 INDIA
TIGERS and BIRDS with an option for CULTURE - Classic Northern India
Sat 19 February - fri 4 March 2011
GUIDE Price £3195pp Single Supp£645 Deposit £300
including TAJ MAHAL extension add £395pp (based on min six clients, though can be arranged for couples).
All the Tiger images on this webpage were taken by
Dave Pullan or Kevin Shaw, mostly on our Heatherlea holiday in 2008.
On this holiday the emphasis is very definitely on wildlife. The main objective is to give you the best Tiger experience possible, and we visit (in our opinion) the three most productive Tiger Reserves to maximise your chances. Birding is excellent throughout, and other mammals could include Leopard and Sloth Bear. Sightseeing is organised as an optional extension, so whether you just want the wildlife or the complete experience including the Taj Mahal, this holiday is ideal.
We visit the most reliable places for Tigers, taking a tremendous total of eighteen game drives in three key Reserves, Bandhavgarh, Kanha and Pench. At Bandhavgarh tiger-hunting takes centre stage. This is now the leading Tiger Reserve in India, where sightings are regular, and we take seven game drives here. We enjoy elephant-back viewing of Tigers when the animals have been found by local guides in both Bandhavgarh and at Kanha, where we again take seven drives.. Pench is more remote with fewer tourists, and encounters with Tigers are common yet often private. Four game drives here should be both exciting and productive.
You don't need to be physically fit to do this; a great way to see Tigers!
Birding will be varied and exciting, and amongst the many species we hope to see are Spotted and Jungle Owlet, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Red Junglefowl (the original chicken!), Brown Fish Owl, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Purple Sunbird and Blossom-headed Parakeet.
We should see many other mammals, perhaps including Leopard, two monkey species, Jungle Cat, herds of the delicate Chital (or Spotted Deer) and more including perhaps a pack of the rare Dhole (Indian Wild Dog).
We have carefully designed this holiday so you cover the three main wildlife sites over twelve days, allowing you to relax and savour the huge excitement of these wonderful places. We also include a flight from Khajuraho to Delhi for those who don't want the sightseeing part of the trip, which minimises your time road-travelling. The experience of India, excellent chances of seeing Tiger, and an enthralling range of other birds and mammals make this itinerary ideal for the wildlife enthusiast.
If you choose to include the sightseeing extension, you will spend two extra nights in Agra, visiting the spectacular Red Fort and, of course, the unbelievably beautiful Taj Mahal. You travel to Delhi by road and good quality train service, the 'Gondwana Express'.
We use very good accommodation, comfortable transport in what can be an uncomfortable country, the services of a very professional and thorough Heatherlea ground agent wherever we go, and a very experienced Heatherlea guide. Once you arrive in India, you will be aware of how much value all these things add to the experience! The best possible Tiger, birding and cultural experience is our goal.
ITINERARY
DAY 1: Sat 19 February DEPART UK
Depart London with Virgin Atlantic at around 2100 hrs.
DAY 2: Sun 20 February ARRIVE INDIA
We will be met on arrival at Mumbai, and whisked to a high quality hotel for lunch. Afterwards, we return to the airport and take an internal flight to Nagpur, and then transfer to Pench reserve. Overnight Pench Jungle Camp. www.wildlife-camp-india.com
DAYS 3 - 4: Mon 21 - Tues 22 February PENCH
Pench is one of the quieter Tiger reserves, as yet unspoilt by the madding crowds. We stay here for two full days, taking a morning and afternoon game drive on each day, with time in the hot middle of the day to relax and enjoy lunch in our comfortable hotel.
The Reserve lies in the southern lower reaches of the Satpura Hill Range on the southern border of Madhya Pradesh, and gets its name from the substantial Pench River which bisects it. This impressive river provides food for many bird species, and although dry by high summer, at the time we visit the river can host many thousand hirundines and passerines on migration to Central Asia. Prey concentration around the river make it an attractive hunting ground for Tigers, and we have good chances of quiet, indeed almost private sightings. In 2008, our trip report records our experience like this;
'..... But then one of the reserve guides whispers loudly…Leopard! For a lucky few the Leopard walks away from us, goes behind a mound and then reappears briefly before disappearing for good...... Already we are late leaving the reserve so we pick up speed and that seems to be that. Except for the lucky ones in the last jeep! The same local guide that spotted the Leopard suddenly shouts “Tiger! Tiger!” The brakes are slammed on and we look behind us to see a Tiger walking out from the forest slope onto the track. It crosses, stops to look at us and then continues to a waterhole where it crouches down to drink! The light is fading fast and we leave it walking back into the forest. We make just one more stop… to warn a forest worker who is pushing his bike in the direction of where we last saw the Tiger!....'
Birdlife here might include Black-rumped Flameback, Coppersmith Barbet, Indian Grey Hornbill, Alexandrine Parakeet, Plum-headed Parakeet, Yellow-footed Green Pigeon, Rufous Treepie, Black-hooded Oriole,
Collared Scops Owl, Jungle Owlet and Mottled Wood Owl, Black-capped Kingfisher, White-throated Kingfisher, Sirkeer Malkoha, Golden Oriole, Indian Pond Heron and White-breasted Waterhen amongst many more. Overnight Pench Jungle Camp.
DAYS 5 - 8: Wed 23 - Sat 26 February KANHA
On Wednesday morning we drive to Kanha, next in our tour of India's greatest Tiger Reserves. Kanha National Park covers 1945 sq miles, dominated by mature stands of sal forest, grassy meadows, valleys and streams. Considered by many to be India's foremost game reserve, it is administered by Project Tiger, and remains an important site for tourists wishing to see the biggest of 'big cats'. On arrival we check in to Kanha Jungle Lodge with time to settle in at leisure. Visitors to Kanha can be disappointed by crowds if staying at the 'wrong end', but we are at the traditionally quiet end close to the Mukki gate.
At Kanha we continue our Tiger quest on another seven game drives, and could also see Leopard, Indian Wild Dog (Dhole), Gaur, Swamp Deer, and many birds perhaps including White-browed Wagtail, Wire-tailed Swallow, Rufous Treepie, Shikra, Brown Rock Chat, Egyptian Vulture, Long-billed Vulture, Black-hooded Oriole, Racket-tailed Drongo, Oriental Honey Buzzard, Changeable Hawk Eagle, Black-shouldered Kite, Common Woodshrike and Red-throated Flycatcher. Kanha does not have the same high density of Tigers as Bandhavgarh, but is still very good and we should enjoy further sightings. Overnight Chitvan Jungle Lodge, Kanha. www.chitvan.com
DAYS 9 - 12: Sun 27 Feb - Wed 2 March BANDHAVGARH
Set amid rocky hills in the north-central state of Madhya Pradesh, Bandhavgarh National Park is simply THE place for Tigers. We spend four nights here, the most reliable place in all India to regularly experience close encounters.
Bandhavgarh was the former hunting preserve of the Maharajas of Rewa, and the famous white tigers were first captured not far from here. The terrain is broken, with rocky ridges running roughly east to west, interspersed with grassy swamps and forested valleys, and Bandhavgarh is a haven for a wealth of wildlife. The landscape is dominated by the plateau-fortress that gives the park its name, now reverted to jungle, and offering shelter to many wild creatures.The habitat is a richly varied mosaic of sal and mixed forest, bamboo and grassland. Forests are generally less dense here, the undergrowth more open, and grasses shorter than in North India, which makes the wildlife, including Tigers, more visible than in other places. In 1991 the Park was included in Project Tiger, and over 50 tigers are estimated to live here. Leopards, wolves, wild dogs, jackal, hyena, jungle cat, sambar, chital and muntjac, wild boar, nilgai and chinkara all find a home here too, as do smaller mammals, amphibians and reptiles. About 250 bird species are known, and Brown Fish Owl, Grey-headed Fishing Eagle, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Shahin Falcon, Mottled Wood Owl, Orange-headed Thrush and beautiful Tickell's Blue Flycatcher feature among the park's many bird species. Because we have arrived in the morning, we are able to enjoy a game drive in the afternoon, so if we are lucky may even have seen a tiger by the end of our first day.
There is a definite pattern to wildlife watching at Bandhavgarh which we understand well, and we do everything possible to get the best tiger sightings. This involves committed drivers and guides who know how to give us the best service! There are two planned game drives for tigers per full day, the first at dawn then again late afternoon till dusk. The habits of Tigers are well known at Bandhavgarh, where local guides are specialists in tracking and monitoring the animals. Not every day but frequently, a Tiger is tracked and we drive over, hoping to employ an important technique for tiger-viewing; the use of well-trained riding elephants! You could experience your best view of Tiger this way. Elephants usually walk no more than 200 yards from the track and you don’t need to be physically fit to do this. Depending upon the circumstances, we could be viewing a Tiger for between five and twenty minutes this way. Just as often however, a Tiger is spotted lazily walking through the bush, pausing perhaps to smell the air or investigate scent left by another. Tigers are often quite lazy, and may lie down to rest for hours at a time, regularly giving unforgettable views of this most powerful and awe-inspiring cat.
Seven game drives plus an elephant ride gives us every chance of the full Tiger experience, leaving the hot midday period for relaxing and some gentle birding. Three parakeets, two leafbirds, the birding around our lodge can be very satisfying, and our Tiger hunts will also provide exceptional birding. Overnight Kings Lodge, Bandhavgarh. www.kingslodge.in
Those who want to experience the tremendous Taj Mahal and other cultural delights of Agra, please skip to 'TAJ MAHAL EXTENSION'.
DAY 13: Thurs 3 March BANDHAVGARH – KHAJURAHO - DELHI
In the early morning we depart for Khajuraho, then transferring by air to Delhi. This is an important part of the itinerary for those mainly interested in birds and mammals - you avoid much of the noise and delay on the roads by doing this. Lunch in-flight, dinner and overnight in Delhi, at the excellent Hotel Trident.
DAY 14: Fri 4 March DEPART DELHI/ARRIVE UK
Morning transfer to airport to connect with our Virgin flight arriving early afternoon.
TAJ MAHAL EXTENSION
DAY 13: Thurs 3 March BANDHAVGARH – KATNI - AGRA
Enjoy some free time and an early lunch at Bandhargarh before an afternoon transfer to Katni, where you will be given a packed dinner and board the overnight Gondwana Express to Agra.
DAY 14: Fri 4 March AGRA
You arrive early morning in Agra, where you will be met by our representative and whisked to the Hotel Trident. After lunch, you will begin to explore Agra, Capital of the Mughals until the mid 17th Century, and containing some of their finest architectural monuments. On Monday afternoon you will see the vast complex of palaces, mosques and administrative buildings enclosed within massive walls of red sandstone that make Agra's Red Fort. Situated on the banks of the Yamuna, the marble palaces built by Shah Jehan also provide views of the Taj Mahal. Overnight Agra Trident Hilton www.tridenthotels.com/agra .
DAY 15: Sat 5 March AGRA - DELHI
Today is one of the highlights of your holiday, a sunrise visit to the beautiful Taj Mahal. Arguably the most beautiful building in the world, the Taj Mahal was constructed between 1632 and 1653 by the grieving Emperor Shah Jehan for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. This spectacular mausoleum with its marble walls exquisitely inlaid with flowers of lapis, cornelian, agate, jade and the verses of the Koran written on its outer walls is one of the wonders of the world. The Taj gardens are a good place for common birds and excellent for Small Mongoose. Birding on the river can be surprisingly good with Temminck’s and Little Stint, sandpipers including Marsh, Avocet, stilts, both redshanks, Ruddy Shelduck and kingfishers. In the afternoon you drive to Delhi, and check in for an overnight stay at the excellent Hotel Trident.
DAY 16: Sun 6 March DEPART DELHI/ARRIVE UK
Morning transfer to airport to connect with our Virgin flight arriving early afternoon.
Accommodation: We stay at comfortable hotels and lodges throughout. All rooms have private facilities. All meals are included (three meals per day). Food is often of 'international' style, though please let us know if you can't eat Indian food.
Walking: Easy throughout. Most bird and mammal-watching away from the lodges is done by jeep, though we use various forms of transport to get around (see below).
Weather: Typically fine and sunny, with temperatures in the region of 15 - 32C. Nights will be cool and it can feel chilly and cold in the mornings. Rainfall is scarce and showers are unlikely to be prolonged.
Flights: Scheduled Virgin Airways flights from London direct to Delhi. Two domestic flights within India (Mumbai - Nagpur, Khajurajo - Delhi) are included on the main itineray, the first only if you choose the Taj extension.
Ground Transport: By coach, and 4WD vehicles in the National Parks. Here, in the event of successful Tiger tracking by the mahouts, some excursions may also be made by elephant, and the first elephant ride is included at both Bandhavgarh and Kanha. Overnight ride on the 'Gondwana Express' is included in the Taj extension.
Photos: Good photographic opportunities - birds, mammals and cultural.
Also included: Entrance fees at national parks and monuments, sightseeing excursions as per itinerary, main hotel and guide tips and airport taxes, bird and mammal checklist, and services of experienced Heatherlea Leader Dave Pullan and local leaders, guides and drivers.
Not included: Travel insurance, Indian visa costs, drinks & other personal expenses, laundry fees, video camera fees, incidental tips to porters, naturalists, drivers and others (these are not expensive). Additional elephant drives if this option is appropriate to see Tigers.
Leaders: Dave Pullan and local guides.
Please note: all itineraries are given as a guide only. Actual
holiday content may vary according to the judgement of your guide, and
elements beyond our control (eg weather).
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