Prepare for Your Adventure
What Should I Bring?
Preparing well for your SouthWild adventure will help you stay comfortable, protect your equipment, and make the most of every wildlife encounter. Whether you are searching for Jaguars in the Pantanal, photographing Harpy Eagles and Macaws in the Amazon, or exploring some of South America's most remote wilderness, a few carefully chosen items can make a significant difference.
Clothing
Our destinations are informal and practical. Lightweight, breathable clothing designed for outdoor activities is ideal.
We recommend bringing:
- 2–3 pairs of lightweight, light-colored field trousers (brands such as Columbia, REI, Patagonia, Outdoor Research or similar).
- 2–3 long-sleeved field shirts, which provide excellent protection from both sun exposure and mosquitoes during early mornings, late afternoons and evening activities.
- 1–2 lightweight cotton T-shirts or polo shirts per day for relaxing around the lodge.
- 4 pairs of tall white cotton socks, long enough to tuck your trousers into during forest walks to help reduce exposure to insects and ticks.
- Comfortable walking shoes or lightweight sneakers. Lightweight shoes that dry quickly are ideal.
- Waterproof sandals, Crocs or flip-flops for rainy boat excursions or around the lodge.
- Underwear and lightweight sleepwear.
- A swimsuit, and optionally a sun shirt if swimming interests you.
Cold Weather
Although most visitors expect tropical weather, occasional cold fronts can occur, especially in the Southern Hemisphere winter.
Bring:
- A lightweight windbreaker for cool mornings and boat rides.
- From May through September, consider packing a warm insulated jacket, gloves and a winter hat. While cold fronts are uncommon, temperatures can occasionally drop dramatically for one or two days to as low as 9 degrees Celsius (50 degrees F).
Rain Protection
Even during the dry season, tropical rain showers can occur.
We recommend:
- A lightweight rain poncho or loose-fitting rain suit.
- Three large plastic bags stored inside your daypack. If it rains, bag your shoes, cameras, and electronic equipment.
Insect Protection
Insects vary greatly depending on destination and season.
We recommend:
- An insect repellent containing 20–40% DEET or 20% Picaridin.
- Prior to leaving on your trip, spray permethrin on one pair of field trousers from knees down, one pair of walking shoes, and two pairs of light-colored, cotton socks.
- Anti-itch cream for occasional insect bites.
Binoculars
A good pair of binoculars will dramatically improve your wildlife experience, even if you are primarily a photographer.
We recommend:
- 8×42 Zeiss terra binoculars as the best all-around choice for most guests.
Camera Equipment
SouthWild destinations are among the world's finest wildlife photography locations.
Bring:
- Camera body (mirrorless or DSLR).
- Telephoto lens (300–600 mm is ideal for most wildlife).
- Wide-angle or standard zoom lens for landscapes and lodge photography.
- Plenty of memory cards.
- Multiple spare batteries.
- Battery chargers.
- Lens cleaning kit.
- Protective rain cover.
- USB flash drive or portable SSD for backing up photographs.
- Camera owner's manual (printed or digital), particularly for new equipment.
Protect your cameras from dust, humidity and occasional rain showers.
Sun Protection
The tropical sun really burns.
Bring:
- High-SPF sunscreen (SPF 50 or higher).
- Lip balm with sun protection.
- Polarized sunglasses to reduce glare from the water.
- A stiff-brimmed, French-foreign-legion style (flaps on side and back), high SPF hat that will not blow off on fast boat rides (or that attaches to your shirt with a clip).
- A lightweight gaiter for neck and face for additional protection from reflected sunlight.
Waterproof Protection
Boat excursions are central to many SouthWild experiences.
A small waterproof dry bag is one of the most useful items you can bring for protecting cameras, phones, passports and other valuables.
Footwear
Comfortable footwear makes a significant difference.
Bring:
- Lightweight walking shoes or trail shoes.
- Waterproof sandals or Crocs.
- Avoid heavy hiking boots unless your trip includes mountain hikes.
Lighting
Many SouthWild lodges offer exceptional nocturnal wildlife activities.
Bring:
- A quality headlamp for hands-free use.
- A small backup flashlight.
Additional Recommended Items
- Reusable water bottle (1–1.5 litre Nalgene or stainless steel bottle).
- Personal toiletries.
- Prescription medications.
- Small daypack for daily excursions.
- Portable backup storage.
- International power plug adapter or specific adaptors for Brazil, Peru, Chile, etc.
- Passport and any required visas.
- Travel insurance documentation (if travel insurance is required or if you want travel insurance).
- Approximately R$700–2,500 per person in Brazilian currency for gratuities, beverages and incidental personal expenses.
Packing Tips
Whenever possible, travel with soft-sided duffel rather than hard-shell suitcases. Such a bag can be hard on the bottom and have wheels at the bottom end for easy rolling in airports. Soft bags are considerably easier than boxy suitcases for transport on boats, small aircraft and safari vehicles.
If you have favorite snacks or special dietary preferences, you may wish to bring a few items from home. Our lodges provide freshly-prepared meals and, if you inform us in advance, we can accommodate all dietary requirements.
Finally, remember that when in the field, comfort and functionality are far more important than "fashion", whatever that is. Practical clothing, proper sun protection, reliable rain gear and well-protected camera equipment will allow you to concentrate on what truly matters: experiencing some of the world's most extraordinary wildlife in remarkable natural settings.
Ready for your adventure?
Let SouthWild craft your perfect wildlife expedition.
From Jaguars in the Pantanal to Spectacled Bears in the Andes, our team will handle every detail so you can focus on the experience.