About Manoj Sharma trips: This photographic “safari” has been designed by Manoj Sharma, a widely known wildlifer from India, who has been in wildlife photographic safari for more than two decades. Manoj will personally lead this safari, which has a limited number of participants. The Safari is open to keen photographers . This special itinerary has been tailored to provide the best possible photographic opportunities.
Ahmedabad – Zainabad – Gir – Rajkot – Mumbai – Nagpur – Kanha – Bandhavgarh – Khajuraho – Varanasi – Delhi – Agra – Bharatpur – Delhi
17 Nights /18 Days
6 to 14 Persons
Overnight in Ahmedabad.
Morning leave for Zainabad. Arrive by lunch. Afternoon excursion in the Rann of Kutchh – a vast expense of flat marsh/desert land where we look for the Asiatic wild ass, blue bull, Indian gazelle, wolf, jackal, Indian and desert foxes, desert and jungle cat, etc. Dry land birds like the sand grouse, houbara bustard, desert wheatear, steppe eagle, montagu harrier, etc can be seen in winter. Overnight at the Desert Coursers Resort.
Visit the marshlands of the Little Rann of Kutch. These lakes and Marshlands attract flamingoes, pelicans, cranes, ducks, etc in large flocks.
Morning drive to Sasan Gir. On arrival transfer to the Lion Safari Camp. Dinner and overnight at the Camp.
Morning and evening Jungle excursion by 4 X 4 jeeps to see the Last Home of the Asiatic Lions. Also seen are Nilgai, Four horned antelope,Sambhar and Chital Deer, Magar Crocodiles, Wild boar, Leopards, and many species of birds. Meals and overnight at the camp.
Morning and evening Jungle excursion by jeep to look for Asiatic Lions as well as Leopards (this reserve has the highest density) and all the other animals. Evening drive to Rajkot for overnight stay. Meals and overnight at the hotel.
Morning transfer to the airport for boarding flight to Nagpur via Mumbai. On arrival in Nagpur transfer to Tuli International for overnight stay.
Morning depart for Kanha National Park (5 hrs). On arrival transfer to the Resort located in the Kisli region of Kanha. The resort, located in the park’s buffer zone allows us the freedom to walk around the grounds. Evening jungle excursion in Kanha National Park. Overnight at the resort.
Morning and evening jungle excursion in Kanha National Park. Set on the Chota Nagpur Plateau, Kanha provides breathtaking vistas of grassy plains and stands of mixed Sal/teak forest. The many streams are edged by large groves of willowy bamboo. This vast 1000 sq Km preserve was not only set aside to protect the tiger, but to save the endangered barasingha as well. These beautiful deer are spectacular to watch as they graze in the forest meadows. In addition, Kanha is one of the best places in the world to view the secretive Indian Guar (Indian Bison) which is the largest cattle in the world and the rare Dhole or Indian Hunting Dog. While in Kanha, wildlife viewing is done from open 4×4 Open Vehicles and elephants. During breakfast each day, our guide finds out if and where the mahouts have spotted tiger. We then wait our turn to view the tiger by elephant back. We return to the resort each day for lunch, and then return to the park mid-afternoon for additional game viewing opportunities.
Overnight at the resort.
Morning and evening jungle excursions in the Kanha National Park. Overnight at the resort.
Morning drive to Bandhavgarh National Park (180 kms/5 hrs). Lunch on arrival. On arrival transfer to Nature Heritage Resort- lodge located on the periphery of the National Park. Afternoon jungle excursion in the Bandhavgarh National Park.Overnight at the resort.
Set among the Vindhya Hills in the state of Madhya Pradesh, Bandhavgarh consists of 168 square miles of Sal and mixed forest with large stretches of bamboo and grassland to the north. There is a dramatic natural fort at the park’s center, 1,000 feet above the surrounding countryside. In addition to tigers, we hope to see chital, and chausingha (four-horned antelope). There are some 150 species of birds here including blue-bearded bee-eaters and white-browed fantails, and the Malabar Hornbill. Wildlife viewing is by open jeep and elephant back. Boarding elephants is easy, and the cushioned platforms are very comfortable. Since most animals, including tiger, have little fear of elephants or the people mounted on them, this mode of transportation is ideal for wildlife viewing. There are morning and afternoon wildlife excursions each day and we have the option to visit the fort. A 35-foot statue of the reclining Vishnu, resting beside a rectangular pool of springwater, head the path to the imposing main gate. In addition to 10th century rock images of the incarnation of Vishnu. Meals and overnight at the resort.
Morning and afternoon jungle excursion in the National Park. Overnight at the resort.
Early morning leave for Khajuraho to connect with flight to Varanasi. If time permits we do a short trip of the Western Group of Temples. On arrival in Varanasi transfer to the hotel. Evening visit the ghats to see the prayers being performed. Meals and overnight at the hotel.
Early morning boat ride on the Ganges to see the rituals being performed by the devotees on the banks of river Ganges. Return to hotel for breakfast. On arrival transfer to hotel for overnight in Delhi.
Morning leave for Agra on arrival in Agra transfer to the hotel. Afternoon visit the Agra Fort. Overnight at the hotel.
Morning drive to Bharatpur on the way visit the old yet magnificent city of Fatehpur Sikri built in the year 1569 it was abandoned soon after by the Moghul Emperor, Akbar. On arrival transfer to the Birders Inn where we spend the next two nights. Keoladeo Ghana is the site of a large marsh created in the 1700’s by the Maharajah of Bharatpur for the purpose of putting on extravagant duck hunts. Today, the sanctuary is a World Heritage Site. Over 400 species of birds have been recorded within the 30-square kilometer reserve. It is not uncommon for birders to see more than 100 species in a day. We soon leave for a short glimpse of the National Park. After briefly exploring the National Park, we return to the hotel after sunset for dinner and overnight.
We proceed to the reserve at daybreak. Searching first in flat-bottomed boats and then via bicycle rickshaws, we explore this avian spectacle. The birds seen are as colorful as their names – pintail ducks, red-crested pochards,, and open-billed, painted, and black-necked storks. Watching the fishing activities of the handsome pied kingfisher, common kingfisher, Purple heron and the sleek darter provides engaging moments. Also commonly seen are eight species of eagles and several species of falcon including the peregrine. In addition to bird life, the park is well known for the opportunities it provides to observe Indian python, Indian porcupine, fishing cat, Indian civet, and three species of mongoose. Sambhar and Chital Deer and Nilgai and Black buck are common antelopes found in the park. We return to the lodge for lunch, Later drive to Delhi to connect with onward International flight.
