If you’ve spent time designing high-end travel, you know this client profile well. They’ve done the Serengeti, the Maasai Mara, or the Okavango Delta. They came home talking about the open landscapes, the expert guiding, and the thrill of tracking wildlife. And now, they’re in your inbox asking: "Where do we go next?"
Latin America is a natural next step for clients who love African safaris. But successfully pitching it, and setting expectations, requires understanding both where the experiences align and, more importantly, where they fundamentally differ.
Here is how we talk to advisors about bridging the gap between an African safari and a Latin American expedition.
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The Similarities:
What Will Feel Familiar
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When your clients step into Latin America’s wild corners, much of what made them fall in love with Africa is already waiting for them:
- Open, Raw Nature: From the vast high-altitude desert of the Argentine Puna to the open marshlands of Iberá, the windswept fjords of Tierra del Fuego, and the endless canopy of the Amazon, the scale of untouched wilderness feels familiar.
- Safari-Style Lodges & Tents: Properties like Errante Ecolodge in Chile offer that low-impact, intimate connection to wild landscapes that safari-goers crave, prioritizing location and atmosphere over resort luxury. Many of these lodges are all-inclusive, and travelers don't need to plan excursions until the moment they arrive.
- Expert Guiding: In LATAM, local tracking relies on deep, generational knowledge. Whether navigating Amazonian tributaries with indigenous guides through The Colombian Trip or Anakonda Amazon Cruises, tracking marine life with Amazing Ecuador and Ogaya Travel, or trailing wildlife with Onesixth Expeditions, the guiding standard is world-class.
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The Differences:
Where You Need to Set Expectations
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This is where your value as an advisor shines. Pitching Latin America as "just like Africa" will set clients up for disappointment. Instead, help them understand how the experience differs:
- The Animals Are Smaller & More Hidden: You won't see vast herds of wildebeest or giant land mammals standing in the open road. Central and South American wildlife - sloths, jaguars, tapirs, anteaters, pink river dolphins, pumas - is often camouflaged, arboreal, or aquatic. It requires patience, keen eyes, and true tracking.
- Economies of Scale (Big Cat Tracking): In East or Southern Africa, infrastructure for big cat viewing has been built over decades, with high vehicle density and frequent sightings. Puma tracking in Patagonia or jaguar tracking in the Pantanal or Iberá Wetlands operates on a completely different scale: fewer habituated animals, vast territories, and far fewer vehicles. It’s an exclusive, patient pursuit, not a guaranteed drive-by, and requires an investment of both time and funds.
- Tourism Is Newer in LATAM: Safari tourism in Africa has a century of operational refinement behind it. In Latin America, luxury nature tourism is younger. The infrastructure is modern and thoughtful, but it retains a sense of edge, discovery, and authenticity that older tourism destinations have lost.
- Luxury Operates on a Different Standard: "Safari luxury" in Africa often means silver tea service in the bush and lavish tented camps. In LATAM, luxury is rooted in a sense of place, character, access, hyper-local gastronomy, and authentic connection rather than formal, butler-style service.
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Our Opinion: Where LATAM Shines
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With the proper knowledge and set-up, Latin America can be a great option for safari enthusiasts.
International flights are shorter, often direct, and there is a minimal time difference from North America, which reduces jet lag and allows PTO-strapped Americans to hit the ground running.
Die-hard wildlife enthusiasts will love the experiences in Brazil, the Galapagos, and the Amazon. Those seeking a balanced itinerary will find a vast diversity of experiences in Latin America. Imagine combining a tented camp in the Galapagos with a world-class meal in Quito three nights later, an Amazon exploration with a multi-day hike through ancient ruins in Colombia and Peru, or an intense few days of puma tracking in the winds and mountains of Patagonia, ending at a vineyard and exclusive beach resort in Uruguay.
The options are endless. Be open-minded. Get out and explore.
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Advisor Resource: Latin America Wildlife Guide
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Jaguars, pumas, penguins, whales and more: we’ve mapped out where to find each animal, and the months that give your clients the best odds.
Start with the one-page matrix for a quick reference. Read the full wildlife guide for the detail behind each sighting.
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Cabra on the road: Olivia is in Buenos Aires (Nov 9-13) and Rio de Janeiro (Nov 23-25). Email her to meet up over mate or a caipirinha!
Festive availability: There is still high-season and festive availability at Errante Ecolodge and on Anakonda Amazon Cruises. In recent weeks, our DMC partners have worked magic for 2026/2027 festive requests. Get in touch on behalf of your last-minute clients!
Country-training webinars: Thanks to all who attended to our Colombia webinar! For those who missed it live, you can watch the recording here. Next up is Ecuador, at 12pm EST on December 9. Register here.
Award season: We're proud reps with a lot to celebrate!
- The Colombian Trip has been awarded the Takumians Distinction by Traveller Made. Congratulations to Andrea and her team! Get in touch to partner with them on your next Colombia quote.
- Anakonda Amazon Cruises was named South America's Leading River Cruise at the World Travel Awards - the fourth year in a row! They're now in the running for the Best River Cruise in the world. Cast your vote here.
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Our curated portfolio of DMCs and lodges represents what we love about Latin America. They are owner-run, locally owned, sustainability-minded, and fun to work with.
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The representation company dedicated to Latin America |
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