This tour explores central India’s wildlife hotspots in search of tiger, sloth bear, leopard, wild dog, and a superb variety of birds, and includes a visit to the ever-impressive Taj Mahal.
Our journey begins with an avian focus while exploring Chambal and Bharatpur, each of which offers spectacular birding and a chance to find the endangered gharial. We then head to Satpura National Park, which is little known but unique in offering walks and boat safaris away from the crowds. The dry bamboo forest and open landscape of Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve offer fantastic photographic opportunities, with great scope for birding and other wildlife viewing. The park has boasted some of the best tiger sightings in recent years.
Typical Itinerary
Day1: Depart UK
We depart London on an overnight flight to Delhi.
Day2: Arrive in Delhi
Arriving in Delhi this morning, we transfer to our hotel and the rest of the day is free to relax and enjoy at our leisure.
Accommodation: Pride Plaza Hotel Aerocity, 1-night
Day3: Birdwatching in Bharatpur
In the morning we drive to Bharatpur, also known as Keoladeo Ghana National Park, a bird reserve which is both a Ramsar and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Amongst the species that may be spotted during early morning and afternoon guided excursions are black-necked stork, greater and Indian spotted eagles, sarus crane, black bittern and large-tailed nightjar.
The park also boasts an interesting range of mammals and reptiles. Sambar, chital, nilgai, wild boar, rhesus macaque, golden jackal and five-striped palm-squirrel are all commonly seen. Local guides can also often find Indian monitors and Indian rock pythons.
We leave Bharatpur and drive to Chambal, a fantastic wetland bird reserve. National Chambal Sanctuary provides protection for increasing populations of around 2,000 gharials and more than 300 marsh crocodiles, both species previously decimated by poaching, along with eight species of turtles, and smooth-coated otters. It boasts an impressive and rapidly increasing list of birds with over 290 species of resident and migratory birds, and is gaining a reputation as one of the most reliable places to see the Indian skimmer.
From a boat safari on the Chambal River, accompanied by a local naturalist expert, to nature walks through the National Chambal Sanctuary, or blackbuck jeep safari in the Chambal ravines, during our stay here we have plenty of time to explore the rich diversity Chambal has to offer.
This morning we leave Chambal and drive to Agra where we transfer to our hotel. After lunch we visit the majestic Taj Mahal and Agra Fort.
Accommodation: Grand Mercure Agra, 1-night
Days8-11: Safaris in Satpura & Pachmarhi
We leave Agra and travel to Bhopal and on to Satpura. Central India’s least known national park covers 524 square kilometres and is trebled by the adjoining sanctuaries of Bori and Pachmarhi, creating a unique highland ecosystem.
We have two full days to explore Satpura, and we enjoy morning and evening drives into the buffer zone. Rich in biodiversity, although not yet widely visited, Satpura offers opportunities for nature walks and boat safaris within the park. In addition, traditional jeep safaris search for the magnificent tiger, the elusive leopard and the sloth bear, and for birds including Indian peafowl, Indian eagle owl and Indian grey hornbill. Our four days here will combine all the different wildlife experiences on offer within the park.
This morning, we leave Satpura and Pachmarhi for our drive to Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve. Here, we have three full days of wildlife activities, and Tadoba offers our best chance for a grand tiger finale.
Maharashtra’s largest and oldest national park, created in 1955, Tadoba is one of India’s Project Tiger reserves. With its forested hills, glistening lakes and open grasslands, this beautiful park is home to an important population of tigers (estimated at around 100 individuals). Among the other classic Indian mammals found here are leopard, sloth bear, gaur, Asian wild dog and striped hyena. The area is also an ornithologist’s paradise. Birds commonly seen here include brown fish owl, crested serpent eagle, grey junglefowl and oriental paradise flycatcher.
This morning we transfer by road to Nagpur, where we have lunch before our flight back to Delhi. We then transfer to the hotel and the rest of the day is free to do a city tour, explore the art and craft markets or just relax by the pool. In the evening we have our farewell dinner and reflect on our recent incredible wildlife encounters.
Accommodation: Pride Plaza Hotel Aerocity, 1-night
Day17: Fly to the UK
We transfer to the airport and board our flight to London.
Key info
Duration and price including flights from/to UK: 17 daysfrom £5,495 pp
Duration and price excluding international flights: 16 daysfrom £4,895 pp
As a passionate photographer and artist, Snehaa enjoys telling stories through her imagery to connect those under her guidance with nature.
Snehaa’s journey into guiding began with a fascination for animal behaviour. With a background in Zoology and Ecology, she started her career in Kanha as a naturalist and went on to work on research projects across India—from Nicobar’s macaques to Sanjay-Dubri’s langurs. She spent over six years with the Wildlife Trust of India, leading outreach programs nationwide. Today, Snehaa leads wildlife expeditions across Ladakh, the Himalayas, and Central and Southern India, and believes ecotourism is a vital tool for conservation and coexistence.
Kopal is a safari specialist with over a decade of guiding experience navigating the forests of Central India and the high-altitude landscapes of the Himalayas.
Kopal has extensive experience guiding guests through some of India’s most challenging and rewarding wilderness regions, providing her with a wide knowledge and expertise in the country’s wildlife. Away from the field, she works closely with indigenous and forest-edge communities, training local youth as wildlife guides and naturalists — ensuring that conservation and authentic knowledge remain deeply connected to peoples' livelihoods. She is a grounded presence in the wild and believes that the finest expeditions are built not just on sightings, but on respect for wildlife, landscapes, and the people who call them home.
Bharatpur consists of scrub, grassland and shallow wetland. A former duck-shooting reserve of the Maharajas, it became a national park in 1982 and is now recognised as one of the finest waterbird sanctuaries in the world, home to more than 300 species, including the gorgeous sarus crane.
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This beautiful sanctuary was established in 1979 along a vast stretch of India’s Chambal River. Numerous ravines, the product of centuries of soil erosion by flood and rain water, line its banks. The cliffs and vegetation shelter numerous birds, mammals and reptiles, and the river is one of India’s most pristine.
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Where: Uttar Pradesh State
Ideal for viewing: Gangetic river dolphin, gharial crocodile, Indian skimmer, marsh crocodile, smooth-coated otter
Satpura National Park is one of India’s most intriguing wildlife destinations. Walking safaris are possible here and hides have been built in its meadows, forested plateaux and mountains, which are shared by a number of mammal species, including sloth bear, leopard and bison (gaur).
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Where: Madhya Pradesh State
Ideal for viewing: sloth bear, wild dog, nilgai, sambar, leopard
Excellent for: Walking safaris, Wildlife photography, Photography tours With Nick Garbutt, Vehicle safaris, Bear watching
Part of the Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve, this park is home to rhesus macaque, Indian giant, and flying squirrel which are all endemic to this region, as well as tiger, blackbuck and four-horned antelope. The area is also a real paradise for bird enthusiasts, with numerous raptors residing here.
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Where: Madhya Pradesh State
Ideal for viewing: sloth bear, rhesus macaque, chital, Indian giant squirrel, wild dog
Tadoba Andhari is the largest national park in Maharastra and is becoming increasingly well-known for its tiger sightings, and is one of India’s 50 Project Tiger reserves. The park is bounded by the Chimur, Moharli and Kolsa ranges, and is dominated by teak and bamboo forests.
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This family-owned heritage property is located on an extensive wooded estate, and originally provided accommodation for the annual cattle fair. Since its restoration as an eco-lodge, the main building houses one large room, while there are two lavish suites in the guest wing and eight cottages in the grounds.
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This heritage property, a former royal palace, is a stunning monument to Rajput and Mughal architecture, and offers accommodation in 30 air conditioned rooms and suites. It is the perfect place from which to explore the nearby famed bird sanctuary of Keoladeo Ghana National Park.
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Reni Pani Jungle Lodge is an exquisitely designed conservation and wildlife focused lodge located close to Satpura National Park. Set in 15 hectares of striking forest, it offers 12 luxury cottages, a jungle pool located along the seasonal stream, and waterholes that attract several species of birds and animals.
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Located barely 270 metres from the Kolara gate at Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve in north eastern Maharashtra, the luxurious Svasara Lodge promotes sustainable eco-tourism and conservation, as well as offering guests a luxurious base from which to engage in the jungle experience.
Find Out More about Svasara Lodge
