Kendjam is located near the headwaters of the Irirí river, in one of the most hidden areas of Brazilian Amazon: the Mekragnoti Indigenous Territory.
This environment offers the first multi-variety Amazon fly fishing destination where an angler can target over ten different species in crystal clear fast waters. The river system runs over a huge granite base, which facilitates wet wading and many sight casting opportunities.
Untamed Angling discovered this incredible headwaters system and its tributaries, finding that this magnificent clear water system offered an angler’s nirvana for new species on the fly. Anglers can use five to eight weight rods and rely on many of trout/steelhead/salmon water reading skills and
fly-fishing techniques to catch several new jungle species from Peacock Bass to Payara, Pacu, Wolf fish and many more!
Kendjam is a remote and small indigenous community (15 Kayapo families live in Kendjam) right in the middle of most preserved Kayapo land and is located in the epicenter of the Kayapó Indigenous Nation: the Mekragnoti Indigenous Territory, an area of 5 million hectares of pure virgin Amazon forest. Only 700-Indian live in this enormous area, creating one of the most isolated portions of Tropical Jungle on earth.
Kendjam is located 550 miles southeast from Manaus and plane will land on the airstrip right in the Kendjam Indian Community. The Iriri River headwaters system inside the Mekragnoti Indigenous Territory (more than 700kms), never fished before by white people. The Iriri River begins its journey inside the jungle in the border of Mato Grosso and Para states, and run into the northeast side of the Brazilian Amazon for more than 1300kms. It’s a tributary of the mystic Xingu River. The dry season is the low crystal clear water season and runs from June to late October in the Iriri River Basin, and the perfect moment for the adventure angler meet the most intense jungle fishing experience.
The Kayapó is one of the most important Indian ethnic groups in the Amazon region, despite numbering a mere 8,000 persons. Their cosmology, ritual life and social organization are extremely rich and complex, while their relations with non-Indian society and environmentalists from the world over are marked by their intensity and ambivalence. The Kayapó are a proud people, and historically have fought hard to preserve their territory from outside encroachment.
Anglers must have an exploratory mind and soul, but most of all, the respect for the Kayapó land. You are invited to live the deep experience inside their home: The Iriri River and Jungle, which they protected with their warrior spirit for centuries from white people and
mining/logging companies. Their official land is a huge virgin Amazon forest territory denominated as Mekrangotni Indigenous Territory (bigger than Netherlands or Denmark in Europe or twice the size
of Vermont or Massachusetts in USA.)
The Mebengokre / Kayapó Indigenous group live today more than 50 villages located in six Indigenous Lands (Badjônkore, Chest, Capoto / Jarina, Kayapó, Las Casas and Menkragnoti) totaling an area of about 11 million hectares in south-central Pará and northern Mato Grosso.
Since their encounter with the white man, they began to actively fight for the guarantee of their rights and traditional territories. Today they are the legal owners
of an enormous Indigenous territory recognized by the Brazilian Government. Now they feel responsible for the conservation of a large area of forests and savannas, which directly contributes to the conservation of biodiversity, as well as to maintain the rainfall and climate around the globe. So there’s the reason they are named the guardians of Amazon.
The Kayapó devote much of our time and energy to the organization and execution of rituals, preceded by hunting or fishing expeditions. Body painting is part of the village everyday life, this activity performed by women since when they become mothers and is a very striking feature of their culture.
Only 8 anglers per week will fish this magnificent area of more than 100kms of cristal clear waters.
During the 4 weeks of exploratory trips in 2015 and in our inaugural season of 2016, it allowed us at Untamed Angling to truly experience of the potential of the Kendjam fishery that helped Untamed Angling and Kendjam – Kayapó nation in develop the new lodge for this amazing and unique destination.
The Kendjam Lodge accommodations are a comfortable wood cabins with 4 double occupancy rooms with spring box beds, private bathroom, hot water and electric light.
The lodge is located in a wonderful Sandy beach area in front of a gorgeous pool of Iriri river, 45kms downstream the Kendjam community.
Every day our guests will be delighted by wonderful cuisine in a well-fashioned living and dining room. Satellite Internet wireless connection and phone service are provided for all our guests. There also a porch to enjoy the magnificent sunset at Iriri river.
Solar panels provide full electric power every night and each cabin has 110-volt plugs so remember to bring your 110V to 220V converter if needed. You may charge batteries and use an electric shaver in every cabin. We provide laundry service at the lodge at no
additional cost. Just leave your clothes in a designated container, and they will be returned washed and clean, usually within a day.
For the most adventurous anglers we provide a two-night out camp location to reach the far and most wild areas of Iriri.
The Kayapo Indigenous reserve, which is among the largest protected expanses of tropical rain forest in the world, is controlled by the indigenous people, most of whom can’t read or write and who still follow a largely subsistence way of life in 44 villages linked only by rivers and all-but-invisible trails.
One of the most isolated comunity inside the Kayapo land is Kendjam, which means “standing stone” and which took its name from a dark gray mountain, arcing some 800 feet above the green canopy like a breaching whale.
Despite the amazing fly fishing opportunities in a crystal clear virgin jungle river, the Kendjam area
provide on of the most intense amazon experiences for the adventure souls.
The extremely high level of protection of a enormous portion of Amazon Jungle creates the perfect habitat for mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, and a incredible flora biodiversity. The Kayapo land is truly one of the most prolific rainforest environments of the planet.
The wide variety of Birdlife is extremely high due the proximity from the Amazon with the Cerrado Ecosystem, creating a natural corridor between both areas. In a week in Kendjam, you experience the proximity of the giant blue macaws, parrots, hummingbirds, falcons, herons, cormorants,
woodpeckers, and many more.
The mammals are a unique attraction in Kayapo Land. These top of the chain animals live in harmony and is not rare to get unexpected encounters with Tapirs, Wild Hogs, Peccaries, Capybaras, and also Ocelots and Jaguars!
The giant trees are unique. The most emblematic jungle tree in Kendjam is the Brazilian Nut Tree or Castanheira. This is one of the most important sources of food for the Kayapos, ever.
Kendjam holds the most prolific multi-variety species fishery in the Amazon basin. In addition, most of the fishing is done via wet wading. While we use local boats to move within the different spots, the granite plateau through which the river runs allows the anglers
to wade safely and comfortably.The waters are impressively clear, as opposite of most rivers of amazon, which carry a lot of sediment. The granite base is what makes the water very clear even after some rain. The river downstream from Kendjam community startsto divide its course in many parallel branches creating several smaller fast clear water streams. This geographic phenomenon is created by its geologic structure makes the river flows faster and creates a perfect environment for wet wading. After
some kilometers, the channels join back together again creating the main river course. This situation is very common in many stretches of Iriri River and sets the stage for this awesome and unique fishing ground in the Amazon. Anglers can target various species using different angling techniques all in same run and pools. Imagine yourself in a clear water jungle river with many different options fornumbers of amazing and powerful Amazon species (many of them unknown to most anglers from around the globe).
Peacock Bass
Tucunaré - Cichla melanie.
This endemic species of peacock bass is only found in Xingu and Iriri River Basin.Their average size around 4 to 9 pounds with some big fish up to 12lbs.
They are only species of peacock bass that prefer the moving water more than the dead water.
We can catch many fish per day. Most of the time we sight fish for them using streamers and poppers with a 6 or 7wt rod.
The peacock bass of the Iriri River are big, beautiful and act as great targets for anglers who love to sight fish and watch a hard, aggressive strike.
Wolf fish
Trairão - Hoplias aimara
They act like hungry wolves chasing a piece of meat when you cast a popper or a big fly, jumping and fighting hard.We recommend a 8wt rod and floating line for them. In Kendjam we only sight fish for them!
If you like fishing for aggressive predators, it doesn't get much more exciting than watching a wolf fish attack a popper.
All their ferocity makes them fight hard, jump and never give up easily. They can reach 20+lbs in Kendjam.
Pacu
Tometes sp, Myloplus rhomboidalis, Myloplus rubripinnis
We fly fish for 3 different species of Pacu in Kendjam: The Pacu Curupete, Pacu Seringa and Silver Pacu.The mighty Pacu eats insect and anglers can fish them with dry and wet flies with trout sight fishing techniques in runs, flats and pools.
The are a jungle delight for trout anglers with a 4 or 5wt rod.
The Curupete Pacu (3-12lbs) is the perfect target, which also eats insect imitations and algae flies in the fast water of the rapids.
Payara
Cachorra Larga / Payara or Vampire Fish
The Payara is a real challenge at Kendjam.Cast to early morning rolling schools or to fish in pools and flats chasing baitfish.
These fish fight really hard and jump a lot.
It's normal to lose these fish when they jump, due to their hard mouth.
Matrinxã
Jatuarana - Brycon falcatus
The Matrincha is pound by pound one of the strongest fish in the jungle.Their average size (2-8lbs) is perfect for 5wt/6wt rods with dry flies like hoppers, beetles and topwater attractors.
They run and jump like crazy. Be prepared to get your backing off.
Bicuda
Bicuda / Pike Characin
Boulengerella cuvieri
These are the real runners of Iriri river.Their bodies and turbo boosted tails resemble a barracuda.
The are a really aggressive topwater predator and the most exciting way to catch them is using topwater flies like poppers and pole dancers.
The bicudas in Kendjam average size 4-10 pounds are the guarantee of pure adrenaline in your fishing day.
They prefer to chase their prey in slower runs, flats and pools.
A 7wt rod the perfect outfit for them.
KEEP UPDATED OF OUR NEWS!
Every week we share with you how the fishing is going on.
FISHING REPORTS WHAT'S HOT PRESS SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
See our full gallery on instagram
See our full gallery on instagram
See our full gallery on instagram
See our full gallery on instagram
See our full gallery on instagram
See our full gallery on instagram
See our full gallery on instagram
Agents Partners
Industry Partners
"Kendjam ranks as one of the most diverse and exotic of all fresh water fly fishing experiences one could imagine. One of the true highlights of this fishing is that anglers from all backgrounds have the skills that will provide success. It is probably the most wild fishing any trout angler could apply their skills toward. On top of that, Kendjam is every bit as much of a cultural and ecological experience as it is a fishing experience."
Ben Furimsky - Fly Fishing Show CEO
"The numbers of fish species in the Iriri River was beyond my imagination and the scenery on the river itself was no less than stunning. Wading and casting big dry flies with a 6-weight fly rod in the Amazon. Are you kidding me? Kendjam can’t be beat!".
Jeff Currier - Worldwide traveller angler
"UA has done an outstanding job pioneering the way beyond the borders of civilization enabling fly fishermen to fish where none have been before. Kendjam caters to those that want to head deep into the jungles to pursue a vast variety of species in crystal clear water. A sight caster’s delight, Kendjam is a perfect venue for the freshwater trout fisherman and the saltwater anglers, who loves the thrill of a hard hit."
Meredith Mc Cord - USA
"Absolutely some of the best wade fly fishing in the world for fish species and angler can only dream about. The pacu borracha offered some of the finest dry fly fishing I’ve ever experienced – hands down!".
Jeff Currier - Worldwide traveller angler