Catherine’s comments: I have visited Kaziranga National Park in Assam (Northeast India) on several occasions exploring by jeep, boat, elephant safari, and foot. For large animals like the one-horned rhinoceros, asian elephant, sambar, and gaur - it is unbeatable. I have also been lucky enough to see tiger there, however, if tiger are your hope - then Kanha, Bandavgarh, or Ranthambhore might be best. Ranthabhore is easily combined with a visit to Rajasthan. A journey into Rudyard Kipling country (Madya Pradesh) will take you to the other two parks. A recommended 4 days / 3 nights for each park is recommended. With shorter time, you could reduce that to 2 nights.
Where to stay
Kaziranga - Borgos ResortBorgos Resort
Ranthambhore - many options
Kanha - Kanha Jungle Lodge
Bandavgarh - Bandavgarh Jungle Lodge.
Why book with us?
For more than thirty years our land partners have pioneered unique natural history and living cultures programs in their home Nation of India making them destination experts. We have worked with them for those thirty years.
*Prices are reasonable with exceptional value. Rates are based on your group size (2 – 20 persons) and seasonality (high, shoulder low).
*Each program is deeply researched and personally inspected on an ongoing basis. We too are experienced personally with this program.
*Local interactions with community members and specialty guides and ensured.
*Tour can be modified to your individual tastes
Recommended itinerary (4 days nights for each park). It is possible to book one, two or more together
Ranthlambhore
Dec. 27 Khajuraho – Bandavgarh National Park (five hours)
Morning drive to Bandhavgarh National Park. Break up the drive with stops in place like Panna National Park (tiger and wildlife park with rivers, grasslands, gorges and valleys). On arrival check in at the Hotel. Evening jeep safari into the Bandhavgarh National Park. Might not have time for this. Overnight at the Tiger Den Resort or Tiger Trails or similar for 2 nights.
Dec. 28 Bandavgarh National Park
Set among the Vindhya Hills of Madhya Pradesh with an area of 168 square miles, this national park contains a wide variety of habitats and high density of game, including a large number of tigers. Sal forests cover over half the area and there are stretches of bamboo and grassland. Within the park is the ancient Bandhavgarh fort and caves, dug into the sandstone of the fort, have inscriptions dating from the 1st century BC. In the recent past, the fort was last occupied by the Maharaja of Rewa until it was designated as a National Park in 1968. In addition to tigers, also seen are chousingha (small four horned) antelope, chinkara (Indian) gazelle, nilgai (blue bull) antelope, wild boar, jackal, muntjak (barking) deer, sambar deer, chital (spotted) deer, jungle cat, striped hyena, porcupine, ratel, rheses macaque, black-faced langur monkey and more. In March and April, gaur (Indian bison), move down from the higher hills to the southeast of the park and make their way to the central meadows. As this park is relatively new, there is still a good chance of adding birds to the checklist of some 150 species already compiled.
Morning jungle visit to park. Lunch at hotel. In the afternoon another jungle visit to park. Dinner and Overnight at hotel
Dec. 29 Bandhavgarh Nationl Park
Breakfast at hotel. Morning jungle visit to park. Lunch at hotel. In the another afternoon jungle visit to park. Dinner and Overnight at hotel
Dec. 30 Bandhavgarh – Kanha (Drive : 250kms / 6 hrs)
Breakfast at hotel.
Morning drive to Kanha National Park. Romanticised by Kipling in his book, Kanha National Park is among the most spectacular, protected wildlife reserves of the world. The 1,945 sq. km National Park has been compared to N’Gorongoro National Park of Tanzania. However like its African cousin, Kanha is not a volcanic crater though the surrounding hills are a result of geographically ancient volcanic activity. Above all Kanha is far greener and more densely wooded than N’Gorongoro. It is one of the largest and best monitored Parks in the subcontinent and definitely one of the best places in the world to see the critically endangered tiger in the wild. The great sal forests of Kanha National Park, stretching across Maikal hills of Satpura range, have given birth to many jungle adventures especially the much loved English classic by Rudyard Kipling, “The Jungle Book.” Kipling based his tale on the wildlife of Kanha in the late 19th century and thus Kanha is also known as ‘Kipling Country’. The grassy plateaux, wooded hills and valleys of Kanha are home to the legendary Shere Khan the Tiger, loveable Baloo the Bear, wise Bagheera the Panther and the dreaded Rock Python Kaa. Besides them several great and small mammals, reptiles and birds inhabit the Park including the largest ox in the world – the Gaur.
The National Park is particularly notable, besides the tiger, for a 300lb, brown, large-antlered, hard-hoofed deer because of which the foundation of conservation and protection was laid in the Maikal hills. Even more zealously protected in Kanha is the southern or Central Indian race of the Swamp Deer - the Hard-ground or the Branderi Barasingha.
Birdlife of the region is equally astounding and more than 350 avian species have been recorded here with the possibility of sighting yet new races, thus giving the avid birdwatcher great scope for new discoveries. Mynas, Bush Chats, Kingfishers, Treepies, Orioles, Lapwings, Falcons, Kites, Owls, Vultures and various other species of our flying friends will provide unlimited hours of pleasure to those who choose to seek them.Morning check out and drive to Kanha. Upon arrival check in at hotel.
Lunch at hotel. In the afternoon jungle visit to park. Dinner and overnight at hotel. 2 nights at Kanha Jungle Lodge or similar
Dec. 31 Kanha
Breakfast at hotel. Morning jungle visit to park. Lunch at hotel. Afternoon jungle visit to park. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Jan. 1 Kanha
Day 2: Kaziranga National Park (B,L,D)
Today wake up much before the dawn and sip away at a strong cup of Assam tea, some coffee and cookies. Some fresh fruit, juice and some dry fruits are on display too. An hour of drive takes you to a resort in Kaziranga for use of facilities before we get ready for an elephant ride.
You ride into the early morning mist and as the sun rays force the mist to thin, we witness wild life up close and personal; swamp and hog deer, Asiatic water buffaloes and Rhinos; all happily grazing within yards of each other. An hour of elephant back saga through tall elephant grass leaves us nonplussed and wanting. Drive to a resort where breakfast will be waiting.
Energize yourself on regular continental breakfast along with a lavish display of Indian cuisine like dosas, idlis, coconut chutney, poori aaloo, paranthas and much more. Soon drive towards the range for a jeep safari to explore more of the wild life. You look for the Asiatic Wild Elephants, the striped cats, the Wild Water Buffalo with enormous horn span, the hog deer and the swamp deer and of course the one horned-rhinoceros that this UNESCO World Heritage Site is famous for. The Jeep Safari ends by 1030 hours, when you head back to the Cruise witnessing the paddy fields fed by the Brahmaputra as our wheels cautiously maneuver around the Karbi Anglong bends. This evening Enjoy an Assamese themed evening; Assamese freshly caught fried fish for snacks, Assami Mekhla Chaadar and Dhoti Kurta with Ahomia music and Ahomia dance moves and to top it all an Assamese Dinner Menu.
Kanha National Park
Often called Tiger Land, Kanha is located in a horseshoe-shaped valley with two distinctive hills on either side. In the centre is the maiden (open grassy meadow), dotted with stands of majestic evergreen Sal trees to form a savanna countryside reminiscent of Africa. This park has been designated a “Tiger Reserve” and comes under the protection of Project Tiger — the single largest conservation project mounted by the Government of India.
Kanha is known for its large population of gaur, and this large animal is an important food source for the tiger. Other predators in the park include sloth bear, the common (or golden) jackal, the striped hyena, and the dhole or Indian wild dog (which, like the African wild dog, lives and hunts in packs). Leopards also live in Kanha, but are much more difficult to see. Other interesting mammals include the Indian rate (honey badger), Indian porcupine, and various species of mongooses. Primates are represented by troops of monkeys of two species—the rhesus macaque and the silver (or common) langur. Kanha’s bird life is equally impressive, with more than 200 recorded species.
We take sunrise and sunset excursions, departing your hotel pre-dawn that last 4-5 hours. You will have breakfast inside the park in a designated area, returning to your lodge by late morning.
Special Note: Kanha National Park remains closed for afternoon safari on every Wednesday.
Overnight at the hotel (B, L, D)
Day 5:
Kanha National Park
Kanha has a large, healthy population of tigers. But this park features more than tigers; it supports the full range of Indian wildlife described in The Jungle Books. The variety and abundance of wildlife in Kanha is remarkable. The park is famous for its herds of hard-ground Barasingha – also called swamp deer, a large and beautiful endemic animal with 12-point antlers (it has probably been saved from extinction by careful management in Kanha). Also found are herds of the beautiful chital (common name is spotted deer), and sambar, the biggest of the Indian deer. Other commonly seen herbivores include barking deer, nilgai antelope, four-horned antelope, wild boar, and the imposing gaur (also called the Indian bison), which is considered the largest wild bovine in the world. A gaur bull can stand over six feet tall at the shoulder and weigh more than a ton!
Explore the national park by morning & afternoon Safari.
Special Note: Kanha National Park remains closed for afternoon safari on every Wednesday.
Overnight at the hotel (B, L, D)
Day 6:
Kanha – Raipur by road (approx. 4-5 hour drive) & flight to Kolkata (6E-801 at 1640/1810 hrs.)
We have an option to go for a nature walk or just relax at the hotel enjoying the nature setting of the lodge before we leave for Raipur airport to connect with flight to Kolkata.
Arrive Kolkata and check-in to the hotel near the airport.