Bontecou and seven fellow tourists are getting a taste of life in Brazil's wild Pantanal region.

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With the popularity of Pantanal jaguar safaris on the increase, more tourism outfits are planning a move into the region.

BBC: Brazil��s land of the jaguar

From here, it is a dusty 250km drive southwest to Porto Jofre along the Transpantaneira, a raised road of packed orange dirt and 120 rickety wooden bridges that runs 147km deep into the Pantanal.

BBC: Brazil��s land of the jaguar

Most people think the Amazon is the place to go to see Brazilian flora and fauna, but the Pantanal region is easily just as rich in animals and they're easier to spot, especially during rainy season when rivers rise forcing animals literally onto islands.

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The Pantanal is also the last stronghold of the jaguar, and with an estimated 4, 000 to 7, 000 animals in the region (compared to less than 50, 000 scattered across the Americas), it is home to the highest density of these majestic big cats anywhere in the world.

BBC: Brazil��s land of the jaguar