Satpura, Pench and Kanha India
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
PHOTO CREDIT: INDRAJIT LATEY SATPURA, PENCH AND KANHA Bellingham Safaris Scheduled Expedition INDIA 27 February to 10 March 2018 BELLINGHAM SAFARIS | TEL: +27-(0)21-783-4380 | WWW.BELLINGHAMSAFARIS.COM 2 Q100086 | BELLINGHAM SAFARIS SCHEDULED EXPEDITION INDIA India is justly famous for its iconic mammalian mega fauna, foremost of which is the Royal Bengal Tiger. This regal cat, the largest of all felines, may sadly be the first of the big cats that we condemn to extinction, and the opportunity to encounter this majestic beast is the apex of India’s wildlife highlights. This being said India’s wildlife includes a host of other magical mammals and in order to give you a complete experience and excellent chances for Dole and Sloth Bear you will spend time at 3 different reserves – Kanha, Pench and Satpura. TOUR MAP BELLINGHAM SAFARIS | TEL: +27-(0)21-783-4380 | WWW.BELLINGHAMSAFARIS.COM 3 Q100086 | BELLINGHAM SAFARIS SCHEDULED EXPEDITION INDIA TOUR AT A GLANCE Day Date Location Accommodation 01 27 Feb Delhi Lemon Tree Hotel or similar 02 28 Feb Satpura National Park Reni Pani Lodge 03 01 Mar Satpura National Park Reni Pani Lodge 04 02 Mar Satpura National Park Reni Pani Lodge 05 03 Mar Pench National Park Jamtara Wilderness Camp 06 04 Mar Pench National Park Jamtara Wilderness Camp 07 05 Mar Kanha National Park Kanha Jungle Lodge 08 06 Mar Kanha National Park Kanha Jungle Lodge 09 07 Mar Kanha National Park Kanha Jungle Lodge 10 08 Mar Kanha National Park Kanha Jungle Lodge 11 09 Mar Delhi Lemon Tree Hotel or similar 12 10 Mar Day of departure COST OVERVIEW These costs are based on 8 to 10 adults travelling Per adult in double room 27 Feb - 10 Mar 2018 $ 7 670.00 Single Supplement 27 Feb - 10 Mar 2018 $ 1 375.00 INCLUDES . Accommodation . Meals and soft drinks . All internal flights as specified . Ground transportation . Activities as specified . Services of a specialist Bellingham Safaris Guide . Local staff gratuities EXCLUDES . Premium brand drinks, champagne, cognacs, cellar wines, cigars and cigarettes . Items of personal nature . Visa fees (please be sure to check if visas are required) . Travel Insurance . Excess baggage costs . Any items not included in the inclusions above BELLINGHAM SAFARIS | TEL: +27-(0)21-783-4380 | WWW.BELLINGHAMSAFARIS.COM 4 Q100086 | BELLINGHAM SAFARIS SCHEDULED EXPEDITION INDIA LOCATION: SATPURA IN: 28 FEBRUARY | OUT: 3 MARCH Satpura National Park covers 524 square kilometres of protected forest. It is classified as part of the Eastern Highlands moist deciduous forests eco-region and forms part of a zone of steady transition between the forests of Eastern and Western India. Its terrain of tall mountains, perennial rivers, deep gorges, sandstone peaks and waterfalls make it rich in biodiversity. The careful observer will thus come across stands of Teak, Indian butter tree and Sal. The action of water within this rugged terrain has resulted in the formation of many caves and shelters, which along with the dense forests, make it the perfect habitat for animals such as Kipling’s “Baloo”; a celebration of the nocturnal Sloth Bear and this is certainly one of the best places in India to sight this mega mammal. You will take morning and afternoon safaris either by jeep, Elephant or canoe. Remarkably you are also able to head out on foot – a rare privilege in Indian National Parks and a thrilling experience in Tiger country! Apart from an impressive suite of Tiger, Leopard, and Sloth Bear, the area is also home to Gaur (Indian Bison), Chousingha (the world’s only four-horned antelope), Nilgai, Dhole (Indian Wild dog), Indian Wolf, Striped Hyaena and the Rhesus Macaque. The Malabar Giant Squirrel and the Mouse Deer, unusual species for Central India, have also been spotted here. Among the smaller mammals reported are the Indian Civet, Palm Civet, Indian Porcupine, Bengal Fox, Black-naped Hare, Jungle and Rusty Spotted Cat and Flying squirrel. Hornbill and Peafowl are showy birds amongst a plethora of avian delights. PHOTO CREDIT: JAMES KYDD, RENI PANI LODGE BELLINGHAM SAFARIS | TEL: +27-(0)21-783-4380 | WWW.BELLINGHAMSAFARIS.COM 5 Q100086 | BELLINGHAM SAFARIS SCHEDULED EXPEDITION INDIA LOCATION: PENCH NATIONAL PARK IN: 3 MARCH | OUT: 5 MARCH Pench and neighbouring Kanha are the original setting of Kipling’s, The Jungle Book. Here you will set out by jeep on morning and afternoon drives into the heart of Kipling’s Jungle Book. Endless groves of impressive Teak climb into the skies, a legacy of the royal hunting conservancies of the past. Pench has the highest large herbivore density in India. Herds of Chital graze, with intricate antlers and white spots on their copper coats. Lord of the forest must be the Sambar with a dark coat and majestic set of antlers. The strange Nilgai (Blue Bull) appears on occasion. Sounders of Wild Boar trot together seeking out tubers and grubs. You may encounter the impressive Gaur, the body-builder of the Indian forest that can weigh just over a ton. Predator sightings can be exceptional with both Tiger and Leopard. With a sprinkling of luck Sloth Bear may be seen hunting termites. Golden Jackals abound and you may witness interactions between these canids at carcasses, fiercely defending their scraps from each other and chasing off vultures. Perhaps the highlight mammal of Pench is the athletic Dhole, or Indian Wild Dog. Dhole closely resemble African Wild Dog in social structure, relying heavily on cooperation between members of the pack. The bird life is almost fictional. Over 170 species of birds include Junglefowl (a robust descendant of a rooster), Peafowl, Jungle Babblers, Greater Racket-tailed Drongos, Indian Scops Owl, Black-rumped Flame-backs, Indian Rollers, Malabar Pied Hornbills, Rufous Treepies and flocks of Scaly-breasted Munias to name a few. PHOTO CREDIT: JAMES KYDD, JONATHAN CARAMANUS BELLINGHAM SAFARIS | TEL: +27-(0)21-783-4380 | WWW.BELLINGHAMSAFARIS.COM 6 Q100086 | BELLINGHAM SAFARIS SCHEDULED EXPEDITION INDIA LOCATION: KANHA NATIONAL PARK IN: 5 MARCH | OUT: 9 MARCH Located in the heart of India, this Project Tiger Reserve is a scenic wonderland of Sal forest and bamboo thickets interspersed with rolling grasslands, scrub covered ridges and meandering streams. This is the classic untamed India as immortalized in Kipling’s The Jungle Book. Kanha’s fabulous large mammals are what has led to its fame and popularity, first as hunting grounds for the wealthy Maharajas, then as a protected area in 1933 and finally as a national park in 1955. Although the regal Bengal Tiger will be the target for this leg of the tour, this is far from a single species quest. The park also has a thriving population of Leopard while you also have fair chances for Dhole, Chousingha, Gaur, the endangered hard-ground Barasingha (this being the only place where this sub species of deer persists), Barking Deer, Ruddy Mongoose, Asiatic (Golden) Jackal and with a healthy dose of luck, the mysterious Indian Wolf in the far east of the park or the rarely seen Pangolin or Blackbuck. Large groups of Chital (Spotted Deer), grazing in the open tend to be more reminiscent of the savannas of East Africa than of India, and are the most abundant prey species for Tiger. This scenically stunning park offers excellent birding including the Red Junglefowl, smaller numbers of Red Spurfowl, and the resplendent Indian Peafowl, as well as Crested Serpent Eagle, White-eyed Buzzard Shikra, Peregrine Falcon, Jungle Bush Quail, Indian and Savannah Nightjars, Yellow-footed Green Pigeon, Yellow-eyed Babbler and the bizarre Greater Racket-tailed Drongo. PHOTO CREDIT: JAMES KYDD, INDRAJIT LATEY BELLINGHAM SAFARIS | TEL: +27-(0)21-783-4380 | WWW.BELLINGHAMSAFARIS.COM 7 Q100086 | BELLINGHAM SAFARIS SCHEDULED EXPEDITION INDIA ACCOMMODATION: RENI PANI LODGE IN: 28 FEBRUARY | OUT: 3 MARCH Reni Pani Jungle Lodge, located in a pristine forest typical of the Satpura Tiger Reserve, gets its interesting name from a neighbouring tribal village. Reni Pani features twelve luxury cottages encompassing three distinct architectural designs each being built using local / indigenous material and characterized by viewing decks, large lounging bay-windows and luxury bathrooms. The ‘Gol Ghar’ or the meeting place, has a fascinating and unique design and features a dining area, a bar, a library and a lounge set in its various corners. Rates include: Full board accommodation, 2 Jeep safaris per day, still camera fee and entrance fees. www.renipanijunglelodge.com BELLINGHAM SAFARIS | TEL: +27-(0)21-783-4380 | WWW.BELLINGHAMSAFARIS.COM 8 Q100086 | BELLINGHAM SAFARIS SCHEDULED EXPEDITION INDIA ACCOMMODATION: JAMTARA WILDERNESS CAMP IN: 3 MARCH | OUT: 5 MARCH Situated in the Village of Jamtara, near Pench National Park, Jamtara Wilderness Lodge is a 10 luxury tented property in the heart of rural Pench. Surrounded by tall Arjuna Trees and an ancient Banyan rooted on a dry riverbed, each tented room overlooks the forest which set the perfect background to this jungle experience. Each luxury tent is designed to feel light and open, allowing guests the optimum view of nature. With the option of rolling up the front panels of the tent, guests can bring the outside in but still be in the privacy of their own rooms. Although, these are tented rooms, the bathroom has been made into a permanent structure for the comfort of guests. Rates include: Full board accommodation, 2 Jeep safaris per day, still camera fee and entrance fees. www.jamtarawilderness.com BELLINGHAM SAFARIS | TEL: +27-(0)21-783-4380 | WWW.BELLINGHAMSAFARIS.COM 9 Q100086 | BELLINGHAM SAFARIS SCHEDULED EXPEDITION INDIA ACCOMMODATION: KANHA JUNGLE LODGE IN: 5 MARCH | OUT: 9 MARCH Kanha Jungle Lodge offers 18 spacious rooms and two new independent deluxe cottages with private patios, overlooking a lush green forest.