia and Torres del Paine National Park, there is a wonderful diversity of fauna that we hope to encounter.

Two extensions to Argentina are available: The Moreno Glacier at El Calafate, or the Moreno Glacier plus the Orcas on the Peninsula Valdes. Read itinerary for details.

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Patagonia

Destination (click for itinerary) Days Dates Group
Size
Leader
Patagonia Mountains and Glaciers NEW
El Calafate in Argentina and Torres del Paine in Chile
Can be taken with our Antarctic Peninsula Expedition
8 January 16, 2013 -
January 23, 2013
12 Claudio Vidal

Spread across Argentina and Chile, Patagonia is an amazing area to explore. Visit the extensive Perito Moreno Glacier outside of El Calafate, Argentina, a scenic and bustling frontier town. Spend four dynamic days exploring Chile's Torres del Paine National Park with its wonderful diversity of fauna and spectacular scenery. Our nights are spent in three great lodges serving delicious meals located in superb areas – Kau Yatun in El Calafate, and Las Torres and Remota in Chile.

This safari can be taken as an extension to our Antarctic Peninsula Expedition on December 30, 2012 to January 17, 2013.

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Galapagos

Destination (click for itinerary) Days Dates Group
Size
Leader
Galapagos Evolution's Playground FULL 18 May 6, 2012 -
May 23, 2012
14 Juan Manuel Salcedo
Galapagos Evolution's Playground FULL 18 May 19, 2013 -
June 5, 2013
14 Juan Manuel Salcedo
Galapagos Evolution's Playground 18 July 28, 2013 -
August 14, 2013
14 Juan Manuel Salcedo
Galapagos Evolution's Playground 18 May 18, 2014 -
June 4, 2014
14 Juan Manuel Salcedo
Galapagos Evolution's Playground 18 June 15, 2014 -
July 2, 2014
14 Juan Manuel Salcedo

Galapagos Penguins in Galapagos
Galapagos Penguins

The Galapagos Islands are truly magical and known for their extraordinary wildlife unafraid of tourists. Imagine a special expedition that caters to the pace of nature lovers and photographers, as you follow an incredible itinerary that offers maximum time in the field to one of the world's most intriguing natural history destinations. You'll find all this traveling with the best resident natural-history guides in the Galapagos islands and a fantastic crew and captain among endemic landbirds, breeding boobies, albatross, penguins, sea turtles, sharks and much, much more! We offer a 15-day voyage aboard the Samba catering to those that demand maximum time in the field for great photography from dawn to dusk – the most in-depth Galapagos tour you will find!

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Colombia

Destination (click for itinerary) Days Dates Group
Size
Leader
Colombia FULL 8 May 2, 2014 -
May 18, 2014
17 Doug and Gail Cheeseman
with Ricardo Clark

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All material © Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris.
All photos © Doug or Ted Cheeseman, unless otherwise credited.

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