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    Luxury Wetlands Safaris made for you

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    Explore wildlife-rich wetlands on foot and by boat

    Luxury walking safaris and boat cruises among rare wildlife in the world’s remarkable wetlands

    Our wetlands safaris take you into deltas and floodplains, where seasonal waters support a remarkable variety of wildlife. Explore these landscapes on classic game drives, walking safaris and boat excursions.

    You can cruise through Kerala’s backwaters aboard a traditional houseboat, passing plantations and paddy fields. Search for tigers in Nepal’s Chitwan National Park, or journey through the wetlands and lagoons of Argentina’s Iberá.

    For a chance to see jaguars in Brazil, head to the Pantanal, the world’s largest tropical wetland. We recommend exploring by boat with expert naturalist guides, who know how to read the riverbanks for tracks, calls and other signs of wildlife, including giant otters. On foot, keep your eyes open for giant anteaters, marsh deer and elusive maned wolves.

    In northern Botswana, the floodplains, palm islands and open savannah of the Okavango Delta provide habitat for the Big Five: lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo. Alongside cheetahs and antelope such as the semi-aquatic sitatunga.

    In Romania, pair visits to historic castles with birdwatching in the Danube Delta, where you can spot Dalmatian pelicans, herons and colourful kingfishers. And in Australia’s Top End, venture through Kakadu National Park’s seasonal floodplains and permanent billabongs. Look out for black-necked storks and brolgas, known for their elaborate courtship dances.

    Get in touch to start planning your own itinerary with our travel designers. They’ll arrange private, expert-led excursions, recommend luxury lodges and advise on the best times to visit for wildlife viewing.

    From our experts

    Experiences picked by our marine safari specialists

    • Cruise the Okavango Delta in a mokoro preview image
    • Seek jaguars in the Pantanal preview image
    • Explore Kakadu National Park preview image
    • Track tigers in Nepal preview image
    • Watch birds on the Danube Delta preview image

    Cruise the Okavango Delta in a mokoro

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    Navigate the channels of the Okavango Delta in a traditional dugout canoe, or mokoro, poled by an expert guide who’ll help you spot painted reed frogs, crocodiles and red lechwe.

    Seek jaguars in the Pantanal

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    Head out with a jaguar habituation team in Brazil’s Pantanal to track these big cats on foot. Or search for them by boat along the waterways.

    Explore Kakadu National Park

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    Head into Kakadu National Park in Australia’s Top End with Aboriginal rangers. Look out for rare birds and crocodiles in wetlands and billabongs before visiting ancient rock art sites.

    Track tigers in Nepal

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    Explore Nepal’s Chitwan National Park with expert guides, searching its forests for Bengal tigers and its rivers for endangered gharials, fish-eating crocodiles with long, narrow snouts.

    Watch birds on the Danube Delta

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    Look for white-tailed eagles and European rollers along the Danube Delta’s waterways and surrounding woodlands. Watch pelicans, glossy ibises and pygmy cormorants gather in large colonies.

    Luxury wetlands safari accommodation

    There are many incredible places to stay on a wetlands safari. Here are some of our favourites, handpicked by our safari experts:

    Top End

    Bamurru Plains
    A luxury bush camp on the vast floodplains of the Northern Territory, Bamurra Plains is a wonderful way to experience this unique and beautiful landscape. Set within 300km2 of private land to the west of Kakudu National Park, guests will enjoy access to miles of undisturbed coastal floodplains, savannah woodland and paperbark swamps. Reconnecting with nature needn’t mean going back to basics, and ten safari-style bungalows ensure a comfortable and relaxing stay. Each bungalow overlooks the floodplains and features mesh walls so you can hear, see and almost touch the wildlife and wilderness that surrounds you. Décor reflects the region’s indigenous, hunting and pastoral history with buffalo horns, explorer maps, Aboriginal art and old photographs adorning the walls. Each bungalow comes with a species list so you can identify the animals that wander past. The largest Kingfisher suite features a generous living space and enough room for extra beds, making it a great option for adventurous families. With no internet access, TV or mobile signal, switching off has never been easier and you’ll soon find yourself tuning in to the sounds of the bush as you drift off to sleep. Dining at Bamurru Plains is a real treat, with locally sourced produce used to create a menu that is authentic yet contemporary. Meals are served in the wildlife observation deck and there is a self-service bar which guests are welcome to use. In this sanctuary of flora and fauna lives a vast, thriving eco system which includes many species of bird hiding in the swamps and savannah woodlands. Enjoy the heights amongst the tree tops when you settle down to an evening in The Hide while those who love to fish are encouraged to embark on a river fishing or airboat fishing excursion.
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    Why book with Jacada?

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    Personalised design

    We’ll plan your trip around your specific interests, tastes and preferences, providing helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.

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    Authentic experiences

    Our expert guides and brilliant travel concierges are hand-picked to provide a genuine experience, bringing your destination to life with care and passion.

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    Responsible travel

    Our luxury trips are designed with responsible travel principles that prioritise travel experiences that are both good for you and good for the planet.

    Ready to plan your adventure?

    Whatever you want from your luxury wetlands safari, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.

    Where to go on a luxury wetlands safari

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    Chitwan

    One of the best places to see Bengal tigers in Nepal, Chitwan National Park sweeps across the Terai lowlands in the south of the country. Other rare wildlife that resides in this reserve of tropical and subtropical forest and lakes includes one-horned rhinos and more than 500 species of birds.

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    Ibera

    The Iberá Wetlands, or Esteros del Iberá, cover a vast, relatively little-visited region of northeastern Argentina. Guided excursions take you through a patchwork of marshes, lagoons and forests, where you can look out for caimans, giant otters and a remarkable variety of birdlife.

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    Keralan Backwaters

    Cruise Kerala’s backwaters aboard a traditional houseboat or navigate narrower canals by canoe, passing coconut groves, rice paddies and waterside villages. Visit Alleppey, once an important trading port on India’s Malabar Coast, or explore the quieter waterways around Munroe Island near Kollam.

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    Okavango Delta

    An exceptional destination for Botswana walking safaris, the vast Okavango Delta is Africa’s largest inland delta. Its floodwaters arrive during Botswana’s dry season, when water from the Angolan highlands fills its channels and floodplains. Wildlife here includes the Big Five, African wild dogs and rare bird species.

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    The Pantanal

    Brazil’s Pantanal is the world’s largest tropical wetland, a mosaic of seasonally flooded grasslands, savannah and forest. We especially recommend Pantanal jaguar tours with a specialist habituation team, tracking these big cats on foot or searching for them by boat along the riverbanks.

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    Romania

    Europe’s largest river delta, the Danube Delta, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that mostly falls within Romania’s borders, with a smaller section in Ukraine. This crucial biosphere reserve has more than 300 species of birds around its lakes and marshes, including pelicans, herons and spoonbills.

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    Top End

    Kakadu National Park, in Australia’s Top End, provides habitat for around a third of the country’s bird species. During the wet season, from November to April, its floodplains attract waterbirds including whistling ducks. As the waters recede in the dry season, wildlife gathers around the remaining rivers, creeks and billabongs.

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    When to go on a luxury wetlands safari

    Botswana’s Okavango Delta reaches its highest water levels during the dry season, from May to October. Floodwaters from the Angolan highlands typically peak between June and August, spreading across the floodplains and attracting wildlife.

    In Brazil, the Pantanal’s dry season, from July to October, is an excellent time for wildlife viewing, especially jaguars. During these months, receding waters concentrate animals around rivers and remaining waterholes. In Romania’s Danube Delta, visit between April and June for birdwatching, when migratory birds return and many species begin breeding.

    Go birdwatching in the Danube Delta

    April–June

    Explore the Okavango Delta

    June–August

    Track jaguars in the Pantanal

    July–October

    Navigate the Iberá Wetlands

    September–November

    Cruise Kerala’s backwaters

    December–February

    When Is the Best Time to Visit Botswana?

    When Is the Best Time to Visit Botswana?

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    Plan your wetlands safari

    Whatever you want from your luxury wetlands safari, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.

    Start Planning

    Don't take our word for it

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    Your trip, your story

    We craft trips deeply personal, delightfully surprising and entirely one of a kind. Every Jacada journey begins in conversation with a travel designer, a specialist in their destination of expertise. Behind each journey is a wealth of insight, gathered over years of on-the-ground exploration.

    Once you’re booked, you’ll meet your concierge. Based in the region you’re visiting, they’ll take care of all the details so your mind is at rest. They make the trip truly special – and truly yours.

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