Summers of Kanha and Bandhavgarh
Located between the Vindhya and Satpura mountain ranges, Bandhavgarh National Park has always been associated with its tiger population, even long before it was turned into a tiger reserve. One of the most unique elements of the reserve is the abundance of historical attributes scattered across its expanse. The Bandhavgarh Fort is one of the most prominent landmarks in the area, with a story of its own. Bandhav translate to mean brother, and legend has it that the fort was given to Lakshman by his brother Lord Ram, hence the name Bandhavgarh.
Once the hunting preserve of the erstwhile rulers of Rewa State, this tiger’s playground encompasses three major points of interest including wildlife, archaeology and a breathtaking landscape, of which the wildlife is the star attraction. Those who come to observe the wild cat in its natural habitat can easily make sightings of the animal and its habitat and behavioural patterns. Aside from the tiger, one can easily spot sambar, spotted deer, chowsingha, nilgai, chinkara, sloth bear, jackal, hyena, langur, a large number of reptiles and over 240 species of avifauna. Bandhavgarh National Park was the former hunting ground of the Maharaja of Rewa and at present is a famous natural hub for Bengal tigers. White tigers, now a major attraction around the world’s zoos, were first discovered in Rewa, not far from here.
The tour package inclusions and exclusions at a glance
What is included in this tour?
- Jungle Safari with best drivers & naturalists
- Twin-sharing accommodation in comfortable rooms unless single occupancy is purchased at extra cost
- All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and hot beverages (coffee and tea)
- All entry fees, guide fees and safaris
Transfers from Jabalpur Airport, Katni/Umaria Railway Station and Back to Nagpur Airport/Railway Station
What is not included in this tour?
- International airfares
- Any kind of personal expenses or optional tours or extra meals ordered
- Insurance, laundry and phone calls
- Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages
- Medical Costs
- Tips and gratuities
- All applicable taxes
- Anything that is not included in the inclusions list
Day 1
Pickup from Jabalpur/Umaria.
Participants reach Jabalpur and cab picks them up at a designated time and we drive to Bandhavgarh, in about four hours. After checking in, we are met by the Skipper and get to know one another. Following an appetizing dinner and a round of mutual introduction, our Skipper will brief the group on the plans for the upcoming days. We learn about the natural history of the park and the tourist rules. An early sleep is recommended to get up fresh for the action following the next day.
Day 2 & 3
Morning and Afternoon Safaris and overnight in Bandhavgarh
For the next two days, we follow the same schedule in pursuit of tiger photography opportunities.
After a morning wakeup-call and morning tea opens the day, we reach the park gate at the earliest possible and be one of the first to enter when it opens. This will allow us to look for pugmarks and other fresh signs of any tiger movement to track the big cats, and also put us in a vantage position for viewing and photography, should the tiger luck shines upon us. Tigers are at their most active during the early hours of dawn and late hours of dusk, so we seek to utilize the first hour of the ride to the most.
The morning safari lasts for four hours, giving us a chance not only to find tigers but also see and photograph many other inhabitants of this reserve. We head back to the resort for rejuvenating breakfast.
Lunch will be followed by the second safari. Afternoons are great for bird-watching, and while we wait for tigers to start moving, your Skipper will constantly monitor the situation and strategize with the guide and the driver to maximize tiger sighting opportunities.
After the evening round we come back to the resort and go for a good night sleep after a lovely dinner.
Day 4
Check out from Bandhavgarh and drive to Kanha
This concludes our stay at Bandhavgarh. We finish the breakfast early and move to Kanha for the second leg of our trip. This takes around 4-5 hours of drive to reach Kanha and then we settle down at our resort.
After lunch, we head for the afternoon safari and try our luck in the beautiful and lush forests in the setting sun.
Day 5
Morning and Afternoon Safaris and overnight in Kanha
We follow the same schedule for the morning and afternoon safari.
We reach the park gate at the earliest possible and be one of the first to enter when it opens. This will allow us to look for pugmarks and other fresh signs of animal movement. We plan to utilize the first hour of the ride to the most.
The morning safari lasts for four hours, giving us a chance not only to find tigers but also to see and photograph many other inhabitants of this reserve.
Lunch will be followed by the second safari. Afternoons are great for bird-watching, and while we wait for tigers to start moving, your Skipper will constantly monitor the situation and strategize with the guide and the driver to maximize tiger sighting opportunities.
After the evening round we come back to the resort and go for a good night sleep after a lovely dinner.
Day 6
Morning Safari in Kanha and Check out
After enjoying the morning safari in Kanha, we go for a good breakfast. We, then check out of our lodge and we are transferred to Nagpur airport or the railway station for the return journey home with fascinating memories to share with our families and friends!
Masai Mara
The camp, situated inside the Maasai Mara Reserve is conveniently nestled near Kaboso Crossing, Double Cross and the Marshes of Musiara. The unique location is highly conducive to sightings of resident leopards and lions and often, often within 10 minutes of leaving camp, you could be sitting with a pride of lions or the elusive leopard.
The camp consists of luxurious ensuite safari tents, tastefully decorated in African themed décor, large comfortable beds with Egyptian cotton whites, a private verandah, and a fully functional bathroom with a safari style shower. All tents are strategically constructed under tree shade providing stunning views and each tent has a private feel to it.
The camp runs on solar power and is an eco-friendly bush camp with little impact on the environment and striving to maintain the ecosystem.
Is this tour designed for me?
Anybody over the age of 18 (unless accompanied by an adult) and interested in nature and wildlife will enjoy this Tour thoroughly. There are no other eligibility criteria. There is no activity involved in this trip that demands higher physical fitness.
How many people share my vehicle on the safari drive?
Our Photo Tours are designed to provide you sufficient space for comfortable photography, so you can expect a maximum of three other people (including the participants and the Skipper) apart from the driver who acts as the guide for the game drive.
What equipments shall I get for this tour?
For the Big Five and other mammals, a telephoto zoom lens in the range of 70 to 200mm/300mm or 100 to 400mm works very well. If opting for a fixed (‘prime’) lens, the 300mm focal length on a cropped sensor body with a 1.4x extender (‘teleconverter’) is the best deal, although lenses of longer focal length can be used to good effect as well, especially on ‘full-frame’ bodies. For birds, a lens with a focal length of at least 400mm is essential. A wide-angle or normal zoom to capture landscapes or creative perspectives of wildlife is recommended. And since the light conditions in savanna grasslands often remain good, an image-stabilized lens and a camera body are perfect.
Summers of Kanha and Bandhavgarh
From: $83,500
Welcome to the lush sal and bamboo forests, grassy meadows and ravines of Kanha National Park. Explore the heart of wild India this summer with safaris in Kanha.
