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Central INDIA

The wonderful jungles of Madhya Pradesh, at the geographical heart of India, were the inspiration behind Rudyard Kipling's Junglebook. The state's jewel in the crown, and indeed one of India's national treasures, is Kanha National Park. A cordon of volcanic hills surround a central valley that teams with abundant and very visible wildlife, so much so that Kanha is probably the prime spot in India for mammal photography. Kanha has had great success in both securing the future locally of the Tiger and providing opportunities for visitors to see this most magnificent of mammals. Indeed during our seven day visit we expect to see them on several occasions. Herds of Sambar, Chital and the rare Barasingha are joined by abundant birdlife, the forests home to brilliantly coloured Minivets, Pigeons, Orioles and Junglefowl. Stately Gaur patrol the edges of the grassy 'maidens' where we might encounter a pack of hunting Dhole, a group of Langurs barracking a hunting Jungle Cat, or perhaps a Python content on a sunlit bough…

Almost extinct at the turn of the 20th century, the Nawab of Junagadh protected the twenty remaining Asiatic Lions in what is now the Gir National Park in southern Gujurat. Numbers have since increased to over three hundred and Gir hosts a similar number of Leopards. Wild Boar are abundant and so too a range of other herbivores and birds include Sarus Crane, Marshall's Iora and Pallas's Fish-Eagle. The salt steppes and arid plains of the Little Rann of Kutch offer altogether more abundant birdlife as huge flocks of both Lesser and Greater Flamingo take turns round lagoons fished by flotillas of three species of Pelican. This is the best area to see Indian Wolf as well the highly endangered Asiatic Wild Ass which ekes sustenance from dry grasslands inhabited by Sandgrouse, Indian Coursers and MacQueen's Bustards. To complete our trawl through Central India's fabulous wildlife we'll visit the shimmering grasslands of Velavadhar to enjoy herds of splendid Blackbuck, a beautiful antelope endemic to the subcontinent.

Focus
Mammals, Birds and Butterflies. Landscapes and a little Culture

Leaders
Phil Benstead and Adrian Binns and local naturalists at all locations

Walking
Very easy, no more than two or three miles a day, and always at a relaxed pace, ideally suited to photographers.

Included in the Price
All flights from London. Accommodation, transport and meals in India. Services of your leaders. Please note; items of a personal nature including travel insurance, visas, drinks and tips are not included.

Group Size
Minimum group size is 4 and the maximum is 15. Only one leader will accompany a group of 8 or less.

Accommodation
We start with a little local royalty as it is the descendants of the Nawab Zainkhan that own and run the Deserts Coursers set by a lake in the Little Rann of Kutch. The 'koobas' are like little cottages and are made in the local architectural style yet are fitted with en suite facilities and modern comforts inside. After three nights there we've four nights at the Lion Safari Camp at Sasan Gir set amid a private mango orchard next to the Hiran River. The luxury tents have large bedrooms and well-appointed en suite bathrooms. After a night at the comfortable Narayani Palace in Bhavnagar we move to Kanha and the superb Baagh Resort. Beautifully designed and decorated rooms are thoroughly modern yet on arrival you feel like you are entering one of the local villages as the reception area has kept the distinctive local architecture to fit in with the surroundings. A memorable place indeed. There are three overnight train journeys on this tour, from Delhi to Ahmedabad, from Ahmedabad to Jabalpur, and from Jabalpur to Delhi at the end of the tour.

Climate
Warm and sunny. Occasionally quite hot in the afternoons, though pleasant for much of the day and cool in the early mornings. Rain is unlikely.

After Booking
You will receive confirmation of your place and a detailed information pack will be dispatched to you about twelve weeks before departure. This will contain up-to-date health information. Trip Reports, and bird and mammal checklists, are available

TOUR SUMMARY
Day 1
Depart UK

Day 2
Arrive Delhi. Train to Ahmedabad

Days 3–5
Little Rann of Kutch Wildlife Sanctuary

Days 6–9
Gir National Park

Day 10
Velavadhar and train to Jabalpur

Days 11–17
Kanha National Park

Day 18
Return to the UK

DATES & PRICES
Days = 18

Jan 29 – Feb 15, 2009

Cost approx. $6590.00 Single Supplement $1190 (does not apply if you are willing to share and a roommate can be arranged.