Wildlife Tours to South India SOUTH INDIA
Photo: Sambar (Nick Garbutt).
| Tour Ref. | Days | Dates | Party Size |
Cost |
Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ID2/10 | 19 | Monday 8th March to Friday 26th March 2010 | 11 plus leader | £3395 (*£345) | TBA |
*Single room supplement.
Tour Destinations :
- Mumbai
- Mysore
- Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary
- Nagarhole National Park
- Biligiri Rangaswamy Hills
- Bandipur National Park
Tour Summary
South India
The southern part of the Indian peninsula is much less visited by foreign wildlife enthusiasts than the north west of the country. However, the quality of the southern parks is beginning to attract the attention they richly deserve.
Combine these aspects with an attractive and diverse landscape containing several renowned wildlife areas, then the ingredients are there for an excellent wildlife tour.
All the areas to be visited can be accessed easily from Mysore, a city of considerable cultural history. Nearby, is the famous heronry at Ranganathittu, whilst a journey of only 80 km (50 miles) will take us to Nagarhole National Park containing some of the finest forests in South India. A morning’s drive will take us to the Biligiri Rangaswamy Hills (BR Hills), a hill station where a mixture of pristine deciduous and evergreen forest will engulf us. Finally, we will make a journey to Bandipur National Park where the terrain is more rugged than at Nagarhole. As with all Papyrus tours, the easy pace will allow us to savour our wildlife sightings.
In the parks we will use jeeps, boats and elephants for wildlife viewing. However, the use of elephants in southern India for this purpose is limited since, unlike northern India, there are large numbers of wild elephants in the parks which can become inquisitive.
Itinerary
Day 1 : We depart from the UK for Mumbai.
Day 2 : On arrival in Mumbai we will transfer to our hotel. The remainder of the day will be at leisure with an opportunity to visit the city.
Day3 : Flight to Bangalore
In the morning, we will fly to Bangalore where we will take lunch and then drive to Mysore, arriving in the afternoon. After some rest, there will be an opportunity to birdwatch in the hotel grounds and to make a cultural visit to Mysore.
Days 4 and 5 : Mysore area, Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary
On Days 4 and 5 we will divide our time mainly between local wildlife areas, but also take in a visit to the Mysore Palace, a world class treasure trove. The key place to be visited on both days will be the Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, located on the Kaveri River, 16 km (10 miles) north of Mysore.
Here we should see our first Mugger Crocodiles and a selection of water-birds and raptors. Great Stone Plover and River Terns will be here along with a selection of storks, ibises and spoonbills. There is also a large colony of flying foxes. Most of our viewing will be from a boat which will provide opportunities to get very close to many of the birds which abound here. You can be certain that your second visit here on the following day will be eagerly awaited. Elsewhere in the area, grasslands and rice fields will be of interest, the former providing opportunities to see Buzzard, Tawny and Short-toed Eagles and several larks, pipits and babblers. In the rice fields, resident herons and egrets will be accompanied by migrant waders.
Day 6 : Mysore to Karapur, Nagarhole National Park
We will leave Mysore after breakfast and drive approx. 80 km (50 miles) to Karapur where we will transfer to our lodge which is close to the Nagarhole National Park. An afternoon game run will give us a first taste of this wonderful park.
Days 7 to 10 : Nagarhole National Park
During four full days, we will have time to explore many parts of the Park using jeeps, or by taking to the waterways. There are also watchtowers for viewing, and opportunities for forest walks. Nagarhole is situated in an attractive landscape in the districts of Kodagu and Mysore in southern Karbatuka. It is a gently undulating area with lush vegetation and swamps, streams and pools, making it an attractive habitat for a wide variety of wildlife. Mammals which occur here include Four-hornedAntelope, Sloth Bear, Jungle Cat, Civet, Spotted Deer, Elephant, Wild Dog, Flying Fox, Tiger, Gaur, Sambhar, Wild Boar, Black-naped Hare, Bonnet Macaque, Leopard and Pangolin. The 250 plus bird species recorded include several species of ibises, hawks, eagles, harriers, waders, parrots, cuckoos, owls, flycatchers, cuckoo shrikes, bulbuls, warblers and thrushes.
Our long stay here will provide the opportunity to visit the most interesting parts of the Park and to savour its magnificent wildlife populations.
Days 11 and 12 : BR Hills
After breakfast on Day 11 we will depart with packed lunch for the Biligiri Rangaswamy Hills, a journey of five to six hours.
This old hill station will provide an opportunity to explore pristine forests, grasslands and numerous streams. Regularly seen mammals include Leopard, Elephant, Tiger, Wild Dog, Sloth Bear, Barking and Spotted Deer, Sambhar, Wild Boar, Porcupine and Malabar Giant Squirrel.
The 270 bird species include Scarlet Minivet, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Gold-fronted Chloropsis, Lorikeet, Blossom-headed Parakeet, Heart-spotted Woodpecker and Malabar Whistling Thrush.
Wildlife watching will be undertaken by jeep, on elephant back and on foot. Overnight BR Hills Camp.
Days 13 to 16 : Bandipur National Park
After breakfast on Day 13 we will make the three hour journey to Bandipur National Park, where we will stay for the next four nights. The Park embraces deciduous and evergreen forest, bush and scrub, and lakes and marshes amongst its habitats. The area immediately around your Lodge is very productive for birds – Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, Magpie Robin and a variety of parakeets, bulbuls and thrushes will be present. Beyond the Lodge a good network of roads gives access to most parts of this large Park. There is a large elephant population and good numbers of Tiger, Leopard and Dhole. Bandipur provides a classic Indian setting and our days here will provide a most varied wildlife experience, particularly for birds and mammals.
Day 17 : Bandipur to Mysore
After some early morning wildlife watching, we will travel to Mysore. This journey will take most of the day, but will be punctuated by frequent stops in areas of interest.
Day 18 : Mysore – Bangalore – Mumbai
After breakfast we will be able to rest, explore more of the wonderful architectural treasures of Mysore, or make a further visit to Ranganathittu.
In the late afternoon, we will drive to Bangalore and take a late evening flight to Bombay to connect to our flight to London.
Day 19 : Return flight from Mumbai to London
We will depart from Mumbai in the early morning, arriving in London about mid- morning.