Big Cats

India is the main area of the world to see Tigers in their natural habitat.  Its game viewing is second to none with superb guides and excellent wildlife.

There are a number of excellent parks in which to see Tigers and we have listed some of them below.

Pench National Park 
Pench National Park on the border of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra has been known through the ages for its rich flora and fauna. Many writers including Rudyard Kipling have described Pench as a place rich in flora and fauna. Named after the nearby river, Pench was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1983 and it covers some 760 square kilometers. Cheetal, Sambar and Nilgai are common sightings, Gaur, Sloth Bears and Dhole (Indian Wild Dog) are frequently seen but it is most famous for its Tigers.

Kanha National Park
Situated in central India in the Satpura Hill ranges, Kanha offers without a doubt, India's finest Tiger viewing. Grasslands and deciduous forests also support Barasingha, Chital, Muntjac, Sambar, Common Langur, and Rhesus Monkeys, Wild Boar, Asiatic Jackal, three of India's four lowland antelopes (Nilgai, Four-horned Antelope and Blackbuck), and occasionally Leopard, Gaur, Sloth Bear, Wolf and Dhole. Birdlife present includes Painted Partridge, Shaheen Falcon, Golden Oriole and the omnipresent Red Jungle Fowl.

Safaris are on Elephant-back and by jeep.  Shergarh Tented Camp is situated four kilometres from the Mukki (southern) entrance to Kanha Tiger Reserve. Its six tents are individually spaced in a wooded grove to provide privacy, each having a verandah and private facilities.

Bandhavgarh National Park 
Mammals found here include Chital, Sambar, Muntjac, Nilgai, Chinkara, Chowsingha, Wild Boar, Leopard, Dhole and of course Tiger. Birdlife also abounds with over 275 species of bird including hornbills, orioles, parakeets, peacocks, and eagles. Wildlife-viewing is on Elephant-back and by jeep.
Camp Mewar has twelve rooms set within five hectares of beautifully wooded grounds. The camp is simple and effective, and a perfect place from which to explore the park.

A suggested itinerary would also include visits to some of the cultural centres of India such as Agra, Delhi, Jaipur and of course the Taj Mahal. 

You can also combine your wildlife experience with rest and relaxation at one of a number of Indias beach resorts,

If this example is not exactly what you are looking for please Request a Personal Quotation or contact us and we can discuss ways of tailor-making the perfect holiday for you.

Kaziranga National Park, set on the banks of the mighty Brahamaputra River, is the finest place to view Indian Greater One-horned Rhinoceros in the whole of the subcontinent. With nearly 80% of the world's population resident, the park has been recognised as a World Heritage site. In addition to wonderful rhino-viewing, the park is also home to large herds of Elephant and Wild Buffalo. Tigers can also be found, however they are rarely seen in the long grass.

Spend five nights at Wild Grass Lodge, which is situated by a stream in the paddy fields and forest just outside the National Park. The lodge provides eighteen double rooms in two jungle lodges, each with en-suite facilities. Activities on offer here include jeep safaris and Elephant rides into the park, offering you the best chance to view rhinos up close. It may also be possible to arrange a trip to the nearby Panbari Forest Reserve to look for the elusive Hoolock Gibbon, India's only ape.

The Sundarbans covers some 10,000 square kilometres of land and water (more than half of it in India, the rest in Bangladesh) in the Ganges Delta - it is the world's largest area of mangrove forest. The national park in India which was declared a Biosphere Reserve in 1989 covers an area of around 2,500 square kilometres. The region is intersected by a complex network of tidal waterways and mudflats. There are numerous bird species which reside here, as well as crocodiles, turtles, snakes and deer. Its most famous resident however is the Tiger of which there are thought to be some 400 or so. Wildlife-viewing will be both by 4-wheel drive vehicle and boat.

If this example is not exactly what you are looking for please Request a Personal Quotation or contact us and we can discuss ways of tailor-making the perfect holiday for you.

Established in 1826 by Sir Stamford Raffles, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) is a scientific, conservation and educational charity dedicated to the world-wide conservation of animals and their habitats. ZSL has four main areas of operation: the Institute of Zoology which conducts cutting edge research into conservation genetics; conservation field programmes operating in over 30 countries; and, of course, their ‘living collections’ at London Zoo and Whipsnade Wild Animal Park which are visited by more than 1.3 million people annually. Over the years, ZSL has seen many significant achievements. These include the reintroduction of Arabian Oryx into the wild, the first successful radio-collaring and study of a wild Sumatran Tiger and the release of a hundred Sand Gazelles into Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest reintroduction of captive-bred mammals.

In order to help promote this vitally important conservation work, we are supporting Naturetrek in offering tours visiting one or more of ZSL’s current conservation projects around the world, together with some of the host country’s very best wildlife reserves. In addition, 10% of the holiday cost will be donated to the charity to be used to further support their vital work in field projects such as the one you will visit. These holidays therefore offer a wonderful opportunity to visit some of the world’s most exciting wildlife destinations whilst, at the same time, learning about the conservation issues they face and raising money for their continued protection.

ZSL’s Serengeti Cheetah Project in Tanzania is the longest running study of wild Cheetahs in the world and has yielded a wealth of data on their ecology, ranging patterns, social behaviour and hunting strategies. This work has gained even more importance over the past few years as populations of this beautiful and elegant cat have become increasingly fragmented and isolated. This tour will offer you the opportunity to visit the Serengeti in search of these Cheetahs — and all other wildlife — in the company of a ZSL researcher, and to learn more of the important research work being carried out here.

If this example is not exactly what you are looking for please Request a Personal Quotation or contact us and we can discuss ways of tailor-making the perfect holiday for you.

This luxury mobile riding safari, set in the remote Chyulu Hills of Southern Kenya, is an experience guests will never forget.  The ride takes you from low country consisting of semi desert, rolling svanah plainswith Mount Kilimajaro as a backdrop, through acacia woodlands high in to the Chyulu Hills.  The hills - which run for 65 kilometres - consists of a series of volcanic craters with the peaks covered in jungle - like mist forestsunique to this area.  Due to the lack of water in the hills, wildlife is more prolific in the low country where there are 38 recorded species of large mammals including all the big five - elephant, rhino, lion, leopard and buffalo.

Most of the horeses are around 15hh or over but there are four ponies for those who prefer something smaller.  The group dictates the ride speed but most days include long periods of trot and canter and some opportunities to jump.

Accomodation is in large, comfrotable 'East African' style tents, with an en-suite bathroom. bucket showers and low drop toilets.  Hot showers are available at all times and tents are litwith lanterns and torches.  The tents have proper wrought iron beds with good quality linen.  There is also a central dining tent.

This trip includes six breakfasts, 6 lunches and six dinners on a seven day trip, can be combined with a coastal extension and includes Wintec GP Saddles, some south african trail rider saddles and english style of riding.  You should expect to spend 4 to 6 hours in the saddle per day.

This trip is suitable for children over 12, non riders can be accomodated on the trip and is classed as a novice trip meaning you shoud have been riding for some time at a riding school and are competant at a walk, trot, and canter in an indoor or outdoor arena.  You will have done some trail riding (hacking) and may have been on a riding holiday before.

If this example is not exactly what you are looking for please Request a Personal Quotation  or contact us and we can discuss ways of tailor-making the perfect holiday for you.