Discover the remote wilderness of the Eastern Himalayas with wildlife photographer Nick Garbutt on a quest to view the endearing red panda, before continuing to Kanha National Park in search of iconic Indian wildlife including tiger.
Our journey to discover many of India's exotic mammals starts by visiting Singalila National Park, an area of remote wilderness straddling the Indian-Nepal border. With its temperate broad-leaf and coniferous forest, it provides the ideal habitat to the elusive red panda. Staying at Habre’s Nest, a small lodge dedicated to the conservation of the red pandas of the region, we join specialist trackers on walks from the lodge to search for this secretive mammal.
Whilst the red panda is our main mammal to search for in Singalila, the national park is sure to provide us with many other spectacular wildlife encounters including yellow-throated marten, leopard cat, Himalayan serow and barking deer. The area is also a birder's paradise with a wonderful array of birds – over 300 species have been recorded here.
We then continue to Kanha National Park, prime tiger country and one of the finest parks in the subcontinent. With an estimated population of more than 70 tigers, we set out on morning and afternoon jeep safaris to photograph this majestic big cat, whilst also observing other iconic Indian wildlife such as leopards, dhole, and sloth bears. Again, birders will not be disappointed with their time in Kanha with over 300 species of birds to watch for.
Typical Itinerary
Day1: Depart UK
Day2: Arrive Delhi
We arrive late morning into Delhi and transfer the short distance to our hotel located near the airport.
Accommodation: Hotel near Delhi airport, 1-night
Day3: Fly to Bagdogra, transfer to Darjeeling
We depart Delhi this morning, flying to Bagdogra, from where we continue by road to the hill station of Darjeeling.
Accommodation: The Elgin Darjeeling, 1-night
Day4: Transfer to Singalila National Park
Leaving Darjeeling this morning, we begin our journey to Singalila National Park. The first part of our journey is the drive to Manebhanjen, where we then transfer into Land Rovers to complete our final ascent to Habre’s Nest travelling through the spectacular and rugged landscape of the Eastern Himalayas.
We aim to reach the lodge in time for lunch and meet with the trackers who would have been out during the morning looking for red pandas. This will hopefully allow us to have our first walk in search of them this afternoon.
Days5-9: Red panda tracking in Singalila National Park
During our time based in Habre’s Nest, our days are likely to follow a similar pattern. After breakfast we set out of foot with our dedicated trackers in search of the red panda. Whilst most of the walking trails are accessible directly from the lodge, Land Rovers are at our disposal to transfer us to sightings made further afield. For those wanting to enjoy the rich birdlife of the area, there will be time in the early mornings to use Habre’s Nest in-house bird hide.
Day10: Transfer to Bagdogra, fly to Delhi
This morning we depart Habre’s Nest by Land Rover, driving to Manebhajan before continuing by minibus to Bagdogra to catch our flight to Delhi.
Accommodation: Hotel near Delhi airport, 1-night
Day11: Fly to Jabalpur, transfer to Kanha National Park
Departing Delhi on a morning flight to Jabalpur, we are then transferred to Kanha National Park where we are based for the next six-nights. The journey to our lodge will take most of the day so we will enjoy our first safari in Kanha the following morning.
During our five full days in Kanha National Park we use small safari vehicles, setting out on morning and afternoon safaris each day. Amongst the beautiful landscapes and pristine habitats of Kanha, we will be on the lookout for not only the majestic tiger but hope to encounter sloth bear, leopard and dhole, along with many other iconic Indian mammals and exotic birdlife.
Day17: Transfer to Jabalpur, fly to Delhi
Before departing Kanha National Park for our flight from Jabalpur to Delhi, there will be time to enjoy one final morning safari drive.
Accommodation: Hotel near Delhi airport, 1-night
Day18: Arrive UK
Key info
Duration and price including flights from/to UK: 18 daysfrom £7,895 pp
Duration and price excluding international flights: 17 daysfrom £7,295 pp
Single supplement:
On request – please contact us.
Trip type:
Group Tour
Tailor-made can be arranged
Group size: 6
When to go: Oct-Apr
Group Departures: We are currently finalising future dates for this tour. Please contact us for further details.
Tailor-made Departures:
A tailor-made holiday or private departure can be arranged, please contact us to tailor a trip to suit your requirements.
Included in the price/package:
Return flights between Delhi – Bagdogra & Delhi - Khajuraho
4 nights hotel accommodation
10 nights lodge accommodation
Most meals (breakfast only in Delhi, full board elsewhere)
An award-winning photographer and author, with a background in zoology, Nick has forged a career by combining these skills with leading tours and lecturing.
Nick has written and photographed several critically acclaimed books, including: ‘100 Animals to See Before They Die’, ‘Mammals of Madagascar: A Complete Guide’, ‘Wild Borneo’, and ‘Chameleons’. He is a regular contributor to international magazines such as National Geographic, BBC Wildlife, Africa Geographic and Geographical.
Nick has twice been a winner in the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition. In 2000, he won the prestigious Gerald Durrell Award for Endangered Wildlife. His photographs appear widely in books, calendars and other publications worldwide. He is a Special Lecturer on the MSc course in the Wildlife Photography and Imaging at Nottingham University, where he studied.
Lying on the India-Nepal border on the Singalila Ridge, Singalila National Park is one of the most exotic Himalayan forests in India. The park is one of the best locations within India to search for the elusive red panda and is a birder's paradise with more than 300 species found here.
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Where: West Bengal
Ideal for viewing: red panda, Himalayan black bear, clouded leopard, barking deer, yellow-throated marten
Excellent for: Wildlife photography, Photography tours With Nick Garbutt, Rare mammal watching, Birdwatching
Kanha National Park offers some of India’s finest tiger viewing. The setting for Rudyard Kipling’s ‘The Jungle Book', the undulating grassland and deciduous forest also supports a further 22 species of mammal and its waterholes create tranquil spots for bird watching in the surrounding jungle.
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Where: Madhya Pradesh State
Ideal for viewing: Asiatic jackal, barasingha, Indian gazelle, nilgai, tiger
Excellent for: Walking safaris, Photography tours With Nick Garbutt, Vehicle safaris, Tiger safaris
Located in Kaiakata near the India-Nepal border, Habre’s Nest offers a unique homestay style experience combined with wildlife research and conservation. A small property of just four bedrooms, all offering sunset views, Habre’s Nest is perfectly positioned for searching for the region's red pandas.
Find Out More about Habre’s Nest
The Sarai at Toria sits on the riverside, close to Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh, an area of natural beauty and wonderful history. Covering three hectares, the grassland and jungle of this eco-friendly retreat attracts colourful dragonflies, a host of bird life and many mammals.
Find Out More about Sarai at Toria
Nestling on the edge of Kanha National Park, this camp is an oasis of tranquility with six spacious canvas tents set in young woodland. Overlooking a pool fed by two natural springs, you can expect to see a variety of birdlife, including kingfishers, cormorants and hundreds of egrets.
Find Out More about Shergarh Camp
