INDIA 2025-02: Tiger Photo Safari

Length of Tour

14-days/13-nights

Itinerary

You will need to arrive in Delhi [DEL] no later than February 28 (Day 1). We can make hotel arrangements for you should you wish to arrive earlier.

Day 1 / Feb 28 : Arrive Delhi [DEL], transfer to airport hotel

Day 2 / Mar 1 : Transfer to airport for 0730 flight to Jabalpur. Arrive at 0945 and transfer by road, about a 4 hour drive, to Bandhavgarh and our lodge. After lunch we begin the first of our game drives within Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve.

Day 3-5 / Mar 2-4 :  Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve

Bandhavgarh National Park, designated a Tiger Reserve in 1993, comprises a mosaic of dry deciduous forest and grasslands spread over a captivating landscape of hills, cliffs and plateau. It is home to one of the densest populations of Tigers in India and is known as one of the best reserves to find this magnificent cat. We will enjoy morning and afternoon game viewing  for a total of 8 jeep safaris as we go in search of the king of the jungle.  In addition to our quest to see Tiger, there is of course plenty of other wildlife to see, with Sambar, Chital (Spotted Deer), Muntjac (Barking Deer), Chinkara (Indian Gazelle), Rhesus Macaque, Northern Plains Grey Langur and Wild Boar among the easier mammals to see. There is also a chance of coming across Sloth Bear, Leopard and Golden Jackal.  

The park supports an excellent diversity of birds, with more obvious species such as Indian Peafowl, Red Junglefowl, numerous noisy parakeets including Alexandrine, Rose-ringed and Plum-headed, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Long-tailed Shrike, White-throated Kingfisher and Rufous Treepie. Other species present include the huge Malabar Pied Hornbill and several owls such as Brown Fish-Owl, Jungle and Spotted Owlet which we hope to find on day roosts.

Day 6 / Mar 5 : Following a last game drive in Bandhavgarh, we transfer by road to Kanha. The 7 hour drive will have arriving in time for dinner at our lodge. 

Day 7-10 / Mar 6-9 : Kanha Tiger Reserve

Kanha is another park with spectacular landscape and the place that inspired Rudyard Kipling to write The Jungle Book! Shere Khan (tiger), Baloo (sloth bear), Bagheera (black panther) Kaa (Indian rock python), Bandar-log (Northern Plains Grey Langur), Red Dog (dhole) , Hathi (elephant), Akela and Raksha (Indian wolf) can all be found here!

As with Bandhavgarh, we journey into the park 8 times and the density of tigers at Kanha gives us a very good chance of enjoying encounters with this majestic feline. Many of the animals present at Bandhavgarh are also found here, but we should also see Gaur (Indian Bison), Barasinga (Swamp Deer), Dhole (Indian Wild Dog) and Indian Flying Foxes! While searching for tiger there will be plenty of birds to see. Small wetlands in the park attract various egrets and storks such as Woolly-necked, Black, Lesser Adjutant and Asian Openbill. The forested parts of the park are home to vivid Black-hooded Orioles, flocks of brilliant Scarlet Minivets, the beautiful but shy White-rumped Shama and in the grasslands we can find Indian Rollers.  

Day 11 / Mar 10 : We depart early morning for a 6 hour drive to Pench, arriving at our lodge for lunch. After settling into our rooms, we depart for the afternoon game viewing in the Tiger Reserve

Day 12-13 / Mar 11-12 Pench Tiger Reserve

We have another 8 game viewing drives within the last tiger reserve we visit on our exciting trip. Named after the pristine River Pench which flows through the park and divides the reserves in almost two equal halves, east and west.

The mammals in Pench are similar to Kanha, but there is perhaps a better chance of encountering a Leopard. Gaur (Indian Bison) migrate down from the hills during the dry season and can be found in the forests along the river. Elusive and solitary Chowsingha (Four-horned Antelope) are more localised, found in undulating grass and thick undergrowth in the park.  

Day 14 / Mar 13 : We spend the morning on our final safari of the tour in Pench. Following lunch, we transfer to Nagpur, a 3 hour drive, for our 1645 flight to Delhi. Arriving at 1835, we transfer to our airport hotel for day rooms prior to our departure back to the US.   

Note: You may depart anytime after 10pm on May 13. Often flights back to the US do not depart until the early hours of Mar 14

Cost

Cost is $11,500 per person, based upon double occupancy, from New Delhi, India (Airport code DEL.
This trip ends in same as arrival city (Airport code DEL).

Cost includes

Included in the cost are all accommodations, meals, transportation including 2 internal flights Delhi-Jabalpur and Nagpur-Delhi, entrance fees and service of the leader(s) and local guides, from Delhi.

Cost does not include

Not included in the cost is the airfare to Delhi [DEL], visa, travel insurance, camera fees at some sites (if still charged), drinks, tips and items of a personal nature.

Minimum Number

If fewer than the minimum number of participants are registered the trip can still run with a small-group supplement fee per person determined by the number of participants.

Single Supplement

If a single hotel room is preferred, or we are unable to find a suitable roommate for you, a single supplement fee of $1,100 will be assessed.

NOTE: For boat-based tours, see pricing options for single cabins. Single cabin cost includes the single hotel cost above.

Minimum Number

If fewer than the minimum number of required participants are registered, we may still be able to run the trip by adding a small-group supplement fee, per person, determined by the number of participants registered.

Deposit Requirements

A $2,000 deposit per person is required to hold each space on this tour. Deposit may be made online by clicking the "Book Your Trip Now" button and using any credit card. If you prefer, you may call us at 888-875-9453 to pay by phone. You may also mail us a check, however, remember that all space is held on a first come-first served basis as deposits are received.

How to Book

In order to hold your space, click the "Book Your Trip Now" button above and complete the deposit process, including payment of the deposit through our Paypal portal using ANY CREDIT CARD. Upon completion of deposit, please visit our secure, online CLIENT INFORMATION FORM to complete your registration.

Final Payment

For all land-based tours: full payment by check is due 120 days prior to the departure date.

For all boat-based adventure cruises of 7-days or longer: full payment by check is required 180 days prior to departure.

NOTE: If you prefer to use credit card for final payment, a 3% fee may be added to cover the credit card merchant fees we incur.

We’ll stay in a variety of accommodations situated near the entrance to the Tiger Reserves, all with ensuite facilities, with the majority being good and comfortable. 4 nights at each Tiger Reserve – Bandhavgarh, Kanha and Pench. Standard international hotel in Delhi and beginning and end of our trip.

Activity Level Rating: 1 (Note: 1 is easy and 5 is difficult)

Easy. You need to be able to get into and out of open-top jeeps. There is very little walking on this trip, given that we will be in jeeps for the duration of our wildlife drives. Any walking will be within the confines of our lodges.

• At least one (10 super-telephoto lens (400mm or larger) for tigers, birds, wildife, etc.
• One medium telephoto lens (70mm – 400mm) for closer and larger wildlife
• Highly recommend at least two camera bodies (one as a backup)
• Multiple camera batteries and memory cards
• Laptop for uploading, storing, and editing images
• Warm and dusty means we need lens cleaning cloths, lens solution, and a blower to keep the gear clean and possibly sensor cleaning swabs (I would HIGHLY recommend bringing at least one that fits your camera sensor. Make sure to buy one that fits YOUR cameras).

Recommended Field Guide:
Birds of India
(Princeton Field Guides, 2nd edition, 2012)
by Richard Grimmett, Carol Inskipp and Tim Inskipp

This trip is for non-smokers only. Smoking is not permitted at any time during our safari.

You will need to get a Visa to enter India. Visa applications will need to be submitted and received prior to our trip.

Transportation:
Vehicles – Most of our transport to-and-from the lodges to the airport will be by an air-conditioned minibus. The travel times between locations are long, Jabalpur-Bandhavgarh 4 hrs; Bandhavgarh-Kanha 7 hrs; Kanha-Pench 6 hrs; Bench-Nagpur 3 hrs.  Within the Tiger Reserves – Bandhavgarh, Kanha and Pench –  we will be using open topped jeeps (Gypsy’s).

Plane – we have 2 internal flights Delhi-Jabalpur and Nagpur-Delhi, both about 2 hrs in duration.

Weather:
Though this will be the end of their winter season, expect daytime temperatures to reach well into the 90’s, dry with no precipitation and low humidity. Night time lows of about 60, which mean that mornings on game drives when we are in an open-top moving vehicle it will be chilly.

Tiger Park entry and exit times:

Bandhavgarh – AM 6.30-11.00   PM 3.00-6.00

Kanha – AM 5.45-10.45   PM 3.30-6.30

Pench – AM 6.30-9.30   PM 4.00-6.30

Purchasing Flights

Do not purchase your flights until the trip has been confirmed to go.

Detailed Trip Information

Upon notification that final payment is due (120 days prior to departure for land based tours / 180 days for boat based tours), you will receive a trip package of detailed information for your tour.

Any additional information about the trip, including lodgings, contacts, participants, meeting locations, etc., will sent about 2 weeks prior to the trip departure, or after final payment is received for late registrants.

Travel Insurance

As with all tours, we recommend purchasing Travel Insurance to help cover your investment, for covered reasons. Please see our section on Travel Insurance.

Passport & Visa

US Citizens may require a visa to enter certain foreign countries. See above for any required visa information.

Participants arriving to the USA from a foreign country may need to get a travel visa to enter the United States. Be sure to check the requirements for your country of origin.

Itinerary Changes

The trip itinerary is developed many months ahead of time. Occasionally, despite our best planning, changes may occur during the trip, or we may be forced to alter our plans. Changes may occur because of weather, road conditions, safety concerns or other circumstances. In these situations, it is the leader(s) responsibility to carefully consider and implement appropriate alternatives. Any additional costs incurred because of changes will be the responsibility of each individual participant. Refunds will not be issued as a result of itinerary changes.