4 March 2018— 27 March 2018
India’s Big 5 (or 6)
Escorted by Peter Lambert
This journey will explore many National Parks in the fascinating
country that is India, travelling from the lush floodplains of the
Brahmaputra River in the East to the arid areas of Gujarat in the West,
finishing in the forested areas of Central India in the states of
Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. We should see the Big 5 (tiger,
elephant, buffalo, rhino and lion) and leopard, often included to make
India’s Big 6 plus many more species of India’s wildlife and over 1200
species of colourful birds.
USD$11,500 pp twin share excl International flights
DAY TO DAY ITINERARY
Day 01 March 04 Perth - Kolkata
On our arrival we will be met at the Kolkata International airport and transferred to our hotel.
Kolkata the magical city of joy; in spite of her much censured images of squalor, poverty and urban disasters, still
conjures up the characteristic charm of the distinctly Bengali soul. With its teeming humanity, chaotic streets and
the crumbling remnants of colonial heritage, Kolkata is the friendliest and warmest metropolis any human on earth
knows of. Founded by Job Charnock, a tradesman from the East India Company who was granted the trading rights,
this city was the epicenter of the Indian renaissance and has given the country some of the greatest, thinkers,
writers, scientists and leaders.
Accommodation Oberoi Grand Hotel
Day 02 March 05 Kolkata
This morning after breakfast we go on a city tour, visiting the Maidan, also referred to as Brigade Parade ground,
hosting numerous famous playing fields and a racecourse; the Victoria Memorial and St Paul’s Church. Victoria
Memorial is one of India's most beautiful monuments built between 1906 and 1921 from white marble. It stands on
the southern side of the Maidan near Jawaharlal Nehru Road. All monuments of this memorial were designed in
Italian Renaissance-Mughal style and built of white Makrana marble from Rajasthan. The memorial was the
inspiration of Lord Curzon, who in 1901, felt that his lately departed Queen Empress, required a suitable monument
to her memory.
St. Paul’s Cathedral measures 71m in length 24m in width the spire rising 60m high. The interior has exquisite
scriptural scenes. Above these are the two Florentine frescos. In the centre of the eastern sector is the magnificent
alter piece. The massive gold-gilt plate presented by Queen Victoria to Bishop Wilson, and the western window are
of special interest. Later we also visit the iconic Howrah Bridge.
Overnight Oberoi Grand Hotel
Day 03 March 06 Kolkata - Guwahati - Kaziranga National Park
This morning we will be transferred to the Kolkata airport for our flight to Guwahati . On arrival we will be
transferred to Kaziranga National park, a drive of approximately 5 hours.
Accommodation Diphlu River Lodge
Day 04 March 07 Kaziranga National Park
Early morning & evening jeep safaris in the national park. Kaziranga National Park lies on the banks of the mighty
Brahmaputra River and covers an area of approximately 430 sq. kms with its swamps and tall thickets of elephant
grass making it the ideal habitat for the Indian one-horned rhino. The vast open country makes Kaziranga very
accessible and wildlife viewing very pleasurable. Here one can leave in the early hours of the dawn for an
elephant-back-ride.
We should see wild Elephant herds roaming around or Indian Rhinos grazing. Since Kaziranga is easily accessible, it
provides a chance to see animals in the wild at close quarters, thus making a trip to this National Park a very rewarding experience. The Park lies in the flood plains of the Brahmaputra River. The Kabri Angling Hill ranges rise
around the park pressing it against the Brahmaputra River, flowing as its northern boundary. Into the area between the river and the ranges, flow several rivulets. They bring down rich silt and sand, creating small lakes, with
some silting up to make swamps and marshes with alluvial grasslands rising to alluvial Savannah woodlands. Then
as the land rises and loses its moisture there are mixed deciduous forests and finally tropical evergreen forests.
Nature has designed such a breathtakingly beautiful habitat with such natural diversities suited to a diverse range
of animal species. Kaziranga National Park is the stronghold of the Indian One Horned Rhino - there are over 1000
Rhinos in this reserve. Kaziranga is also the natural habitat of wild Buffaloes, Asiatic Elephant, Indian Bison Gaur),
wild Boars, Barasingha (Eastern swamp deer), Leopards, Tigers, Jackal, Hoollock Gibbons, Capped Langur, Rock
Python, and Monitor Lizards. Although tigers inhabit this park, it is quite difficult to sight one. Kaziranga National
Park has more than 483 species of the birds. 18 of them are globally threatened species. Because of the varied habitat types of the Park and the strict protection accorded to them, birding is very special in Kaziranga. The Eastern
range is very special for water birds such as Falcated Teals, White Eyed Pochard and Spot Billed Pelican.
Accommodation Diphlu River Lodge
Day 05 March 8 Kaziranga National Park
Morning and evening safaris in the Park.
Accommodation Diphlu River Lodge
Day 06 March 9 Kaziranga National Park
Morning and evening safaris in the Park.
Accommodation Diphlu River Lodge
Day 07 March 10 Kaziranga National Park – Guwahati - Mumbai
We will go on a morning safari into the park, return back for breakfast and later checkout and drive to Guwahati
to take a flight for Mumbai, where we check in to our hotel.
Accommodation Waterstone Hotel
Day 08 March 11 Mumbai—Rajkot—Gir
Today we take a flight from Mumbai to Rajkot. On arrival in Rajkot we will head to Gir National park, a drive of
about 3 hours.
Most of the Gir National Park is rugged hills, with high ridges and densely forested valleys, wide grassland plateaus,
and isolated hilltops. Around half of the forested area of the park is teak forest, with other trees such as khair,
dhavdo, timru, amla, and many others. The other half is non-teak forest, with samai, simal, khakhro and asundro
jambu, umro, amli, vad and kalam which are mostly broadleaf and evergreen trees. The river Hiran is the only one
to flow year-round, the rest are seasonal. There are also areas of the park with open scrub and savannah-type
grassland. This variety of vegetation provides habitat for a huge array of animals.
The most-sighted animal in the park, the chital, or Indian spotted deer, inhabits the dry and mixed deciduous
forest, with a population of over 32,000. The more reclusive sambar, the largest of the Indian deer species,
weighing 300-500 kg, lives in the wetter western part of the park. Both the sambar and the chausingha, the world's
only 4-horned antelope (chau= four, singha= horns), are very dependent on water, and rarely found far from a water source. Another one-of-a-kind is the chinkara, the only gazelle in the world with horns in both males and
females. The fastest of the Indian antelopes, the blackbuck, also lives in Gir, but is relatively small in numbers.
Along with the famous lions, which number around 350, the park is also home to four other wild cats. There are
around 300 leopards, though they are nocturnal and so harder to spot. Of the three smaller wildcats, the jungle cat
is the most widespread, and lives in deciduous scrub and riverine areas. The mysterious desert cat is almost never
seen. The rusty spotted cat, previously thought to only live in the Dangs of southeast Gujarat, has only recently
been found in Gir.
Accommodation Taj Gateway
Day 09 March 12 Gir National
We will go for both morning and evening safaris in to the park.
Accommodation Taj Gateway
Day 10 March 13 Gir National Park
We will go for both morning and evening safaris in to the park.
Accommodation Taj Gateway
Day 11 March 14 Gir National park- Ahmadabad
We will go for a morning safari and return back to the hotel for breakfast and later be transferred by road to
Ahmadabad.
Accommodation Fortune Landmark Hotel
Day 12 March 15 Ahmadabad- Bera Leopard Reserve
After breakfast we drive approximately 6 Hours to Bera, a small hamlet, situated in the Aravalli range in the state of
Rajasthan, surrounded by lakes and dams. The area of Jawai is “where the hills throw the moon out and just as
soon absorb its glow into their gorges.” It is where nomadic Rabari herdsmen are as much a part of the earth's
tales as the mysterious felines that grace these hills and vanish at will into their folds. This is where cultivated fields
meet and merge with wild grasslands and the swells of the Jawai Bandh's waters lap at the toes of mighty granite
forms and where flamingos flock and cranes in their hundreds dance to spring time.
We should reach our accommodation by lunch time and in the evening, go on our first safari to look for Leopard.
Accommodation Bera Safari Lodge Cottages & De-luxe Safari Tents
Day 13 March 16 Bera Leopard Reserve
Today we will be going for an early morning and evening safari to look for the mysterious Leopard. During the
day we can visit the nearby village of Rabari tribes.
Accommodation Bera Safari Lodge Cottages & De-luxe Safari Tents
Day 14 March 17 Bera Leopard Reserve
We go for both morning and evening safari in search of the Leopard and visit the surrounding tribal areas during the day.
Accommodation Bera Safari Lodge Cottages & De-luxe Safari Tents
Day 15 March 18 Bera Leopard Reserve – Udaipur – Mumbai
A travelling day as we drive to Udaipur and then fly to Mumbai.
Accommodation Waterstone Hotel
Day 16 March 19 Mumbai – Nagpur – Tadoba
We catch an early flight to Nagpur and then drive to Tadoba National Park in time for an afternoon game drive.
Located in the heart of a reserved forest, it is an infinite treasure trove of innumerable species of trees and
plants - and wildlife that includes tigers, panthers, sloth bears, hyenas, jackals, wild dogs, bison, barking deer,
nilgai , sambar, and chital. The Tadoba National Park and Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary together form the
Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve. The park derives its name from "Taru" the local deity, whereas the Andhari River
that meanders through the forest gives the sanctuary its name.
Accommodation Bamboo Forest
Day 17—19 March 20 –22 Tadoba National Park
We go for both morning and afternoon Jeep Safaris into the park in search of the wildlife, especially tiger.
Accommodation Bamboo Forest
Day 20 March 23 Tadoba – Kanha National Park
Today, we head for Kanha National Park, a drive of roughly seven hours. We should arrive in time for an afternoon
game drive.
Day 21 March 24 Kanha National Park
Morning and afternoon jeep safaris in the National Park
The Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh came into being in 1955 and forms the core of the Kanha Tiger
Reserve It was created in 1974 under Project Tiger. Kanha National Park encompasses some 940 square kilometres
of deciduous Sal forest, lightly wooded grassland, hills and gently meandering rivers – home to literally hundreds of
species of birds and animals including Tigers. The lush Sal and bamboo forests, grassy meadows and ravines of
Kanha provided inspiration to Rudyard Kipling for his famous novel "Jungle Book". The Park's landmark
achievement is the preservation of the rare hard ground Swamp Deer (Barasingha), saving it from near extinction.
Accommodation Singinawa Jungle Lodge
Day 22 March 25 Kanha National Park
We go for both morning and afternoon Jeep Safaris into the park.
Accommodation Singinawa Jungle Lodge
Day 23 March 26 Kanha National Park – Delhi
After our final game drive we head to Bhopal to catch our flight to Delhi.
Accommodation Pullman Hotel
Day 24 March 27 Delhi- Perth
After an early breakfast we say our goodbyes and transfer to Delhi International Airport for our return flights to
Perth.
Tour Includes
Hotels as per itinerary on bed and breakfast at Kolkata, Mumbai, Gir & Ahmedabad
All meals at Kaziranga, Kanha, Tadoba, Bera
Jeep Safaris at the national parks
Entrance fee and guide as per itinerary
Services of R ventures tour leader
Transportation by Tempo Traveller & Mini Coach
Indian Domestic Airfares (Economy Class)
Tour Excludes
International Airfares
Meals other than above
Any expenses of a personal nature including alcohol, beverages, laundry, tips etc
Any Travel / medical insurances
Any expenses arising due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control including flight cancellation.
Rahul Sharma : Began his career with Tiger Tops/Mountain Travels and spent over four years
working as a Track Manager in India. He is a qualified Naturalist who worked with Tiger Tops
Nepal and managed Bandavgarh Jungle Camp, India. Now owner/director of Rventures, an
upmarket New Delhi based tourism company which deals in customized culture and adventure
holidays through India, Nepal, Tibet & Bhutan. Keen wildlife photographer.
Peter Lambert : Former owner/manager of Summit Travel & The Peregrine Travel Centre WA.
Now specialises in small adventure groups to The Indian Subcontinent and Polar regions. First
travelled to India over 40 years ago and has returned on many occasions. First met Rahul whilst
trekking in the Indian Himalaya over 20 years ago. They have searched for Snow Leopards,
Tigers, Leopards and other wildlife together on numerous occasions. Keen wildlife photographer.
Summit Travel, 862 Hay St, PERTH WA 6000
Tel : (08) 9321 1259, email : [email protected]