India ........ 20th November to 4th December 2010

Birds, Tigers & the Taj

The Taj Mahal is perhaps the first thing that comes to mind when people think of the vast, colourful, crowded country of India. It is indeed a most imposing edifice and one which, along with the Red Fort at Agra, we visit on all of our tours. But for those wishing to see birds and mammals, India also offers some of the most spectacular, astounding and exotic wildlife. Our itinerary includes wetlands teeming with wildfowl and waders and lush forests and jungles with an abundance of birds and mammals. India really is a priceless jewel!
Amongst the mammals the Bengal Tiger is the main attraction and our best chances of seeing one of these enigmatic animals will be at Kanha and Bandhavgargh National Parks, all of them special reserves designated as part of Project Tiger, a wildlife conservation project initiated in 1973 with the aim of maintaining a viable Tiger population in their natural environment. To see one of these majestic predators in the wild is a heart stopping experience!
The tour combines some of the finest bird and mammal watching that India has to offer and includes the wonderful bird sanctuary (Keoladeo Ghana N.P.) at Bharatpur, which will produce a marvellous array of bird species.

Keoladeo Ghana (Bharatpur) is a very famous and extremely important bird sanctuary and one of the finest wetlands in the world. The reserve is a manageable size, thus allowing it to be covered on foot, by bicycle or even rickshaw – quite a novelty. Amongst a vast array of wetland species are Little Cormorant, Sarus Crane, Black-necked Storks, Bar-headed Goose, Crested Serpent Eagle, Greater Painted Snipe, Indian Courser, Collared Scops Owl, Dusky Eagle-Owl, Rufous Treepie, Common Woodshrike, Citrine Wagtail, Olive-backed Pipit, Blyth’s Reed & Greenish Warblers.
Kanha is one of India’s largest national parks, located in Madhya Pradesh in the heart of “Kipling Country”. Kanha's sal and bamboo forests, rolling grasslands and meandering streams stretch over 940 sq km and are home to a great variety of wildlife. The many Central Indian bird species present, include Black Ibis, Changeable Hawk-Eagle, Jungle Owlet, Red Junglefowl, Bronze-winged Jacana, Crested Treeswift, Scarlet Minivet, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, Tawnybellied Babbler and Sirkeer Malkoha. A superb selection of mammals are present amidst the meadows and mixed forest, including Chital, Barasingha, Gaur, Golden-backed Jackal, Jungle Cat, Leopard, Sloth Bear and Dole (Wild Dog). Game drives are undertaken twice a day normally by Jeep but when Tigers are located it is possible to go searching for them by Elephant.
Bandhavgargh was the former hunting reserve of the Maharajah of Rewa. The habitat of rocky hills, grassy swamps and forested valleys is dominated by the ruins of the ancient Bandhavgargh Fort. Bandhavgargh is renowned for it’s Bengal Tigers and remains as one of the top reserves to see this magnificent predator. Other mammals include Chital, Chausingha, Nilgai, Leopard, Jungle Cat and Golden-backed Jackal. The prolific birdlife includes: Grey-headed Fishing Eagle, Brown Fish Owl, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, White-bellied Drongo, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, White-browed Fantail and Golden-fronted Leafbird.
Chambal River is a National Sanctuary located 70 kilometres from Agra. The park has a selection of rare and exotic species. One of the most least polluted river systems in India, the beautiful River Chambal has a pristine ecosystem and harbours a variety of aquatic life, including: Ganges River Dolphin, Gharial, River Otter and Freshwater River Turtles. The river and it’s surrounding environs are a birdwatchers delight, with Sarus Crane, Pallid Harrier, Greater Thick-knee, Indian Skimmer, Indian Courser and Brown Hawk Owl present amongst the avian jewels.

Day 1: Daytime Flight from UK to Delhi.

Day 2: After breakfast drive to Bharatpur.

Days 3 & 4: Birdwatching in Keoladeo Sanctuary and locations around Bharatpur.

Day 5: Drive to Agra, visiting Fatehpur Sikri and Taj Mahal. Later we drive to the Chambal River for two nights.

Day 6: A days birding and wildlife watching in Chambal.

Day 7: Morning in Chambal, followed by an overnight train journey to Umaria, then transfer to Bandhavgargh.

Days 8-10: Three days of game drives in Bandhavgargh N.P., birds and wildlife watching by jeep and also possibly an elephant ride in search of Bengal Tiger.

Days 11-13: Transfer to Kanha for 3 days. Game drives by jeep for birds and mammals. Tiger viewing by Elephant.

Days 14 & 15: Morning in Kanha, followed by a drive to Nagpur, domestic flight to Delhi and the international flight to UK.

Tour ref: AA1040

Cost: £2,995
Deposit: £400
Single Room Supplement: £470

Leaders: Tim & Irene Loseby & Local Guides

Max. Group: 14 plus leaders

Includes:
Economy class scheduled return flights (UK-Delhi-UK), accommodation based on twin occupancy, all meals, game drives, ground transportation in India, entrance fees to national parks & reserves and services of leaders and guides.

Excludes: Travel insurance, visa fee for India, camera fees in reserves, drinks and items of a personal nature.