Wildlife of Central India
4.5
Wildlife of Central India
By Chinkara Journeys
Recommended by 90% of travelers
This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher
Lowest price guarantee
from per adult
$3,244.63
Ages 16-89
Duration: 12 days
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Features animals
- Accommodation on twin/double sharing. Single supplement is also available.
- Domestic airfare
- Full cycle of meals in tiger reserve
- Safari permits and still camera fee
- Surface transportation in air-conditioned car
What's not included- Gratuities
- International flight, visa and airport charges, expenses of personal nature.
- Departure details
- Traveler pickup is offered.
- We can also pick you from other cities, airports, railway station or hotels.
- Indira Gandhi International T3 Road, Indira Gandhi Int'l T3 Rd, New Delhi, Delhi 110037, India
- Airports:
- Indira Gandhi Intl Airport, New Delhi, New Delhi 110037 India
Return details- Returns to original departure point
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 189349P1- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
- All sales are final and incur 100% cancellation penalties.
- How much is Wildlife of Central India?
- Wildlife of Central India price starts from $3,245.30. Discover and book Wildlife of Central India on Tripadvisor
- What is the Wildlife of Central India cancellation policy?
- Wildlife of Central India cancellation policy: All sales are final and incur 100% cancellation penalties. Discover and book Wildlife of Central India on Tripadvisor
- Which company provides Wildlife of Central India?
- Wildlife of Central India is hosted by Chinkara Journeys. Read reviews, discover additonal experiences or contact Chinkara Journeys on Tripadvisor. Discover and book Wildlife of Central India on Tripadvisor
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 189349P1
Reserve your spot
from $3,244.63
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator.
andrewwE2261LH
00Tiger safaris central india
Superb tour, professionally planned and expertly delivered.Exceeded our expectations by 100%.High class accommodati…
margrethelsgilbert
00Central India safaris
An outstanding trip with Saurabh being an outstanding guide. Will be booking again with Chinkara journeys
1209billyboy
00Amazing and breathtaking trip
Saruabh tailored the trip to exactly what we wanted. Throughout the trip we received regular contact from him to ns…
ansbnks2016
00Excellent tiger watching
Very impressive organisation from the first enquiry to the final day. We were lucky to see so many tigers but the c…
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4.5
11 reviews
Excellent
10
Very good
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Poor
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Sue S
3 contributions
Feb 2023
So many memorable moments, starting with a close-up view of a tiger waking up slowly and ambling away on our first safari. We were lucky enough to experience several further tiger sightings, including some when our vehicle was on its own.
Each park we visited was different and I especially enjoyed seeing all kinds of different mammals, birds and trees and some spectacular vistas and sunsets.
Other highlights on this itinerary were options to do a few guided walks and night drives.
The accommodation and food at all the lodges was excellent. I would recommend taking lots of small denomination rupees for tips and choosing indian dishes over any western choices.
The personal attention to detail for each person in the group was exceptional and I would highly recommend this tour operator.
Each park we visited was different and I especially enjoyed seeing all kinds of different mammals, birds and trees and some spectacular vistas and sunsets.
Other highlights on this itinerary were options to do a few guided walks and night drives.
The accommodation and food at all the lodges was excellent. I would recommend taking lots of small denomination rupees for tips and choosing indian dishes over any western choices.
The personal attention to detail for each person in the group was exceptional and I would highly recommend this tour operator.
Written March 12, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chinkara J
Hello Sue
Thank you for the review. We are pleased to hear that you had an excellent experience. We hope to see you again in India soon.
Written March 16, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Abbotsham
Devon, UK184 contributions
Feb 2020
We have just returned from a tailor made 20 day trip organised by Saurahb and we could not fault any section of the trip, it was a trip of a lifetime for our 50th Wedding Anniversary. We had a rather unusual request mixing Agra (to see the Taj Mahal) with four Tiger Reserves (my wife has had a lifelong desire to see tigers in the wild) and we wanted some days off inbetween to relax and enjoy the country ( we are not getting any younger). The trip was agreed and every element was executed perfectly, car pick ups, lodges, night sleeper tickets etc. We appreciated the little touches, the comprehensive briefing document and especially the provision of buffs for the early morning drives.
The lodges selected were either good or absolutely oustanding as were all the drivers between lodges, our guide in Agra and the wildlife guides at the lodges.
Saurahb was regularly in touch and showed a real interest in our trip.
If we visit the area again we shall certatainly use his services and would unhesitatingly recommend him to other travellers.
The lodges selected were either good or absolutely oustanding as were all the drivers between lodges, our guide in Agra and the wildlife guides at the lodges.
Saurahb was regularly in touch and showed a real interest in our trip.
If we visit the area again we shall certatainly use his services and would unhesitatingly recommend him to other travellers.
Written February 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bluechippm
Bristol, UK330 contributions
Having just returned from a very successful and enjoyable wildlife tour of Central India we would like to recommend Chinkara Journeys. Every detail throughout the tour was precision planned by Saurabh the proprietor and had the personal touch. We saw plenty of wildlife especially predators and birds, the accommodations were good and transport timely and comfortable. We also participated in night safaris, boat rides and jungle walks. An off grid travelling experience that we will treasure for a long time. If wild life is your thing this tour is perfect for you.
Written March 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chinkara J
Dear Geoff
Thank you for your valuable feedback. We are glad that you enjoyed the tour and hope you will return back again!
Written March 16, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
kay_fitz
Kelowna, Canada227 contributions
Feb 2020
We booked with Chinkara about 3 months before our trip. Saurabh (owner) charges a large transaction fee, almost $200 USD to pay for the holiday. Saurabh offered to pay half, but it took 3 months after my trip to receive that. Later on we learned that they booked budget airfare, which caused a small issue at one airport in regard to additional luggage fees for our cameras in our carry-on bags. Luckily we didn’t get charged for the extra weight by the airline. The trip itself was great, lots of wild life sightings, great weather, great interaction with locals and local companies. The tigers were beautiful. However, we had one incident at Reni Pani Lodge, the last spot on our national park tour. We paid a large amount (~$700 USD) to go camping through Saurabh at this location. The night before due to uncontrollable circumstances they had to change the location. Instead of telling us options, they made assumptions and put us in a camp spot where we had already visited. By the time they told us at the lodge there was a change, it was 3 hours before departure - right before lunch. After lunch we asked to cancel it as we realized this wasn't what we paid for. They said it was too late at that point, everything was set up and done (the camp site was an hour away so that was a lie), and they had known at 9PM the night before. There would be no change in cost. Erwin, the lodge manager, said to talk to my agent, and he and my agent I found out later were friends who really didn't seem to care that we were upset and paid a large amount of money for the experience that we didn't want. Saurabh initially offered a small ~$60USD refund, and withdrew it shortly after as Reni Pani didn’t want to refund. We really expected to Saurabh to understand and be on our side as we paid a very large amount of money for this. Instead he unprofessionally included us and Erwin on all emails and made the lasting impression we didn’t want. When I think of our trip, I think back on how bad it was dealing with Saurabh over this. The potential is there to be a great company, but they need a lot of work on customer relations. I would not recommend.
Written May 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GM
Melbourne, Australia1 contribution
Feb 2023 • Solo
I highly recommend Central India Wildlife tour by Chinkara Journeys.
We had a fantastic trip to Banhavgarh, Kanha, Pench and Satpura tiger reserves. My aim was to see, experience and photograph the wildlife of this amazing region. We were focussing on tigers and got generously rewarded. The highlight was undoubtedly the multiple tiger sightings, the excitement of seeing wild elephants, a leopard snoozing on a rock, encountering a jackal family where the little ones were hanging off mum for a feed to the astounding array of birds – to many to mention but all wonderful memories.
Saurabh Agrawal of Chinkara Journeys made this fantastic small group trip possible. He was extremely helpful, understanding, patient and is an excellent and very knowledgeable guide/photographer. He taught us so much about the area and wildlife and India. Simply outstanding.
A big thank you to Saurabh for a fabulous trip! A trip to remember!
We had a fantastic trip to Banhavgarh, Kanha, Pench and Satpura tiger reserves. My aim was to see, experience and photograph the wildlife of this amazing region. We were focussing on tigers and got generously rewarded. The highlight was undoubtedly the multiple tiger sightings, the excitement of seeing wild elephants, a leopard snoozing on a rock, encountering a jackal family where the little ones were hanging off mum for a feed to the astounding array of birds – to many to mention but all wonderful memories.
Saurabh Agrawal of Chinkara Journeys made this fantastic small group trip possible. He was extremely helpful, understanding, patient and is an excellent and very knowledgeable guide/photographer. He taught us so much about the area and wildlife and India. Simply outstanding.
A big thank you to Saurabh for a fabulous trip! A trip to remember!
Written March 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chinkara J
Thank you so much for such a wonderful review. We are happy that you had such a wonderful experience. And we hope to see you again in India travelling to another beautiful destination for more wildlife.
Written March 31, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
HÃ¥vard Rosenlund
Oslo, Norway3 contributions
Apr 2023
Everything was exciting about this holiday, which exceeded my expectations by many orders of magnitude! I'll pick out some highlights:
- The very first tiger (out of 16 total!) - a stunning female that walked straight towards us and we spent some time with in Bandhavgarh on the very first drive
- Spending a lot of time with a female leopard with two cubs, as well as a mating pair of leopards in a tree (didn't see them actually mate though), all on the
same drive in Pench
- A family of Asiatic wild dogs (a pair with 3 pups) playing around our car - also in Pench (same drive as the leopards!)
- An incredible amount of birds species (I'm a birder - and if you are, Saurabh will have your needs met, believe me!) - I photographed 150 species in total
(observed 170) - the boat safari in Satpura was a highlight for both bird count and photography
- Fantastic night drives: One in Kanha (with leopard, palm civet, and a rare flying squirrel!), one in Pench - looking for wolves (saw one briefly), and two in
Satpura (with a massive male tiger, sloth bear, jungle cat and the incredibly rare rusty-spotted cat). Night drives in Kanha and Pench have to be ordered and
paid for separately, but they are very exciting and you see stuff you won't see otherwise.
- Saurabh as a guide and tour leader was a highlight of itself. Extremely knowledgeable, caters to ones needs, a great photographer (if you want to learn a
trick or two), funny, and an all-round great guy
- Have to mention the accommodations as well, which was great! Loved all of them, but Shergarh in Kanha was special to me (the people working there and
the beautiful place itself), and Reni Pani at Satpura at the end was just magnificent and perfect to end the trip on a high note.
- Oh, and the food! I loved the food (but I just love Indian food - so I was in heaven)
Here's a few tips before leaving:
I have plenty of experience working with wildlife in Africa, so I know first hand how much luck plays a part when it comes to wildlife viewing,. I'd advice you
to do this trip with an open mind and without too many expectations of what you should or should not see. Then let Saurabh do his job, and you will likely
get an incredible experience with plenty of great sightings anyway, as he really knows what he's doing. The drivers and guides he picks are people he knows
very well and trust will do a great job if he isn't with you, and I can tell you from experience that they do an incredible job as well!
You would be very unlucky not to see tiger, and most will probably have great observations with tigers getting quite close, but nothing is guaranteed.
Leopards are always pure luck, as are many of the other predators.
I really lucked out on this trip, and got the see way more than I expected! No matter what you get to see, you'll likely see lots of stuff you have never seen
before (especially if you are new to India). So just enjoy whatever comes your way!
Here's a list of additional tips:
- Do not worry about accommodations, especially if they change, as Saurabh will always pick a place run by people he knows and trusts, and with high
standards (at least to me).
- If you want additional safari drives (such as the night drives in Kanha and Pench mentioned earlier), you'll have to pay for those as extras. I did that while
on the trip - with no decisions made beforehand.
- You might need quite a bit of additional money for various small things along the way, so be sure to have a decent amount with you. There will be stops to
take out money at ATMs between the parks. Money will be spent on tips for guides, drivers and staff at the places you stay (Saurabh will help you with this).
I had set aside an additional £1000 for the trip, and most of it was gone by the end. A lot went to tipping, but a few lump sums went into the extra safaris, a
new suitcase (the zipper on mine broke), and me needing to book and pay for a new domestic flight (as I had mixed up the flight times at the end of the trip).
To sum it up:
This holiday was simply spectacular in every single way! If you can't tell by my words already. For anyone with a dream of wild tigers and Indian wildlife, this
is the trip to do, and I highly doubt you'll be disappointed. I really want to do this again at a later stage, and I probably will. Another two weeks with Saurabh,
seeing some of the staff again from the lodges, the great food, and the fantastic wildlife. It just sounds too great not to do at least once more! Maybe this
time I won't take 35,000 photos? Do not take 35,000 photos if you want a life afterwards....
But before I do this trip again, at some point in the nearish future, I will be doing a snow leopard safari with Saurabh (which is another one of his many
holiday trips). As long as he's in charge, I know I can't go wrong!
- The very first tiger (out of 16 total!) - a stunning female that walked straight towards us and we spent some time with in Bandhavgarh on the very first drive
- Spending a lot of time with a female leopard with two cubs, as well as a mating pair of leopards in a tree (didn't see them actually mate though), all on the
same drive in Pench
- A family of Asiatic wild dogs (a pair with 3 pups) playing around our car - also in Pench (same drive as the leopards!)
- An incredible amount of birds species (I'm a birder - and if you are, Saurabh will have your needs met, believe me!) - I photographed 150 species in total
(observed 170) - the boat safari in Satpura was a highlight for both bird count and photography
- Fantastic night drives: One in Kanha (with leopard, palm civet, and a rare flying squirrel!), one in Pench - looking for wolves (saw one briefly), and two in
Satpura (with a massive male tiger, sloth bear, jungle cat and the incredibly rare rusty-spotted cat). Night drives in Kanha and Pench have to be ordered and
paid for separately, but they are very exciting and you see stuff you won't see otherwise.
- Saurabh as a guide and tour leader was a highlight of itself. Extremely knowledgeable, caters to ones needs, a great photographer (if you want to learn a
trick or two), funny, and an all-round great guy
- Have to mention the accommodations as well, which was great! Loved all of them, but Shergarh in Kanha was special to me (the people working there and
the beautiful place itself), and Reni Pani at Satpura at the end was just magnificent and perfect to end the trip on a high note.
- Oh, and the food! I loved the food (but I just love Indian food - so I was in heaven)
Here's a few tips before leaving:
I have plenty of experience working with wildlife in Africa, so I know first hand how much luck plays a part when it comes to wildlife viewing,. I'd advice you
to do this trip with an open mind and without too many expectations of what you should or should not see. Then let Saurabh do his job, and you will likely
get an incredible experience with plenty of great sightings anyway, as he really knows what he's doing. The drivers and guides he picks are people he knows
very well and trust will do a great job if he isn't with you, and I can tell you from experience that they do an incredible job as well!
You would be very unlucky not to see tiger, and most will probably have great observations with tigers getting quite close, but nothing is guaranteed.
Leopards are always pure luck, as are many of the other predators.
I really lucked out on this trip, and got the see way more than I expected! No matter what you get to see, you'll likely see lots of stuff you have never seen
before (especially if you are new to India). So just enjoy whatever comes your way!
Here's a list of additional tips:
- Do not worry about accommodations, especially if they change, as Saurabh will always pick a place run by people he knows and trusts, and with high
standards (at least to me).
- If you want additional safari drives (such as the night drives in Kanha and Pench mentioned earlier), you'll have to pay for those as extras. I did that while
on the trip - with no decisions made beforehand.
- You might need quite a bit of additional money for various small things along the way, so be sure to have a decent amount with you. There will be stops to
take out money at ATMs between the parks. Money will be spent on tips for guides, drivers and staff at the places you stay (Saurabh will help you with this).
I had set aside an additional £1000 for the trip, and most of it was gone by the end. A lot went to tipping, but a few lump sums went into the extra safaris, a
new suitcase (the zipper on mine broke), and me needing to book and pay for a new domestic flight (as I had mixed up the flight times at the end of the trip).
To sum it up:
This holiday was simply spectacular in every single way! If you can't tell by my words already. For anyone with a dream of wild tigers and Indian wildlife, this
is the trip to do, and I highly doubt you'll be disappointed. I really want to do this again at a later stage, and I probably will. Another two weeks with Saurabh,
seeing some of the staff again from the lodges, the great food, and the fantastic wildlife. It just sounds too great not to do at least once more! Maybe this
time I won't take 35,000 photos? Do not take 35,000 photos if you want a life afterwards....
But before I do this trip again, at some point in the nearish future, I will be doing a snow leopard safari with Saurabh (which is another one of his many
holiday trips). As long as he's in charge, I know I can't go wrong!
Written May 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chinkara J
Dear Havard,
Thank you for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear that we were able to create a memorable holiday for you and that you had a wonderful time capturing precious moments through your photographs.
We would be delighted to welcome you back to Central India for another incredible journey searching for tigers and leopards. Or to explore the majestic Himalayas in pursuit of the elusive snow leopard. The beauty and enchantment of the region await your arrival.
Wishing you many more incredible adventures ahead!
Kind regards,
Saurabh
Written May 30, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Tracey J
Geelong, Australia14 contributions
I literally congratulated myself every night on my choice to tour Central India with Chinkara Journeys!
I spent 13 days in search of wildlife - every day a new adventure and experience, in a small intimate group of 4 people, led by Chinkaras amazing leader and naturalist, Saurabh.
Every single attention to detail is put in place to ensure maximum potential for animal sightings.
We had an amazing amount of sightings - tigers 17, leopards 10, sloth bear 2, over 170 species of birds, wild dogs, baur, deer, monkeys, the list goes on....
Communications from go to whoa where prompt and professional.
Accommodation was top-notch, boutique and personal.
Food excellent, and plenty of it. Transport through rural India between parks, comfortable and cool!
I cannot recommend Saurabh and Chinkara highly enough to engage for a wildlife experience in Central India. ( And rest assured, if Saurabh is not leading the tour, he has the best team in place to ensure you are comfortable and well lead in safaring endeavours).
This trip was AMAZING! Thankyou for a lifetime experience I will treasure.
Oh, and not to mention, Saurabh's a good bloke!!
I spent 13 days in search of wildlife - every day a new adventure and experience, in a small intimate group of 4 people, led by Chinkaras amazing leader and naturalist, Saurabh.
Every single attention to detail is put in place to ensure maximum potential for animal sightings.
We had an amazing amount of sightings - tigers 17, leopards 10, sloth bear 2, over 170 species of birds, wild dogs, baur, deer, monkeys, the list goes on....
Communications from go to whoa where prompt and professional.
Accommodation was top-notch, boutique and personal.
Food excellent, and plenty of it. Transport through rural India between parks, comfortable and cool!
I cannot recommend Saurabh and Chinkara highly enough to engage for a wildlife experience in Central India. ( And rest assured, if Saurabh is not leading the tour, he has the best team in place to ensure you are comfortable and well lead in safaring endeavours).
This trip was AMAZING! Thankyou for a lifetime experience I will treasure.
Oh, and not to mention, Saurabh's a good bloke!!
Written May 14, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chinkara J
Dear Tracey,
Thank you for your kind words and praises. I'm thrilled to hear that you thoroughly enjoyed the tour and had the opportunity to witness an abundance of wildlife. It's always a joy to see our guests appreciate the natural wonders of India.
I would be delighted to welcome you back to India for another remarkable adventure, perhaps in a different region that offers unique wildlife and cultural experiences. There are numerous fascinating destinations waiting to be explored, each with its own distinctive charm and offerings.
Please feel free to reach out to me whenever you're ready to plan your next adventure. I'll be here to assist you in creating another memorable journey filled with amazing wildlife encounters and rich cultural immersion.
Looking forward to the opportunity of hosting you again in the future!
Warm regards,
Written May 31, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
RoseMarie G
Matale, Sri Lanka1 contribution
Feb 2023
Originally planned for February 2021 this trip finally took place two years later, notably because of the pandemic and other issues. But it was well worth the wait, not just because it delivered on the promised wildlife but because it was meticulously planned and almost seamlessly delivered from beginning to end. The accommodation was carefully chosen for our comfort while keeping the feel of a laid back adventure. The food was an excellent introduction to Indian cooking at its best and our travel from one reserve to another – four in all – was achieved with the minimum of fuss and bother. The fact that the Saurabh Agrawal of Chinkara Journeys travelled with us to trouble-shoot if necessary and to call our attention to attractions on the way was bonus which I think everyone in the group (we were nine) greatly appreciated. I must also say a personal thank you to Saurabh, not just for finding innovative ways for me to climb in and out of jeeps given a knee injury, but also for putting a great deal of effort into re-uniting me with some belongings I left behind at our first stop. As we were travelling light I was delighted to see them again!!
Tigers have been on my bucket list for many years and I was thrilled to see ten of them, including three (almost adult) cubs, at very close proximity. Thanks to Saurabh’s knowledge and enthusiasm, and that of the guides and drivers, we were also able to see many of the other animals to be found in this part of India, including leopards, jackals and their pups, a lone wolf, deer, wild boar and even a herd of wild elephants.
Many thanks to Chinkara Journeys (and to my fellow travelers) for a memorable trip – and for the new tick on my bucket list.
Tigers have been on my bucket list for many years and I was thrilled to see ten of them, including three (almost adult) cubs, at very close proximity. Thanks to Saurabh’s knowledge and enthusiasm, and that of the guides and drivers, we were also able to see many of the other animals to be found in this part of India, including leopards, jackals and their pups, a lone wolf, deer, wild boar and even a herd of wild elephants.
Many thanks to Chinkara Journeys (and to my fellow travelers) for a memorable trip – and for the new tick on my bucket list.
Written April 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MMM1968
RIVERVIEW, FL198 contributions
Apr 2022
My trip was scheduled for April 2021 but due to the pandemic, was postponed. So very happy I got to celebrate the Year of the Tiger by taking this awesome trip in 2022! I was traveling solo but there was another guest so it was just the two of us. Our guide, and the company's owner, Saurabh Agrawal traveled together. We were very lucky to have him as he was was checking on everything to make sure all was in order since traveling was slowly picking up again. He was excellent in responding to questions and assisting with documents, information, etc. Our first real sighting where we got to see the entire tiger and not just his behind (that was our first sighting--saw the stripes and the behind and that was it): we were in our first park and had this beautiful female all to ourselves just strolling along the dirt road. We were maybe 10 feet away from her as we were in the back seat of the jeep--what an unforgettable experience! Throughout the journey we saw 13 tigers so we were very fortunate! There of course is plenty of other wildlife too: some favorites were the peacocks, the mother sloth bear with her two cubs riding her back, wild elephants (which are actually quite rare Saurabh said), leopards and so many different types of birds!! The hotels were top-notch and we were treated like royalty. Saurabh is an excellent guide (I had actually first met him during a snow leopard adventure in 2021 and if you like birds-well he's your man!!) and is very kind and thoughtful making sure the two of us got to experience as much as we could and I am forever grateful! Hoping to take another tiger or snow leopard adventure again in the future!
Written March 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you very much for your review. We are glad that you enjoyed the tour and had some great sightings. We hope to see you again in India soon for another adventure.
Written March 22, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Vivide
Zijtaart, The Netherlands13 contributions
Jun 2022
Adventure awaits! Our alarm clock goes of at a horribly early 3:45 AM. Quickly we get into our mosquito proof shirts and get ready to go on a safari through the Indian jungle in one of the sturdy Gypsy jeeps.
With us are our driver, our trusted guide Saurabh from Chinkara Journeys organising this trip for us whom is able to identify any bird within seconds by song, flight pattern or plumage. Often a second naturalist of the lodge we are staying at joins us and we pick up a Park Ranger at the front gate of the National Park to complete our entourage. An extra set of eyes is very welcome as the forest is dense and animal movement is hard to spot.
It’s still dark outside when we go through the park gate. Using our torches we look for eye shine, finding a Jungle Cat (Felis chaus) hunting for insects and Indian Giant Flying Squirrel soaring from tree to tree going to their roost to sleep for the day. As the sun comes up and light slowly improves, Jungle Fowl (chickens!) announce the start of a new day and Peafowl gracefully glide from their roost high in the trees and start looking for food.
We look for pugmarks (footprints) of Sloth Bear, Leopard and Tigers on the road to see if there was any animal movement during the night. Carefully we listen for alarm calls signifying the presence of a raptor, snake or hopefully a leopard or tiger trying to predict where the animal will be. We see a Sloth Bear carrying her two cubs on her back traveling through the forest looking for grubs. We witness a pack of 17! Wild Dogs come out of the shrubs right in front of our car, playfully resuming their hunt through the forest.
A Crested Hawk Eagle sits in a tree looking hungrily at a baby peacock and even though the Peahen valiantly tries to drive the Eagle away while trumpeting alarm calls he flies of with a tiny chick in his claws. The law of the jungle rules.
We make a quick stop for breakfast in the center of the park. Hearing alarm calls of the Sambar and Spotted Deer we quickly pack up the breakfast and start moving again. We know there must be a predator nearby, but as the temperatures start soaring up to above 40 degrees in the blistering sun we slowly make our back to the lodge around 12:00 and consume a luxurious three course lunch with appetizers.
After a short break during the hottest part of the day we return to the forest around 16:30 PM. The sun is still unbearably hot but we want to be in position when the day starts cooling down and predators start moving once more. We get lucky and find a family of Tigers, consisting of four 16 month old 'cubs,' mom tigress still providing for them. One of cubs must be hungry as we are lucky enough to watch her stalk a deer and some time later she chases some monkeys running at high speed straight in front of our car! Some time later dad Tiger returns from his forage through the forest and parks his behind in a watering hole to cool down in the mud.
Near dusk we hear alarm calls of the Langurs (a type of Monkey) that signify the presence of a Leopard. After seeing tracks on the path we find the leopard crouching quite close to the road. Leopards in India are extremely hard to find and as she stalks of through the forest we quickly lose sight of her as she silently disappears into the forest.
After dark we spend some time looking for eye shine with our torches again before exiting the park around 21:00, return to the lodge for dinner and try to get to bed for a few hours of sleep around 22:30 as our alarm clocks will go off again at 3:45 for another day of adventure!
Of course, we did not have all these sightings in one day. We spend three amazing weeks in India looking for wildlife. Sta
With us are our driver, our trusted guide Saurabh from Chinkara Journeys organising this trip for us whom is able to identify any bird within seconds by song, flight pattern or plumage. Often a second naturalist of the lodge we are staying at joins us and we pick up a Park Ranger at the front gate of the National Park to complete our entourage. An extra set of eyes is very welcome as the forest is dense and animal movement is hard to spot.
It’s still dark outside when we go through the park gate. Using our torches we look for eye shine, finding a Jungle Cat (Felis chaus) hunting for insects and Indian Giant Flying Squirrel soaring from tree to tree going to their roost to sleep for the day. As the sun comes up and light slowly improves, Jungle Fowl (chickens!) announce the start of a new day and Peafowl gracefully glide from their roost high in the trees and start looking for food.
We look for pugmarks (footprints) of Sloth Bear, Leopard and Tigers on the road to see if there was any animal movement during the night. Carefully we listen for alarm calls signifying the presence of a raptor, snake or hopefully a leopard or tiger trying to predict where the animal will be. We see a Sloth Bear carrying her two cubs on her back traveling through the forest looking for grubs. We witness a pack of 17! Wild Dogs come out of the shrubs right in front of our car, playfully resuming their hunt through the forest.
A Crested Hawk Eagle sits in a tree looking hungrily at a baby peacock and even though the Peahen valiantly tries to drive the Eagle away while trumpeting alarm calls he flies of with a tiny chick in his claws. The law of the jungle rules.
We make a quick stop for breakfast in the center of the park. Hearing alarm calls of the Sambar and Spotted Deer we quickly pack up the breakfast and start moving again. We know there must be a predator nearby, but as the temperatures start soaring up to above 40 degrees in the blistering sun we slowly make our back to the lodge around 12:00 and consume a luxurious three course lunch with appetizers.
After a short break during the hottest part of the day we return to the forest around 16:30 PM. The sun is still unbearably hot but we want to be in position when the day starts cooling down and predators start moving once more. We get lucky and find a family of Tigers, consisting of four 16 month old 'cubs,' mom tigress still providing for them. One of cubs must be hungry as we are lucky enough to watch her stalk a deer and some time later she chases some monkeys running at high speed straight in front of our car! Some time later dad Tiger returns from his forage through the forest and parks his behind in a watering hole to cool down in the mud.
Near dusk we hear alarm calls of the Langurs (a type of Monkey) that signify the presence of a Leopard. After seeing tracks on the path we find the leopard crouching quite close to the road. Leopards in India are extremely hard to find and as she stalks of through the forest we quickly lose sight of her as she silently disappears into the forest.
After dark we spend some time looking for eye shine with our torches again before exiting the park around 21:00, return to the lodge for dinner and try to get to bed for a few hours of sleep around 22:30 as our alarm clocks will go off again at 3:45 for another day of adventure!
Of course, we did not have all these sightings in one day. We spend three amazing weeks in India looking for wildlife. Sta
Written June 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for such a descriptive review of your experience. We hope to see you again in India soon.
Kind regards
Saurabh
Written March 29, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
No questions have been asked about this experience
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Wildlife of Central India provided by Chinkara Journeys
Product Overview: Wildlife of Central India
| Prices From | $3,253 |
|---|---|
| Number of Reviews | 11 |
| Number of Photos | 27 |
| Duration | 17,280 minutes |