Amphibians & Reptiles of the Western Ghats with Nick Baker
In the Western Ghats of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, early monsoon offers outstanding reptile and amphibian-watching. As countless frogs sing and breed, many rare, endemic snakes emerge to prey on them.
Our unique exploration of the frogs, lizards and snakes of the Western Ghats begins in Thattekkad. This is an excellent site for snakes including Russell’s viper, hump-nosed and Malabar pit vipers, spectacled cobra and common krait. To the east, Munnar is superb for frogs, such as Jerdon’s and Anamalai ramanellas, and for the stunning large-scaled pit viper. Further north, Ooty is home to another range of local endemics, including variable ghat frog and star-eyed bush frog.
Typical Itinerary
Day1: Depart the UK
We take a scheduled flight to Bangalore, arriving early the following day.
Day2: Fly to Kochi, transfer to Thattekkadd
After an early flight to Kochi, we travel to Thattekkad where in the evening we begin our search for reptiles and amphibians.
Accommodation: Hornbill Camp, 2-nights
Day3: Full day at Thattekkadd
We have a full day (and night) to look for the many remarkable reptiles and amphibians of Thattekkad. Key species here include hump-nosed and Malabar pit vipers, spectacled cobra, common krait, Indian wolf snake and the extraordinary Malabar gliding frog.
Days4-6: Explore Munnar
We spend three nights in Munnar, which is an outstanding site for amphibians and reptiles. Among the many frogs courting here at this time of year are Jerdon’s and Anamalai ramanellas, spinular night frog, slender-toed leaping frog and the wonderfully named confusing green bush frog. The reptile highlight here is the stunning large-scaled pit viper but Beddome’s and Sri Lankan cat snakes, montane trinket snake and red-sided shieldtail are among the many other species present.
If time and weather allow we may make some day-trips to see other notable wildlife of the area, including the Nilgiri tahr, a sheep-like herbivore, which is a local endemic. We may also obtain permission to enter Eravikulam National Park in search of the highly endangered resplendent bush frog.
Day7: Transfer to Pollachi, visit Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary
Today we drive north to the town of Pollachi, making a visit to nearby Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary where, among many other species, Leschenault’s and blinking lacertas may be found.
Accommodation: Coco Lagoon Resort, 1-night
Days8-9: Explore Ooty
We spend two nights in the celebrated hill station of Ooty, which is home to another range of local endemics. Reptiles found here include two-lined ground skink, Nilgiri shieldtail, Nilgiri wood snake, bronze-headed vine snake and black-spotted kukri snake. Frogs are well-represented too and targets here include variable ghat frog, Nilgiri and star-eyed bush frogs, triangle-spotted globular frog and pink-thighed dancing frog.
Accommodation: Red Hill Nature Resort, 2-nights
Day10: Transfer to Coimbatore, fly to Bangalore
Following a final morning in Ooty, today we transfer to Coimbatore to catch a flight to Bangalore where we spend the night close to the airport.
Accommodation: Taj Yeshwantpur, 1-night
Day11: Fly to the UK
Early this morning we take our international flight back to the UK.
Key info
Duration and price including flights from/to UK: 11 daysfrom £4,195 pp
Duration and price excluding international flights: 9 daysfrom £3,695 pp
Single supplement:
From £450
Trip type:
Group Tour
Group size: 7
When to go: May
Group Departures: Please contact us for departure date details.
Naturalist and television wildlife presenter Nick Baker is host of BBC Autumnwatch Unsprung and Springwatch Unsprung, and presents the highly popular Weird Creatures series.
A lifelong naturalist, broadcaster and author, Nick is a self-confessed all-rounder (although he's not very good with plants). He has travelled the world as a film-maker, explorer and tour guide for the best part of 25 years and enjoyed every minute of it (except those spent in airports!). He's particularly into the world’s misunderstood creatures, those that are a little ugly and odd and those people love to hate. He has a particular penchant for South East Asia and has worked extensively with the reefs and rainforests of this region. Closer to home Nick enjoys exploring the wildlife of Dartmoor National Park and to the Isle of Mull where one of his favourite moments was when he was lucky enough to see a golden and white-tailed eagle on the same day!
Passionate about the wild since childhood, Ashwin is a native of the South Indian state of Karnataka and has unrivalled knowledge of its wildlife.
He began his career as a wildlife photographer, before branching into film-making and research. He has made documentaries on a huge range of Indian wildlife, from king cobras to elephants. Though hugely knowledgeable on birds, reptiles, amphibians and butterflies, Ashwin's speciality is India's mammals, and in particular its glorious cats.
Alongside his film commitments, Ashwin has recently worked as the lead naturalist in some of the best wildlife lodges in the country, including Forsyth's Lodge in Satpura and Kaav Safari Lodge in Kabini. During his time at Kaav, Ashwin led thousands of trips in Nagarhole National Park and has an intimate knowledge of the park, its people, its wildlife and - most thrillingly - its fabled black panther.
This park stands in an elevated position in the Kannan Devan Hills of Kerala. Established to protect an endangered wild mountain goat, the Nilgiri tahr, the area is known for its stark beauty. Anamudi Peak (2,695 metres) stands at the centre of the park, its hillsides covered in rare orchids and wild balsams.
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Where: Kerala State
Ideal for viewing: leopard, Nilgiri langur, nilgiri tahr, tiger, sambar
Located on the Western Ghats, perched on a hilltop of cardamom and tea plantations, the Windermere Estate is a family run retreat with incredible views over Munnar estate. Its proximity to Eravikulam National Park makes it a perfect location for nature walks and wildlife viewing.
Find Out More about The Windermere Estate
