Tiger Expedition Tour –13 Nights / 14 Days

Destinations: Delhi – Ranthambhor – Bandhavgarh – Kanha – Satpura – Pench – Nagpur

Highlights- Core wildlife destination of India is included in this tour and you will offer many wildlife safari (Jeep Safari, Elephant Safari, and Boat Safari in Satpura) and Bird watching tour. You may visit tribal villages and local market (Haat).

Day 1st – Delhi

Assistance on arrival at Delhi International Airport followed by traditional welcome and transfer to respective hotel..

DELHI, the capital of kingdoms and empires is now a sprawling metropolis with a fascinating blend of the past and the present. Delhi is a perfect introduction to the composite culture of an ancient land and a window to the kaleidoscope – that is India.

Overnight will be at Delhi.

Day 2nd – Delhi

After breakfast start with the sightseeing of Old Delhi. The tour will begin with a visit to Raj Ghat, a simple memorial to Mahatma Gandhi; drive past the Red Fort continuing to the Jama Masjid by bicycle rickshaws, one of Asia’s largest mosques. The magnificent Red Fort, overlooking the river Yamuna was built during the years 1638 – 48 when the Moghul Empire was at its peak. The tour continues to Jama Masjid, one of Asia’s largest mosques and which is viewed from the outside.

People stream in and out of the mosque continuously and the presence of a nearby bazaar means that the area is rarely quiet.

Experience the rickshaw ride at Old Delhi.

After visiting Old Delhi, you will be driven to New Delhi, which reflects the legacy the British left behind. The division between New and Old Delhi is the division between the capitals of the British and the Mughals respectively. The division in the walled city and New Delhi also marks the division in the life-styles. The walled city is all tradition where one will be able to glean a past life-style in all its facets, colors and spells. New Delhi in contrast, is a city trying to live up to the best of 21st century standards.

Qutub Minar, the tallest stone tower in India. The tour also includes a drive past the imposing India Gate, the Parliament building and the Rastrapathi Bhawan, the President’s residence.

Overnight will be at Delhi.

Day 3rd -Delhi – Ranthambhor

After breakfast, proceed to Ranthambhore. On arrival check in to resorts. Evening free at leisure.

Ranthambhor Tiger Reserve, at the junction of the Aravalis and the Vindhyas, is a unique example of natural and historical richness, standing out conspicuously in the vast, arid and denuded tract of eastern Rajasthan, barely 14 kilometers from Sawai Madhopur. Get in tune with nature for a luxury holiday in the heart of the jungle. It perhaps the best place in the world to sight a tiger in the wild. The Ranthambhore National Park has had more Tiger sightings than any other National Park in the country. It has come to be known as “The land of the Tiger”, where most of the documented footage of this majestic beast has been recorded.

The other kinds of cats found in Ranthambhore are Leopard (Panthera pardus), Caracal (Felis caracal), Leopard Cat (Felis bengalensis), Fishing Cat (Felis viverrina) and the Jungle Cat (Felis chaus). Besides the big cats, the other large predators found in Ranthambhore include Sloth Bear, Striped Hyena, Wolf, Wild dog (or Dhole), Jackal, Indian Fox, Palm Civet, Small Indian Civet, Common Indian Mongoose, Small Indian Mongoose, Ratel (or Honey Badger), Marsh Crocodile and the Indian Python. There are two species of Antlers, namely the Spotted Deer (or Chital) and the Sambhar Deer, and, two kinds of Antelopes, namely the Indian Gazelle (or Chinkara) and the Bluebull (or Neelgai). Black Buck (another kind of antelope), which is rarely found in the National Park is common in the Devpura area in the outskirts of the park.

Dinner at resorts followed by bonfire activities. Overnight stay

Day 4th –Ranthambhor.

Enjoy the early morning TIGER SAFARI inside the park in a jeep with a guide. Breakfast will be at the resort and then in the afternoon proceed for the second safari after lunch.

Relax at the resort in the evening and dinner will be at the resort. Overnight will be at the resort.

Day 5th – Ranthambhor – Katni  (Overnight Train to Katni)

Morning Jeep Safari and later on transfer to sawai madhopur railway station to board train to Katni.

Day 6th – Katni- Bandhavgarh

Assistance on arrival and transfer to Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve . On arrival check-in to hotel.

Bandhavgarh is a new National Park with a very long history. Set among the Vindhya hills of Madhya Pradesh with an area of 168sq miles (437sq km) it contains a wide variety of habitats and a high density of game, including a large number of Tigers. This is also the White tiger country. These have been found in the old state of Rewa for Many years. Maharaja Martand Singh captured the last known in 1951. This white Tiger, Mohan is now stuffed and on display in the Palace of Maharaja of Rewa. Prior to becoming a National Park, the forests around Bandhavgarh had long been maintained as a Shikargah, or game preserve of the Maharaja of Rewa. The Maharaja and his guests carried out hunting – otherwise the wildlife was well protected. It was considered a good omen for Maharaja of Rewa to shoot 109 tigers. His Highness Maharaja Venkat Raman Singh shot 111 Tigers by 1914.

Where birds are concerned, keep a look out for white browed fantails, steppe eagles, green pigeons, grey malabar hornbills, black and white malabar hornbills (quite a rare sighting), blossom headed parakeets, parakeets, blue bearded bee eaters, green bee eaters, white bellied drongos, owls, Jerdon’s and gold fronted leaf birds, minivets, woodshrikes and the lovely paradise flycatchers.

In the afternoon proceed into the Park for your wildlife safari. In the evening have dinner by the bonfire and overnight will be at the resort.

Day 7th – Bandhavgarh

Enjoy morning and evening jeep safari in National park.

Trip to the Bandhavgarh Fort: The oldest fort in India – considered to be more than 2500 years. One-hour trek up the fort is worth the effort. The charm of this trek lies in discovering these monuments in the jungle, unspoiled and unexplored. Some of the statues lie off the main path and so it is best to take a guide. Apart from the avatars, well worth seeing are three small temples of around the 12th century. These temples are deserted but the fort is still used as a place of worship. Kabir Das, the celebrated 16th century saint, once lived and preached here. The natural ramparts of the fort give breathtaking view of the surrounding countryside. The fort still belongs to the Maharaja of Rewa and permission is required to visit it. However permission is available locally and no trip to Bandhavgarh is complete without making an effort to climb up the fort. The staff of the resort carries your lunch while you are busy negotiating the trek to the fort.

Overnight will be at the resort.

Day 8th – Bandhavgarh – Kanha

Morning Jeep SafariAfter breakfast drive to Kanha.

This is the place that has been described by RUDYARD KIPLING in his great book “The Jungle Book”. Located in the Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh, Kanha National Park is a tiger reserve that extends over an area of over 940 square km. A horseshoe shaped valley bounded by the spurs of the Mekal presents an interesting topography. Steep rocky escarpments along the edges offer breathtaking views of the valley. Realizing the danger on the Tiger population in the country, the Government started the “Project Tiger” at Kanha and in 1974 the area was declared a Tiger reserve. The park is also the habitat of the high ground Barasingha.

In 1930s, the Kanha area was divided into two sanctuaries – Hallon and Banjar of 250kms to 300kms each. Though one of these was subsequently disbanded .The area remained a protected one until 1947. Depletion of the tiger population in the year that followed led to the area being made an absolute sanctuary in 1952.

Patient watching should reward the visitor, with a sight of Indian Fox, Sloth bear, Striped hyena, Jungle cut, Lepord, Mouse Deer, Chausingha or four horned antelope, Nilgai, Ratel and Porcupine Kanha has some 200 species of birds. Watchers should station themselves in the hills, where the mixed and bamboo forests harbour many species and in the grassy forest clearings. Water birds can be seen near the park’s many rivulets and at Sarvantal, a pool that is frequented by water birds and the area in front of the museum. The birds comprise of Racket Tailed Drongo, Crested Hawk Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle,Peacock, Golden Oriole, Treepie, Whitenecked Stork, Shikra, White-eyed Buzzard, Roseringed Parakeet, Shama, Red Munia, Large Green Barbet, Crimson Breasted Barbet, Lesser Golden Backed Woodpecker, Hair Crested Drongo, Common Teal, Pintail Duck, etc.

Reach in the afternoon and relax at the resort.

Overnight will be at the resort.

Day 9th – Kanha National Park

Enjoy morning and evening game drive inside the jungle. There would be a lot of birding today as we would take roads around the forest to places not frequented by people and in the bushes.

Overnight will be at the resort.

Day 10th – Kanha – Sapura National Park

Morning Safari and after breakfast, drive to Satpura National Park.

Satpura National Park is cradled in the Satpura Range (Mahadeo Hills) and straddles the State of MadhyaPradesh. With the adjoining Bori and Panchmarhi Sanctuaries, Satpura N.P. provides 1427 sq.kms of unique Central Indian Highland ecosystem cover to India’s wild denizens.

Satpura N.P. (set upin 1981 and 524 sq. km) is beautiful and unspoiled. It represents nature at its very best. The fascinating deep valleys, high mountains, rivulets, waterfalls and Tawa’s vast reservoir combine to give this Park an unique beauty. The terrain is extremely rugged and consists of sandstone peaks, narrow gorges, ravines and dense forests. The altitude ranges from 300 Mts. to 1352 Mts. From the 4500 feet Dhoopgarh peak to the almost level plains of Churna the ride is only 60 kms but it takes about 5 hours to travel from the cool environs of Panchmarhi resort to the edge of the Tawa reservoir.

If you are a keen wildlife enthusiast and are the sort of travel miles to just breathe jungle air and marvel at the sights and sounds of nature, a few days at Satpura is for you.

Reach and transfer to the resort.  Evening free to explore.  Overnight will be at Satpura.

Day 11th – Satpura National Park

Enjoy a morning and evening game drive inside the jungle.

Overnight will be at the resort.

Day 12th – Satpura National Park – Pench

After breakfast, drive to Pench (6 Hrs Drive)

Pench National park, nestling in the lower southern reaches of the satpuda hills is named after Pench river, meandering through the park from north to south. It is located on the southern boundary of Madhya Pradesh, bordering Maharashtra, in the districts of Seoni and Chhindwara.

The undulating terrain of Pench is covered with small hills and well stocked taek and mixed forest. The main flora being Teak (Tectona grandis) , Saja (Terminalia tomentosa), Bija (Pterocarpus marsupium), Lendia, Haldu, Dhaora, Aonla, Amaltas etc. The ground is covered with a number of grasses, bushes, herbs and shrubs. Dazzling white Kullu trees scattered around singly in the forest is conspicuous among various hues of green. The old plantations of Teak and Bamboo add orderly vistas in the otherwise general wilderness.

The flow of Pench river stops in December, what remains are a few scenic and serene pools in the river bed. There are a few perennial springs and tanks. At the southern boundary of park, the Pench river has been dammed for Pench hydroelectic project at Totladoh. At the maximum capacity the reservoir submerges 54 sq kms of the park area. This had been the loss of best valley forest, which was once referred by Sir Rudyard Kipling in his book named “Jungle Book”. These large reservoirs of Pench with sporadic islands attract a number of winter birds from north.

Cheetal, Sambar, Neelgai are commonly seen grazing on the open sites on roadsides and banks of river and reservoir. Jackals can be seen in search of food anywhere in park . Packs of wild dogs can also be seen occasionally. Herds of Gaur can be spotted near streams and bamboo patches, more common during summer months.

Langurs are very common. Whereas Rhesus monkeys may be seen occasionally on the fringes there are around 50 Tigers and 30 Leopards they are a shy lot and can be seen on roads and near water pools of river during summer months. Pench boasts of more than 210 species of birds including several migratory ones. Commonly seen are Pea fowl, Red jungle fowl, Crow pheasant, Crimson breasted barbet, Redvented bulbul, Racket tailed drongo, Magpie robin, lesser whistling teal.

Reach and transfer to the resort.

Overnight will be at Pench.

Day 13th  – Pench National Park

Enjoy morning and evening game drive inside the jungle. There would be a lot of birding today as we would take roads around the forest to places not frequented by people and in the bushes.

Overnight will be at the resort.

Day 14th – Pench National Park – Nagpur

After breakfast, drive to Nagpur for onward journey.

 

Tour Cost Includes:

  • Assistance on arrival at International / Domestic Airport.
  • Accommodation on twin sharing at all places as per the tour program
  • All Meals at Wildlife Resorts (City Hotels based on Breakfast)
  • Jeep Safari at all national parks with entrance fees as per the indicated itinerary.
  • A/C Car Transfer from Airport to Hotel
  • Village Walk
  • Naturalist at all places
  • All Taxes.

Tour Cost Does Not Include:

  • Any beverages
  • Any Major Meals In City Hotels
  • Any Airfare ( Delhi- Nagpur & Nagpur Delhi)
  • Anything which is not specify in the above.