Lions and Tigers and Bears

Day notes

After passing through immigration and collecting your luggage, transfer to the domestic terminal to check in for the internal flights.

On arrival in Diu, you will set off for Sasangir, approximately 4 hours drive.  Your home for the next three nights is the nature retreat Gir Serai, set on the banks of the Hiran River and surrounded by jungle, with rooms that open out onto lush views of the gardens.

Gir National Park in Gujarat is the only place in the world outside of Africa where you can see lions roaming free in the wild - the magnificent Asiatic Lion.  There are approximately 600 Asiatic lions here - their last remaining natural habitat.

Besides lions, Gir Forest National Park (also known as Sasan Gir) protects 2,300 species of wildlife, including another apex predator - the Indian Leopard.  Deer species include Sambar, Chowsingha (the world’s only four-horned antelope) and Chinkara (Indian Gazelle);  small mammals such as the Golden Jackal, Striped Hyena and Indian Fox

Over 300 species of birds make Gir their home, including the critically-endangered White-backed and Long-billed Vultures.

There are more than 40 species of reptiles and amphibians. Kamleshwar, a large reservoir in the sanctuary is the best spot where Marsh Crocodile can be seen in large numbers.

Morning and afternoon game drives

Day notes

After breakfast you fly to Nagpur via Mumbai.  

As you arrive in the late evening in Nagpur, you will catch up on some rest at the Radisson Blu Hotel for a good night's sleep before starting the next stage of your safari tomorrow morning as you drive out to Pench in search of the first tigers of our trip.

Day notes

This morning you drive to Pench National Park, a drive of approximately 3 hours. You will arrive in time for an afternoon game drive.

Your home for two nights will be the Pench Tree Lodge, set in 40 acres of wilderness in the small tribal hamlet of Sarahiri.  

Game drives in the park are accessed by the Karamajhiri gate which is just about 20 minutes from the lodge.

Pench is where Rudyard Kipling wrote his classic, The Jungle Book.  Beguiling streams and rivers, mainly springing from the River Pench.  The lofty Satpura range, a landmass covered by the towering teak and dry deciduous forest is home to tigers, Indian Leopard, Sloth Bear, several varieties of Spotted Deer, Nilgai, Sambhar, Chinkara, Wild Dog and Gaur. Pench is an idyllic place for bird watching, boasting of over 210 species of birds.

Day notes

You drive this morning to Tadoba.  The journey will take around 5 hours and you will arrive in time for an afternoon game drive.

Note: Mobile phones, iPad and tablets are not allowed inside Tadoba National Park

Svasara Jungle Lodge is situated only 300 metres from Kolara Gate at Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve and is set in 10-acres of restored forest.

Tadoba Tiger Reserve is a rare jungle jewel amongst India’s leading tiger reserves and national parks. It is called the Land of the Tigers, due to its high tiger density—recent estimates indicate around 72 tigers (60 in core and 12 in buffer) over a rich jungle spread over 625 square kilometres.  Frequent tiger and wild dog sightings are reported and, in general, the park offers plenty of opportunities for wildlife encounters including Indian Leopard, Sloth Bear, Gaur, Rusty Spotted Cat, Ratel, Indian Mouse Deer, Spotted Deer, Sambar, Wild Pig, Four Horned Antelope, Flying Squirrel. Over 200 species of birds include the Crested Serpent Eagle, Honey Buzzard, Paradise Flycatcher, Grey-headed Fishing Eagle and the shy Jungle Fowl.

Day notes

After a morning game drive, you drive back to Nagpur, around 2-3 hours, for a flight back to Delhi and a night at the Pullman Aerocity.