Join me in November to experience the best India has to offer: we will travel to two national parks to photograph the elusive big cats as well as barasingha, rhinos and the massive wild water buffalo. We might even see sloth bears and leopards!
This diverse photo tour has multiple highlights! The tour begins in Delhi, the capital city of India, which is a city that offers a glimpse of both ancient and modern daily life in India. This cultural portion of our tour will incorporate visits to ancient mosques, bustling markets, and the beautiful colors that line the streets in preparation for Diwali.
Following that the group will move away from the city with a quick flight to Raipur continuing on with a drive through the rural countryside en-route to their next destination Kanha National park to photograph tigers! Kanha is a photographers paradise offering opportunities to capture the amazing wildlife in their natural habitat. One of the largest and most scenic National Parks in India, Kanha is an ideal habitat for both tigers and their prey. The lush sal and bamboo forests, grassy meadows and ravines of Kanha shelter a significant population of rare species such as tiger, leopard, sloth bear, Barasingha, and wild dog to name a few.
After a quick stop over in Kolkata, via flight transfer, the group will depart for the next highlight of our tour, Kaziranga National Park. Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site for Nature and Tiger reserve, is home to more than 80% of the world’s population of the Great One Horned Rhinoceros. In addition to the Rhinoceros, 4 other endangered animals make up the Big 5 of Kaziranga – Asiatic Water Buffalo, Indian Elephant, Bengal Tiger and Barasingha.
Explore this magnificent landscape with me and my fantastic assistant by your side instructing you on the best ways to properly capture the immense beauty that surrounds you.
(We request a 30% deposit to hold your space on this photo journey.)
Led by Art Wolfe
Assisted by Gavriel Jecan
Limited to 8 participants
Transportation and Accommodation
All meals, lodging, and transportation specified on the itinerary are included. You are encouraged to arrive one day prior to the workshop so that there is no worry of flight delays causing any problems. Our tour coordinator can assist you with any additional hotel nights needed on either end of the tour.
Itinerary
Shooting schedules have the ability to be altered to effectively cater to the photographic desires of the group, as well as to adapt to changeable weather conditions.
Day 1 Nov 10, 2023 Arrival in Delhi
On your arrival at International airport in Delhi and after clearing customs & immigration, our representative will receive and escort you to your hotel.
Delhi, the capital of India, is a city that offers a glimpse of both ancient and modern day India. It is the third largest city in India and one of the fastest growing in Asia. This city is rich in culture, always changing with time but never hiding its splendid past. The various ancient ruins seen in the city are silent witnesses to its magnificent history.
This evening there will be a welcome dinner with assistant instructor Gavriel Jecan. Art will be arriving to join the group on the following day. (D)
Day 2 Nov 11, 2023 Delhi
After breakfast explore grandeur and subsequent ruin of the Mughal Empire. Colorful, vibrant, noisy and chaotic are words that best describe what many call Old Delhi, the 7th city of Delhi, which was built by the mighty Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. We’ll walk through streets and markets of this 17th century imperial capital city of the Mughal empire where you savor the fragrances of the boisterous spice markets.
There is also an option to take a rickshaw ride on this day. A ride in the old city market laid by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, will give you an experience of life time. Pass through the colorful shops of bustling Chandani Chowk, one of the largest wholesale markets in Asia also an important landmark in the history of India.
(B,L,D)
Day 3 Nov 12, 2023 Delhi – Raipur – Kanha
This morning the group will be transferred form the hotel to the airport to board a flight for Raipur. Upon arrival in Raipur the group will be met and transported to Kanha for the next portion of our tour.
Our drive takes us through rural countryside & colorful town & villages and stop in the sleepy town of Mandla (sacred city for Gond tribes) where the Narmada River, second holiest to the Ganges, is the center of activity. En-route the group will enjoy a nice picnic lunch and upon arrival in Kanha will check in at Lodge.
Our afternoon will be spend orienting ourselves with the national park. We will look at some maps, understand what is a buffer area and core area, get a good understanding of the areas we will do our safaris in. Together with the naturalists of the camp, they will answer any questions that you may have.
Throughout the day the group will be witness to the most important Hindu festival, ‘Diwali’. Diwali is an auspicious festival that symbolizes the triumph of good over evil. Spectacular lights, firecrackers, irresistible traditional sweets and exchanging gifts mark the festival.
(B,L,D)
Days 4 & 5 Nov 13 & 14, 2023 Kanha
This day will begin with an early morning wake-up call with a knock on your room door and Tea/Coffee. There will be an early morning safari in a 4×4 jeep accompanied by resident naturalist, forest guide, and of course your two photo guides Art Wolfe and Gavriel Jecan as well. The group will enjoy a picnic breakfast in the middle of the jungle with hot tea and coffee provided as well. When the sun is high in the sky the group will head back to the lodge for lunch and a break before heading out on their afternoon safari.
One great highlight of our groups stay in Kanha is that we have two full day jeep safari permits, which allows our group access with no zoning restrictions, no routing restrictions, and access to the park before it opens and after it closes.
Kanha National Park: Set on The Chhota Nagpur Plateau in Madhya Pradesh, Kanha provides breath taking vistas of grassy plains and strands sal forests. This 366 sq mile preserve was set to save two endangered species i.e. Tiger and The Barasingha. One of the largest and most scenic National Parks in India, Kanha is an Ideal habitat for both tigers and their prey, the lush sal and bamboo forests, grassy meadows and ravines of Kanha shelter a significant population of rare species such as tiger, leopard, sloth bear, Barasingha, wild dog to name a few.
(B,L,D)
Day 6 Nov 15, 2023 Kanha
This day will be similar to the previous two with early an early morning safari, however there will be a birding photo session in the afternoon instead of a safari.
-All National Parks in Madhya Predesh are closed in the afternoons on Wednesdays.
(B,L,D)
Day 7 Nov 16, 2023 Kanha – Raipur – Kolkata
After a morning safari on this day the group will be transported to Raipur for an afternoon flight to Kolkata. The group is on their way to the next exciting portion of our tour, the amazing Kaziranga National Park!
Upon arrival in Kolkata the group will be transported to our selected hotel for the evening.
(B,L,D)
Day 8 Nov 17, 2023 Kolkata – Kaziranga
After breakfast the group will transfer to the airport for their flight to Guwahati. Upon arrival in Guwahati the group will be transported to Kaziranga National Park. Which happens to be famous as the only natural habitat of the Great Indian Rhinoceros.
(B,L,D)
Days 9 & 10 Nov 18 & 19, 2023 Kaziranga
The group will have an early morning jungle safari and will go back to the lodge for lunch and a short break. One of these mornings will include an Elephant Safari, where you are transported on elephant back, which allows for a unique perspective and an amazing experience.
There will also be afternoon/evening jungle safaris in a 4×4 jeep accompanied by resident naturalist, forest guide, and your photo leaders.
Kaziranga National Park: The National Park covers about 430 sqkms, bordered on the north by the Brahmaputra River and on the south by the Karbi Anglong hills. The largest number of one-horned rhinoceros in the world roams its swamps, grasslands with tall thickets of elephant grass and areas of mixed deciduous and tropical semi-evergreen forest. It is home to a wide variety of other animals and birds, and the open vistas make it relatively easy to see many species of wildlife in a day.
The Park contains about 35 major mammals, including Indian Rhino, Wild Elephant, Tiger, small population of Hoolock Gibbon, Capped Langur, bristly hare, hog badger, otter, leopard, wild boar, sambar, swamp deer, hog deer, muntjac, water buffalo and gaur. Among the rich birdlife are the rare greater adjutant stork, Bengal florican, black-necked stork, lesser adjutant stork, Pallas’s fish eagle, swamp partridge, grey peacock-pheasant, great pied hornbill, green imperial pigeon, babblers and thousands of migratory birds, seasonally attracted to the various water areas of the park from as far away as Siberia.
(B,L,D)
Day 11 Nov 20, 2023 Kaziranga – Guwahati- Delhi
After breakfast, the group will drive to Guwahati and catch the flight for Delhi.
Upon arrival in Delhi the group will be transported to our selected hotel for the evening.
(B,L,D)
Day 12 Nov 21 Departure International Flights Home
After a nice breakfast together everyone can depart for their international flights home.
(B)
Services Included
- Accommodation on double/twin sharing basis at hotels with meals as indicated (B, L, D stand for breakfast, lunch and dinner respectively). Single supplement available for an additional fee.
- All meals with combination of packed lunch/hot lunches to be served as required depending upon feasibility.
- Services of Air Conditioned Tempo traveller up to 3 paying pax and Mini Coach for up to 10 paying pax for all transfers, drives and sightseeing except for transfers between Raipur – Kanha, Kanha – Raipur, Guwahati – Kaziranga – Guwahati, where we will provide Air Conditioned Toyota Innova (max 3 paying pax per vehicle) for smoother and faster driving experience on narrow country side road.
- Services of explorer guides with walking experiences during city sightseeing tour.
- Rickshaw ride in Old Delhi.
- Exclusive Jeep Safari (4 pax in one vehicle) are in Kanha and Kaziranga National Parks by 4X4 Open jeep inclusive of entry fee to park, resident naturalist services and local onsite naturalist. Entrance fee to places of visit and national parks including all ASI monuments as per program.
- 2 Full day permits in Kanha national park.
- 1 Elephant ride (1 hr) in Kaziranga National park.
- Services of English-Speaking accompanying escort cum naturalist from Delhi to Delhi.
- General tipping to porters, local guides, restaurants, park guide, Jeep driver, naturalist, lodges & driver except for the accompanying tour guide.
- Assistance at airport station and at all major city hotels at the time of check in/out
Services Not Included
- Any international Airfare, travel insurance or medical insurance. (health insurance is mandatory and travel insurance is highly recommended)
- Any Visa fee (India Visa is must for all the visitors before boarding on their flight except nationals of 11 countries who enjoy visa on arrival. For more details visit Indian Visa https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/
- Any meals other than what is specified above in the itinerary or in inclusion or anything else not mentioned in inclusion above.
- Anything not mentioned in inclusion above.
- Any optional tours.
- Tipping to accompanying guide is not included in our quote.
- Any expenditure of personal nature like alcoholic drinks, fruit shakes, sodas, laundry, telephone calls, or internet
- Anything ordered from room service at any hotel including mineral water (other than what being offered by the hotels on their compliment).
- Any sudden increase in price due to steep hike in fuel cost, change in government tax policy or for any reason beyond our control like acts of god, natural calamity, law and order situation, riots etc and any forced change in itinerary for any unforeseen situation or reason beyond our control.