Wild Earth

India is a land of extremes and contrasts, this expedition has been specifically tailored to encompass as much of that diversity. Concentrating on India’s amazing National Parks, a legacy of ancient royal hunting grounds preserved and protected today as examples of an earlier wilder India but also encompassing India’s long and rich cultural heritage this trip offers something for everybody. An excellent standard of accommodation is used through out, we stay at locally owned lodges run by people who are not only passionate about your comfort but also the natural world and its wildlife.
    Our journey begins in Delhi, the capital of India and a truly modern city at India’s heart, you are met at the airport by our local representative and assisted to the hotel. Next morning we depart for Madhya Pradesh, the wildlife capital of India where we will visit 3 separate National Parks as we go in search of the legendry Royal Bengal Tiger. From our base at Kanha Jungle Lodge we make twice daily safari excursions into Kanha National Park where we explore the Sal forests and open grasslands for Indian Bison, Indian Wild Dogs, Leopards and Tigers of which the park has a healthy population. A highlight of any Indian wildlife safari is the opportunity to go on Elephant back in search of Tigers and other wildlife, this is an excellent way to become a part of the landscape seeing wildlife up close without disturbing it. Both Kanha and Bandhavgarh National Parks give us the opportunity to take Elephant safaris. At the centre of Bandhavgarh NP is an imposing ancient fort, the former residence of the local Maharjah with spectacular views over the surrounding park. We then continue northwards to Panna NP, staying on the banks of the biologically rich and important Ken River we take the opportunity to search for some of India’s smaller nocturnal mammals and also to visit the vibrant local community.
    No visit to India would be complete without a visit to the temples at Khajuaro or Agra where the Taj Mahal stands as a lasting memorial to love, we visit both. A flight from Delhi takes us to the outer reaches of India, to Assam, in many ways more East Asia then Southern Asia, a fascinating cultural and biological contrast to the world of central India which we have just explored. Kaziranga National Park was originally created to protect Indian One-horned Rhino but today the park protects not only the Rhino but also Asian Elephants, Indian Buffalo and a vast array of birdlife. We make an early morning excursion to search for the rare Hoolock’s Gibbon and visit one of the tea plantations for which Assam is also justifiably famous. Our trip ends where it began in Delhi from where you can either catch international flights or continue your Indian journey with one of our extension programs.