One of the most symbolic wildlife creatures is without a doubt the Bengal Tiger. This gracious animal is huge, fearsome and a wonder to behold. Unfortunately, due to poaching and habitat loss, it is also becoming increasingly rare.
‘A TfT Bengal Tiger trip’ is a must for anyone remotely interested in wildlife. There are very few places left in the world to see these iconic creatures in their unspoiled natural habitat where the tiger is neither tamed nor accustomed to contact with human behaviour, whether it be jeeps, river rafts or local people foraging for grasses.
Bardia National Park is located in far Western Nepal and is a total natural gem; wild tiger habitat as good as it gets! Successful tiger sightings are often made from riding on the back of elephants at dawn or dusk. Leopard, one horned rhino, spotted deer, sloth beer, crocodile and other abundant wildlife are also seen during a trip to see the Bengal Tiger.
Bardia National Park is only a 50-minute flight from Kathmandu or accessible by land from India at the far western border of Banbassa. This area of Nepal is off the beaten track and has yet to be tainted by mass tourism.
Kanha National Park in central India was the inspiration to the Rudyard Kipling best seller, the ‘Jungle Book’ in which the Bengal tiger features as Shere Khan. The park has a healthy Bengal Tiger population and is fantastic for spotting the cats, as the vegetation is far less dense than the jungles of Bardia National Park in Western Nepal. Kanha National Park is also home to over 200 species of birds and 22 species of mammals allowing for an unforgettable all-round wildlife experience.
You will be arriving in the ancient city of Kathmandu. Nepal’s capital was created through the coming together of three historic kingdoms: Patan, Kathmandu city and Bhaktapur. Kathmandu’s culture and history go back centuries with much of it shown in the rituals taken place by the Nepali people today. You will be staying overnight in Swotha House in the southern part of Kathmandu. Swotha House is a small but charming, family-owned boutique property. Breakfast is included.
The 50-minute flight to Nepalgunj, in West Nepal, brings you alongside the might of the Himalayas. The views from the aircraft offer a panorama like no other, white-capped Himalayas as far as the eye can see! (Tip: grab a seat on the right). On arrival in Nepalgunj, you will be seamlessly transferred to your new home away from home for 4 nights; Tiger Tops Karnali Lodge. Karnali is an intimate lodge with outstanding personal service and expert guiding and the emphasis is on fresh, local, organic food. The lodge creates a calming, soothing retreat with birdsong a constant background.
Once settled, we will head out into Bardia National Park on either the back of an elephant or by jeep, in search for the elusive Bengal Tiger and leopard. Tigers hunt in the cool parts of the day so dusk is a great time to catch a glimpse of the great cats patrolling their territories. Tiger safaris can last for two and a half hours, or for hardcore enthusiasts half or full days. You will be accompanied by an experienced naturalist who will provide in-depth knowledge of the local fauna and flora of Bardia National Park. The evening will be spent with cocktails around an outdoor fireplace before moving into the GholGharr (Nepalese dining room) for dinner.
Today is an early start at Karnali as we watch morning come to life in Nepal’s Terai. At Karnali you will be whisked into a world of comfort and relaxation amidst the rawness of the jungle. Take a hot shower warmed by the power of compost heating, swing in a hammock under the trees, or plan the coming days’ adventures relaxing on the balcony day beds. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy out in the bush searching for the Bengal Tiger.
One of the most popular activities at Karnali Lodge is the elephant encounter. Spend a day with the elephant keepers, locally known as mahouts, and watch daily life at the elephant camp unfold. Help prepare the 150 kilograms of feed each elephant requires each day, head down to the river to watch the elephant bathing, and take an afternoon stroll through the villages and community forest.
After lunch you will head to the Indian border and transfer across to the town of Banbassa. On arrival in India you will transfer down to Corbett National Park. This beautiful National Park has been the inspiration and setting for numerous books – F.W. Champions celebrated photography of Tigerland. The first ever books on Indian wildlife Photography and Jim Corbett’s tales of man-eating tigers were all written and photographed in theses very same jungles. Currently this park has the highest density of tigers per sq km, some 162 tigers in total. Out of 1200 species of birds found in the Indian sub continent, some 600 are found here as elevation in the park ranges from 400 m (1312 ft) to 1210 m (3970 ft). A bird-watcher`s bonanza!
These two days we will be tracking tigers in Corbett National Park. The nights will be spent at the fabulous Dhikala Forest Rest House (breakfast, lunch and inner included).
Today you will be departing the Land of the Tiger back to Delhi. Rather then road, TfT Travel are offering you the opportunity to travel across land on the Shatabdi express. The Shatabdi is an express train like no other with a similar setup to business class on a plane and a fantastic finally to take in the sights of India. We will be spending the night at Hotel Claridges Delhi (breakfast included).
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