LADIES ONLY SAFARI TO INDIA 12 NIGHT LUXURY JUNGLES OF CENTRAL INDIA 19TH FEBRUARY - 3RD MARCH 2021
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LADIES ONLY SAFARI TO INDIA
12 NIGHT LUXURY JUNGLES OF CENTRAL INDIA
19TH FEBRUARY – 3RD MARCH 2021
Satpura, Pench and Kanha Tiger Reserve
This itinerary has been designed to showcase Kipling country giving you an in-depth insight on the landscape, flora and fauna along with insight and interactions with various tribal cultures inhabiting the various villages around these beautiful jungles. A larger part of your journey is spent in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Situated on the genetic highway connecting of Western Ghats and the North East, two of the biodiversity hotspots in the country, the central Indian State of Madhya Pradesh in one of the richest repositories of biological diversity. The State houses a diversity of ecosystems including plateaus, ravines, ridges, valleys, riparian areas and flat plains. With four major forest types, 10 National Park and 25 Wildlife Sanctuaries, the Tiger State houses one of the richest faunal and floral diversity. With about 5000 plant species, these forests are habitat to as many as 500 birds species and 180 fish species. Your journey begins with one of the largest and the oldest tiger reserves of India – Kanha tiger reserve. The region is predominantly a Sal forest with large tracks of bamboo forest over the hilly parts of the park. The park is home to a unique species of deer called the hard ground barasingha, currently endemic to Kanha. This will also be a place where we will learn about the Baiga as well as the Gond tribes that inhabit this region and who once lived inside these forests in harmony with the wildlife. You next destination will be Pench tiger reserve and the forest here is drier and is predominantly a teak forest. This park has one of the highest prey bases in central Indian jungles. The third park you will visit on this adventure will be Satpura tiger reserve. This is truly a unique park as it is one of the few parks that allows you to explore it in multiple ways such as walking safaris, canoe safaris as well as dusk drives. Your lodge here along with many other community support initiative also encourages women empowerment and we shall showcase some of these endeavours during your stay here.
DAY ONE FRIDAY, 19 FEBRUARY 2021 On arrival into New Delhi our representative shall meet you as you exit the arrival hall of the airport and transfer you to your hotel. We have kept the first day at leisure to help you unwind after your long flight. If you are arriving on an early flight then we can arrange an activity for you in the afternoon – please ask! Overnight will be at The Claridges, New Delhi on a full board basis DAY TWO SATURDAY, 20 FEBRUARY 2021 You will begin exploring Delhi this morning. You city expert will meet you in your hotel lobby at 0930 for an introduction to the wonderful city of Delhi, this is followed by a tour of the city. Historic, modern, vibrant, chaotic and intense, Delhi is a heady mixture of a juxtaposition of experiences. Old Delhi, is chaotic and medieval winding alleys, crammed with cycle rickshaws, colourful shops and noisy street traders; New Delhi, has spacious, sweeping boulevards built and magnificent buildings by the British in 1911 in an unashamed Empirical display. Old Delhi is home to the bustling shopping artery of Chandni Chowk, Shah Jahan's Red Fort (Lal Qila) and India's largest mosque, the Jami Masjid whereas New Delhi is home to some of the capital’s most distinguished addresses where tree-lined avenues radiate out from Connaught Place and India Gate, blending colonial and vernacular styles. It has a spectacular array of museums, gardens, temples and mausoleums. Humayun’s Tomb is one of the earliest examples of Mughal architecture in India and is set in irrigated gardens full of trees and birds. After a day of sightseeing return to your hotel. We have included all meals so dinner will be at the hotel. Overnight will be at The Claridges, New Delhi on a full board basis
DAY THREE SUNDAY, 21 FEBRUARY 2021 This morning will be an early start as you make your way to the central Indian jungles. You check-out early in the morning and transfer to the airport to catch your flight to Raipur from Delhi. Our representative will meet you at your hotel and assist you in the transfer. On arrival into Raipur you will be received by office representative who will accompany you to Courtyard by Marriott where we have planned a break for breakfast before you continue onwards to Kanha Tiger Reserve. The road journey to Kanha should take about 4 hours and we expect you to arrive at the lodge in time for lunch. Kanha Tiger Reserve is one of the oldest as well as the largest tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh. Sunlight dappling through towering sal trees and grasslands filled with limpid pools, Kanha brings to mind the raw wilderness of the African veldt. The magnificent forest tract of Kanha National Park straddles the two districts of Mandla and Balaghat in the Central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. These areas have enjoyed protection since 1879 as a reserve forest, subsequently being declared a National park in 1955 and a Tiger Reserve in 1973. This region used to be a part of ‘Gondwana’, or land of the Gond tribe which still inhabit the region. The Baiga are the other prominent tribe living here. Located on the Maikal Hills of the Satpura range; Kanha constitutes the classic landscape of the Central Indian highlands with gently sloping hills, misty dense forests and river valleys. Kanha National Park is one of the largest parks in the country spreading over 2000 square kilometres. These jungles are prime tiger habitat and are a conservation success story for Barasingha or the hard ground swamp deer. From about 60 individuals or so in the 1960’s to over 750 deer in the recent census, the Barasingha are back from the brink of extinction. This evening enjoy a nature walk within your lodge and for those of you who are interested in learning about Baiga & Gond tribes a tribal village visit shall be organized. These are both easy going activities that one can enjoy without tiring out. Overnight will be at Lodge on a full board basis
DAYS FOUR FIVE MONDAY AND TUESDAY, 22 AND 23 FEBRUARY 2021 These two days are spent exploring the jungles of Kanha. Twice daily Safari Drives are conducted by expert naturalists in specially designed 4X4 vehicles. Morning safaris start shortly after sunrise. Along with the thrill of tiger tracking is a memorable stop for a picnic breakfast. Afternoon safaris last a couple of hours and end at sunset. Driven by an experienced naturalist the guests are greeted with dense jungles, grasslands laden with mist and a deep orange orb for a sun in the sky – a typical mystical Kanha morning. Misty cool mornings are a trademark of the region even during the warmer months and make for fabulous photographic opportunities. Kanha is rich in biodiversity with an excellent population of tigers and leopards. The Barasingha (hard ground swamp deer) are the mascots of Kanha and herds can be seen in grasslands as well as in Tals or ponds feeding on aquatic plants. During the breeding season in winter, it is interesting to watch the big males decorate their antlers with leaves and grass to attract a doe. Bird enthusiasts find Kanha a treasure box of winged gems. Scarlet Minivets, Rosy Starlings and the vibrant blue of Indian rollers are startling in their beauty, while some others have amusing calls. Kanha vegetation is mixed deciduous with Sal (Shorea robusta) as the dominant species. Sal is a towering tree that can grow up to a height of 30 metres and is seldom leafless, making for a green jungle year round. The tree is prized locally not only for timber but for various medicinal uses. The resin obtained from Sal is used to treat Arthritis, while the butter is used for lighting oil lamps. Bamhani Dadar - one of the highest points in the park is a rocky plateau that has scrub like vegetation with short hardy plants and grasses. A variety of trees growing on the slopes are Bael or stone apple, Tendu, Jamun or Indian blackberry, Tamarind and Mahua to name a few. Arjuna trees with smooth white trunks are usually found growing on riverbanks while swathes of Bamboo occur intermittently. Various species of
grasses are found in the Kanha meadows, chief among them being ‘Kans’, from the Saccharum family, of which the delicious sugarcane is also a member. Some of the finest specimens of the Crocodile bark trees can be seen in Kanha. As the name suggests this robust looking tree has a bark that resembles the ridged pattern on a crocodile’s back. The Kanha jungles have a temperate climate and are relatively cool year round and the area has fruiting trees and grasslands swaying with succulent grasses. Such natural bounty provides for a thriving and varied animal population at Kanha national park. Overnight will at Lodge on a full board basis DAY SIX WEDNESDAY, 24 FEBRUARY 2021 This morning take your last game drive into Kanha tiger reserve. After an early lunch you will check-out and move to the next destination on your adventure – the Pench tiger reserve. The drive time to Pench should be about 3.5-4 hours and you should arrive in time for lunch and a short time to settle into your room before heading out on your safari in Pench Tiger Reserve. Pench Tiger Reserve derives its name from the Pench river which is the lifeline of the forest. Unlike Tadoba which was covered in Bamboo Pench is a more open landscape. The predominant tree here is teak. The teak tree has very large sized leaf which helps it absorb a lot of sunlight and generates a lot of food for the tree to grow quickly. However the same leaf and its large surface area causes a lot of evaporation thus the tree drops its leaf quicker than the other trees. This causes a large part of the forest to lose its cover and the forest dries out quicker than other parks. This also means that you have better visibility here than in other jungles. Pench also boasts of one of the highest numbers of prey base for the predators in any of the central Indian jungles. So there is always something to see and the park houses a good number of predators ranging from jackals, wild dogs, wolves to leopards and tigers. Overnight will be at Pench Tree Lodge on a full board basis
DAYS SEVEN AND EIGHT THURSDAY & FRIDAY, 25 & 26 FEBRUARY 2021 These two days are spent exploring Pench tiger reserve. There are two jeep safaris planned for you on each of these two days. The park today is spread over 2 different states, namely Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. You shall be exploring Madhya Pradesh side of Pench. The park has three entry gates to enter the Core zone – Turia Gate, Karmajhiri Gate and Jamtara Gate. Most lodges in and around Pench are located near Turia Gate, however always wanting to offer a more exclusive experience we have selected Pench Tree Lodge as not only is it very responsible toward sustainability, but it is also the only lodge near Karmajhiri Gate, thus there are no crowds on the entry point to the park. The lodge also has an excellent team of naturalists who shall drive you in to the park. However, regardless of which gate you enter from you still can access all areas of the park. Note: In all morning safaris within the tiger reserves in central India breakfast is usually a picnic breakfast in pre-decided locations (by the forest department) within the parks. These locations also have the only restrooms in the jungle so a stop here on a 3-4hr drive is almost assured. However, there is no fixed time when you want to stop. One can get off the jeep and enjoy a small breakfast which is usually spread over the bonnet of the jeep. One of these evenings we have organized a special dining experience at the organic farm run by the lodge under the starlit sky. Overnight will be at Pench Tree Lodge on a full board basis DAY NINE SATURDAY, 27 FEBRUARY 2021 After breakfast check-out and transfer by road to Satpura tiger reserve. The journey to Satpura shall take about 5 hours so it is advisable to depart Pench Tree Lodge by 0845/0900 so that you arrive at your lodge in Satpura by 1400. You shall break journey at Tamia, from where the remainder of the journey is through highland forests of Satpura tiger reserve. You should arrive at Satpura in time for lunch and no activities have been planned this afternoon so that you can catch up on some rest after the long drive.
This evening we showcase a very different aspect of central Indian forests when you embark on a dusk drive through Satpura buffer forest. This experience is a good way to seek out some of the interesting nocturnal animals that inhabit this wonderfully diverse landscape. The drive is an activity which doubles up a patrol for forest department. Key species that you seek out when on this drive are: Leopard, Sloth Bear, Four-horned Antelope, different species of Nightjars and Owls and one of the world’s smallest wildcats - the Rusty-spotted Cat. Overnight will be at a lodge in Satpura on a full board basis DAY TEN SUNDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2021 To truly understand the secret ways of the jungle, to appreciate the workings of its innermost recesses, to observe and interpret the signs, to savour the smell, the wilderness. A walk in the jungle is a walk of patience, and the rewards you reap are even sweeter. The landscape opens up its coffers slowly – a rare bird, a shy squirrel or a curious chital locking eyes with you merely a few feet away. Perhaps a chance meeting with the jungle cat. The forest has a number of surprises in store – things you may miss in a jeep four feet off the ground. Led by a lodge naturalist explore the jungle on foot this morning. Breakfast, as with all safaris in central Indian jungles will be picnic breakfast to be enjoyed in the forest. You will return to the lodge by about 1045. After lunch this afternoon take a jeep safari into the core forest of Satpura in search of some of the larger mammals such as the tiger, leopard, dhole, sloth bear, gaur or even the Indian giant squirrel. Overnight will be at a lodge on a full board basis DAY ELEVEN MONDAY, 1 MARCH 2021 In order to seek out the larger mammals take another jeep safari this morning. In the afternoon we have planned to showcase the villages around the lodge. We would like to showcase the village school, the community initiatives taken by the lodge as well as others in the villages around Satpura.
Later this evening take another dusk drive into the buffer forests of Satpura to seek out its nocturnal
denizens. By the month of March, the forest starts to dry and there are a few waterholes in these forests
which begin attracting wildlife especially when the sun begins to set. Return to the lodge for a late dinner.
Overnight will be at a Lodge on a full board basis
DAY TWELVE TUESDAY, 2 MARCH 2021
This morning after breakfast you travel back to Delhi. You transfer by road to Bhopal. The drive to Bhopal
should take approximately 3.5 hours. Lunch will be in Bhopal at Jehan Numa Palace.
After lunch meet a city expert in the hotel lobby and explore the famous tribal museum of Bhopal. The tour
takes about 2 hours, after which transfer to Bhopal airport and catch your flight to Delhi. In Delhi our
representative will meet you and take you to your hotel near the airport for your last night in India.
Overnight will be at Pride Plaza Hotel, Aerocity, Delhi on bed and breakfast basis
DAY THIRTEEN WEDNESDAY, 3 MARCH 2021
Today you will transfer to the airport to catch your international flight home.
Why not extend your Indian journey by enjoying more time on safari in Central India or experience the
Golden Triangle and visit Agra and Jaipur and perhaps Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary to see the endemic
gharials. Alternatively you could head to Goa for a few days of rest and relaxation after your safari –
please ask
PRICING FOR LADIES ONLY INDIA SAFARI
Delhi - Kanha –Pench – Satpura – Delhi
Per person price on Single room basis
Maximum 6 guests staying in single room £3,995 per person
FLIGHTS INCLUDED
Delhi/Raipur: Indigo Airlines 6E 2757 0645/0835 Hrs
Bhopal/Delhi: Indigo Airlines 6E 2023 1925/2050 Hrs
Airfare: For the sector Delhi - Raipur & Bhopal – Delhi is included in the price
Airfare and flight schedule are subject to change without prior notice by the airlines.
Free baggage allowance as prevails currently (subject to change):
Baggage allowance Jet Airway in Economy Class: 15 kg check-in bag and 5 to 7 kg cabin bag
INCLUSIONS
o Total of 12 hotel nights in India. All the meals included from Day 01 starting with lunch.
o 01 Lunch at local restaurant in Delhi during sightseeing on Day 02.
o 01 lunch at restaurant at Jehan Numa Palace, Bhopal on Day 12.
o All accommodation is on Single Room basis
o All sites and visits as per the program.
o Services of professional English speaking Naturalist during jeep safaris.
o Services of professional an English speaking local guide in Delhi and Bhopal at time of City tour.
o All currently applicable entrances at the monuments. Camera fees will be extra.
o Assistance on arrival & departure by our local representative.
o 05 Exclusive Jeep Safari in Kanha. In all the safaris guests will be accompanied by a lodge naturalist.
We seat only 4 guests per jeep (gypsy) unless the lodge has a larger format vehicle that can seat 6.
o 04 Exclusive Jeep Safari in Pench. In all the safaris guests will be accompanied by a lodge naturalist.
o Jungle activities in Satpura as mentioned in the program.
o The above prices include all current taxes and entrance fees.
o Any hikes in these taxes or entrance fees will be extra.
o All tour & transfer using AC Innova (3 Person per Innova)NOT INCLUDED IN THE COST
o Does not include any beverages including mineral water, soft drinks, alcoholic drinks etc. unless
otherwise specified. It is more cost effective for us to bill you for all beverages based on actual
consumption.
o Any airfare or airport taxes (quoted separately above with the package cost)
o Any camera fees. This can be added in if desired.
o Any items of a personal nature such as beverages, tips (except for group meals and baggage
handling), laundry, telephone calls etc.
o Anything featured as optional.
o The prices do not include undue escalation in fuel prices, new taxes levies on hotels and
transportation services or any hikes in entrance fees.
o Any large tax hikes and new levies shall be payable extra and shall be billed accordingly with prior
notice.
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