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Rajan Jolly, our operations manager for India, has come up with two exciting itinerary suggestions based at top lodges. The first of these is a 9-day bird and mammal watching holiday based at The Bison Camp, Nagarhole National Park.
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Nagarhole is a 640-square kilometre National Park, situated in the Western Ghats, the lengthy chain of mountains running right down the western side of peninsula India. Nagarhole contains a mixture of Teak and Mathi forest, little villages and cultivated land, and is Karnataka state’s top national park.
Nagarhole’s special mammals:
Travelling by jeep, you will explore Nagarhole National Park’s grasslands and forests where you will see some of the 1,000 Elephants that range through the area. The park should also provide you with your first chance of seeing Gaur (Indian Bison), the largest and most impressive of all the world’s wild cattle. With luck you may see Tiger, Leopard or Sloth Bear, or perhaps a pack of Dhole (Asiatic Wild Dog). Chital (Spotted Deer), Common Langur and Wild Boar are numerous here.
Nagarhole’s special birdlife:
Nagarhole is an excellent place to find some of southern India’s bird specialties, such as Grey-headed Fishing Eagle, Brown Fish Owl, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Green Imperial Pigeon, Black-backed Woodpecker and Malabar Crested Lark. Nearby, where the river has been dammed, you may take to the water in coracles in search of the waterbirds that favour its marshy fringes. Indian Shag, Little Cormorant, and a variety of storks and kingfishers are all to be found here.
The Bison Camp – set off by boat for Nagarhole from your own private jetty!
You will be staying at The Bison Camp which boasts an idyllic waterside location on the edge of Nagarhole National Park. With a backdrop of low hills and views over the water and farmland, it is immensely peaceful, private and a world away from the hubbub of the city. The vegetation is lush and green and there’s not a road or town to be seen. It is only a short drive from the camp to the park entrance but for the more adventurous, there’s an option to set off from The Bison Camp by boat, from your very own jetty! The pretty, waterside swimming pool has wonderful views and as you sit, relaxing on your verandah you are likely to see wildlife (including Asian Elephants) strolling by.
Spacious tents with superb views:
Due to seasonal flooding, most of the camp is slightly raised on wooden stilts and the tents are reached by wooden walkways. The tents are lovely and spacious with excellent, large bathrooms and the beds are strategically placed to face straight out across the water. The two ‘machan’ tents are enormous – raised 20ft off the ground they have wonderful views and offer a great deal of private space.
Constructed almost entirely of local wood, there is a cosy dining room, along with a sitting room and ‘viewing’ bar. Late night chats around the camp fire and a private bush dinner here are things you will never forget. The Bison Camp offers one of the most attractive settings for a tented camp in South India as well as being one of the most private and undisturbed.
Rajan’s suggested itinerary:
Your holiday begins with a direct British Airways flight to Bangalore, arriving early in the morning. You will then transfer to Nagarhole National Park (a journey of about 5 to 6 hours from Bangalore). While driving through the beautiful Southern Indian landscape you will be able to experience the sounds, sights and delight of a South Indian Jungle. After 6 pleasant days in The Bison Camp you will be transferred back to Bangalore where you will stay at the Leela Palace for one night before boarding your flight back home.
If you would like to make an enquiry, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone Rajan on 01962 733051.