INDIA: TIGER & WILDLIFE SPECTACULAR – Central India, Agra, the Chambal River and Gujarat

Photographic Highlights

• The chance to photograph majestic Tigers in the wild, multiple times
• Searching for Sloth Bears and Asiatic Wild Dogs at Tadoba
• Muggers, Gharials, Gangetic Dolphins and huge Softshell Turtles in the Chambal River, the last unpolluted large river in northern India
• Explore the vast salt flats of the Little Rann looking for Asiatic Wild Asses, Desert Red and Bengal Foxes, and, if there is enough water, flamingos
• Get up close to Asia's most beautiful antelope, the Blackbuck
• A pack of Wolves prowling the sea of grass at Velavadar’s Blackbuck National Park
• See and photograph the Taj Mahal, one of the most beautiful buildings in the world
• Slowly drifting towards bizarre-looking Indian Skimmers and Great Stone Curlews on river islands in the Chambal River
• Read a book in the shade between photo sessions after a delicious al fresco lunch at the lovely Chambal Safari Lodge
• Explore the ancient, hindu temple complex at Bateshwar
• Waiting near a Striped Hyena den for its owner to appear, as the sun sets over the mesquite forest of the Little Rann of Kutch
• Spotlighting for animals such as Jungle and Desert Cat and the delightful Sykes’s Nightjar on exciting night safaris at the Little Rann
• Meeting the Mir ladies of Little Rann, some of India’s most colourful and photogenic people
• Sip masala chai in the grounds of the world famous Blackbuck Lodge after returning from another action packed photo safari
• Listening to the blood-curdling alarm calls of Gaur, the ‘Indian Bison’ along a quiet jeep track in Tadoba National Park, a possible sign that a tiger is nearby
• Waiting for a Leopard to reveal itself from cover deep inside Tadoba National Park
• Marvel at the colourful hustle and bustle of life as we travel through ‘Incredible India’, where so much of it takes place on the streets
• Taste a variety of delicious Indian food but don’t worry, mild or non-spicy options are always available as desired!

PRICE INFORMATION

Wild Images Inclusions: Our tour prices include surface transportation, accommodations, meals and entrance fees including the nowadays expensive reserve/park fees and jeep fees.

Our tour prices also include the camera fees applicable for one still camera for every single entrance to each Indian reserve/park we visit. (If you intend to conspicuously display two cameras in the reserves/parks you will need to pay for the second body locally. Note that purely video cameras, especially professional-looking ones, as opposed to still cameras with video facilities, attract high camera fees in some Indian reserves. There is no logic to this, but this is India.)

Our tour prices also include all tips for local guides, drivers and accommodation/restaurant staff.

Our tour prices also include these flights:

Delhi-Nagpur

Nagpur-Ahmedabad

Deposit: 20% of the total tour price. Our office will let you know what deposit amount is due, in order to confirm your booking, following receipt of your online booking form.

TO BOOK THIS TOUR: Click here (you will need the tour dates)

If you are travelling alone, the single supplement will not apply if you are willing to share a room and there is a room-mate of the same sex available.

This tour is priced in US Dollars. Amounts shown in other currencies are indicative.

Air Travel To & From The Tour: Our in-house IATA ticket agency will be pleased to arrange your air travel on request, or you may arrange this yourself if you prefer.

INDIA WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR: DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1

The Wild Images India wildlife photography tour begins this morning at our hotel near Delhi airport.

(If you wish you could arrive in Delhi on one of the many flights that arrive in the early hours, but you may prefer to arrive the day before the tour starts and rest up in a hotel.)

After leaving the heavy traffic of the capital behind, we will head southwards along the expressway to the historic city of Agra. Here, after lunch, we will make our way to the incomparable Taj Mahal, a mausoleum of ethereal beauty built by the Mogul emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, that really does live up to its reputation and more. This immense building seems to float on its white marble plinth whilst inside the light filters gently down to softly illuminate the jewel-encrusted tombs of the emperor and his beloved. The Taj Mahal is positioned at the edge of the city, immediately above the Yamuna River and happily the far bank of the river is still undeveloped, making for an unspoilt backdrop for photography of this deservedly celebrated monument. After our visit to the Taj Mahal, we will head for a small but comfortable and welcoming lodge near the Chambal River for a two nights stay.

Day 2

Today we will explore the National Chambal Sanctuary. This important wildlife sanctuary is situated on the border between Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh states. Here the Chambal River, the last unpolluted major river in northern India, flows between low erosion cliffs as it approaches its junction with the Ganges. The wildlife sanctuary, which also includes part of the state of Rajasthan further upstream, was set up to protect the healthy population of crocodiles that survives here, and also a population of the highly endangered Gangetic River Dolphin.

By taking two boat trips on the river during our stay, we should be able to closely approach and photograph the crocodiles as they sun themselves on the sandbars, both the long-snouted Gharial and the more conventionally-shaped Mugger. Typically one encounters large adult male Gharials with a bulbous protrusion on the end of their snout, smaller adults and immatures and even tiny juveniles, all with long rows of fine teeth on display and streamlined, thinly plated bodies that contrast with the more conventional and fearsome-looking teeth and heavy armoured plating of the thick-set Muggers. We also have an excellent chance of seeing the blind Gangetic River Dolphin and we may even be lucky enough to watch them jumping exuberantly, although sometimes they show little more than their backs. Photography is a real challenge, however, as they usually give little or no notice they are about to surface or breach.

The most notable bird species of the Chambal is the localized Indian Skimmer and we hope to be able to photograph these bizarre creatures living up to their name as they flap across the river, intermittently dipping their ‘broken’ bills into the water, or flocking on small islets. Other photography attractions include the declining Red-naped (or Indian Black) Ibis, the handsome Bar-headed Goose, Bonelli’s Eagle, the hulking, huge-eyed Great Stone Curlew, the noisy River Tern and the uncommon Black-bellied Tern.

In the late afternoon, after a chance to review images or take a rest in the heat of the day, we will visit the impressive Hindu temple complex at nearby Bateshwar. Not only can one take great images of the shrines and temples along the riverfront, but the priests and pilgrims here simply add to the delightful nature of the place. While this is primarily a wildlife photography tour, it is great to have a chance to soak in, and picture, India’s vibrant religious life.

Day 3

This morning we will take a second boat trip for photography on the Chambal, giving us all the chance to capture subjects and scenes we may have missed the previous day.

This afternoon we will return to the Delhi airport area for an overnight stay, with no doubt heavy traffic as we negotiate the Delhi conurbation.

Day 4

This morning we take a flight south to Nagpur, situated in central India in Maharashtra state.

From there we will drive southeastwards through partly cultivated and partly forested terrain to the edge of Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve in the state of Maharashtra for a nine nights stay at a comfortable lodge. Our lodge has been chosen because of its strategic location as regards the best access points to the park, an important advantage for keen wildlife photographers.

Days 5-12

The Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (sometimes referred to simply as Tadoba National Park) covers a vast area of forest in northeastern Maharashtra state. The wildlife reserve has an area of 625 square kilometres (241 square miles), is mostly clothed in teak, sal and bamboo forest and holds a good population of over 140 Tigers, as well as Leopards, Indian Wild Dogs and other important mammals. In recent years it has sprung from obscurity owing to the quality and frequency of its Tiger sightings. Tadoba is an amazing and rapidly up-and-coming destination for wildlife photography.

We shall be spending most of our time in the Tiger Reserve itself, where the habitat diversity is excellent and the density of Tigers high. Each day we will make morning and afternoon wildlife photography excursions into the park by jeep, exploring a range of habitats including tall sal and teak forest, patches of evergreen forest and a number of wetlands including a large lake, marshes and pools. Large grassy meadows, the sites of former villages and their surrounding cultivation and pastureland, dot the park and in the early morning, these meadows can be covered in low-lying mist, creating some beautiful landscapes. In places, hills rise high above the rolling forests.

As we patrol the park tracks we will be keeping a constant lookout for Tigers. The best times of day are early morning and late afternoon, when Tigers can regularly be found walking along the tracks or stalking across the meadows, or even drinking or taking a bath in one of the pools.

We will be using open-topped jeeps to explore Tadoba, with  local driver-guides who are experts on the geography of the park and have an intimate knowledge of the park’s Tigers and other key creatures. Our driver-guides seem to have a feel for where a Tiger will appear, so we should have a high chance of plenty of encounters. We could watch one of the huge territorial adult males on patrol, at times walking right past the jeeps showing utter indifference to our proximity, or strolling past the cubs he fathered last year and showing equal disdain (to the distress of the cubs, who clearly want dad to stop and play!). We could find some well-grown cubs playing around in the meadows or woodland, chasing each other, stalking imaginary prey or running around with an old bone in their mouths. Or perhaps a female sprawled in the shade with her younger cubs around her, glaring balefully at these interlopers in her world. On other occasions, we might watch Tigers drinking or even bathing in a forest pool. Tiger movements are of course unpredictable, so it is quite possible to go for some time without seeing one, and then have a fantastic series of magical, close-range photography encounters in succession! It is all a matter of chance with these incredibly beautiful carnivores.

Although Tigers dominate the scene at Tadoba, they would not be there were it not for a healthy population of prey animals. We should also have some good opportunities to photograph the beautiful Chital (also known as Axis or Spotted Deer), which is much the commonest large mammal in the park and we will soon get used to their yelping calls, which rise in pitch when they sight a Tiger.

The other really conspicuous species is the Hanuman (or Grey) Langur – they are everywhere in the park, sitting in playful, rowdy groups by the roadside or climbing high in the trees. (The local form is now sometimes treated as a distinct species: Northern Plains Grey Langur.) Monkeys often make for great ‘photo ops’ and the langurs, the Bandar Log of Kipling, with their long, long, curling tails, graceful loping movements and cheeky faces fringed by a ruff of hair are certainly rich subjects. Mothers with small babies are commonly met with and often pose unselfconsciously for some really gooey shots! (Or try long-distance telephoto shots of sunlit solitary monkeys sitting by the roadside, or crossing a dusty, shadowy track). There are so many photography possibilities here.

The huge Gaur (or Indian Bison) can be seen regularly here and we are likely to come across herds of these placid bovines feeding in the forest or wandering across the track in front of our jeep. Close-up photographs of the massive heads and horns of these impressive beasts are often the shots that make the most impact.

Tadoba also hosts packs of Dholes (or Asiatic Wild Dogs) and the chances of seeing and photographing a group of these attractive predators are good, although they tend to be quite unpredictable in their movements. When encountered, the dogs are often quite unafraid, continuing to go about their business together, whether hunting or some other kind of social interaction, regardless of the presence of a jeep or two.

This is also surely one of the best places in India for seeing Sloth Bear, and we have a good chance of having a number of sightings during our visit and may be able to photograph bears drinking at the waterholes.

Other mammals that are regularly encountered at Tadoba include Ruddy Mongoose, Leopard, Wild Boar, Indian Muntjac (or Barking Deer), Sambar, Chowsingha (or Four-horned Antelope), Nilgai (or Blue Bull), Northern Palm Squirrel and Indian Hare. There are slim chances for Indian Porcupine, Ratel (or Honey Badger) and Small Indian Civet. Marsh Crocodiles (or Muggers) can be found in some of the wetlands, while Sambar feeding on the aquatic vegetation (and often almost submerged) makes for some unusual photographs.

Although it is the prospect of close encounters with Tigers and other large mammals that will have brought us to Tadoba, this extensive park is an excellent place for birds too. The dry Sal forest and clumps of bamboo that dominate the park and its buffer area hold a wide variety of species and amongst those that may offer good opportunities for photography are the huge Lesser Adjutant, the beautiful Crested Serpent Eagle, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, White-eyed Buzzard, Changeable Hawk-Eagle, Indian Peafowl (which should be displaying at the time of our visit, a magnificent sight), Grey Junglefowl, the delightful Indian Scops Owl, the quizzical little Jungle Owlet, Crested Treeswift, Indian Roller, Asian Green Bee-eater, the striking White-naped Woodpecker, Black-rumped Flameback and the huge Stork-billed Kingfisher. Sometimes a Brown Fish Owl or a Mottled Wood Owl can be seen roosting close to the park roads, but at other times they move position and disappear for weeks on end.

Outside the park proper there are interesting photographic opportunities. There is a lovely wetland area that we can visit and anyone who fancies an interesting cultural experience can explore a local village where the friendly Gond tribal people are usually happy about being photographed as they go about village life. Indeed the children want to be in every photograph!

Day 13

After a final jeep safari at Tadoba, we will return to Nagpur for an overnight stay.

Day 14

This morning we will fly westwards to the city of Ahmedabad.

From the capital of Gujarat state, we will head westwards, our goal the remote salty ‘wastelands’ of the Little Rann of Kutch, where we will stay for two nights in a basic but welcoming lodge run by a local landowner.

This afternoon we will begin our exploration of the Little Rann of Kutch.

Day 15

At its southern edge, the Thar Desert gradually gives way to the vast saline flats that form the Great Rann of Kutch and the Little Rann of Kutch. These flats, which were once part of the Gulf of Kutch (it is said Alexander the Great embarked from a port in the gulf at the end of his abortive campaign to conquer northwestern India), are still inundated by the sea during the monsoon months.

The Little Rann of Kutch is the last stronghold of the Indian Wild Ass (or Onager), which is now protected by the 4954 square kilometres (1913 square kilometres) of the Wild Ass Wildlife Sanctuary. The open flats of the Rann are a wild place, but offer little in the way of sustenance, even to a wild ass, but the bushy and grassy areas towards its periphery are a different matter and here we shall surely encounter a good number of attractive Indian Wild Asses. Getting the orange disc of the setting sun behind the asses creates a classic image.

Endearing little Desert Red and Bengal (or Indian) Foxes both occur here and we will be hoping to find a den where we can really close to the adorable, playful cubs.

Our wildlife photography safaris here will be by means of open-topped 4×4 vehicles
, but we can get out and walk (or crouch down) anywhere we want.

At the edge of the Little Rann are a number of wetlands and here we could encounter both Greater and Lesser Flamingoes (this region of India is the only area outside Africa where the latter species breeds). Other potential subjects for photography include Great White Pelican, Western Reef Egret, Black-headed Ibis, Eurasian Spoonbill, Woolly-necked Stork, the attractive Painted Stork, Asian Openbill (an extraordinary stork with a bill adapted to cracking the shells of pond snails), Comb (or Knob-billed) Duck, Black-necked Stilt, Pied Avocet, Marsh Sandpiper, Slender-billed Gull and Gull-billed Tern.

Areas of dry cultivation and wasteland hold two more specialities that make nice photographic subjects; the attractive Yellow-wattled Lapwing and the beautiful Indian Courser, while the lovely Rosy Starling (a winter visitor to India) can sometimes be found in large, approachable flocks at the edge of villages.

Day 16

After a final morning at the Little Rann of Kutch, we will travel southwards to Blackbuck (or Velavadar) National Park, situated near the Gulf of Cambay to the north of Bhavnagar, where we will stay for three nights at a very comfortable or even luxurious lodge.

Days 17-18

Blackbuck (or Velavadar) National Park is one of the last areas of relatively undisturbed grassland in Gujarat and is famous for its large herds of elegant Blackbucks, which we will be able to see and photograph at close range (the males, with their long, spiral horns, are especially striking, and the backdrop of tall, dry grass, ranging from yellowish-white to reddish-brown in colour, is especially pleasing). Blackbucks have a habit of leaping into the air when agitated or alarmed and we will be wanting to find some taking to the air as they cross the dirt tracks that crisscross the sanctuary. Their leaps make for fantastic action photography!

This wildlife sanctuary is also well known for frequent sightings of  Wolf, which we have a very good chance of seeing (on one visit we watched one chasing a herd of Blackbuck, causing utter confusion and panic!). Often they are close enough for worthwhile photography. There are few places in the worl

The same applies to the impressive Striped Hyaena. The young animals are far less wary than the adults and often allow a close approach if their den is close to a driveable track.

Blackbuck is one of the best places in India for Jungle Cat encounters, and if we are lucky we will be able to watch one hunt, leaping into the air in order to pounce on its rodent prey hidden in the grass.

This is also a good place for photographing the splendid Nilgai or Blue Bull, a large antelope.

This 34 square kilometres (13 square miles) sanctuary also holds some interesting birds, including the localized Painted Francolin and Sykes’s Lark, but it is the more common and widespread Indian birds that make the easiest and most rewarding photographic targets.

Day 19

We will have another chance to explore Velavadar this morning. After lunch we return to Ahmedabad for an early evening tour end. According to your travel plans you can opt to be dropped off at the airport or, if you are staying overnight, at an airport area hotel.

(There are direct flights from Ahmedabad to Dubai, Doha and other overseas hubs. You can also fly to Delhi or Mumbai and make international connections.)