India - Tiger Marathon

The mighty Bengal Tiger is without doubt one of the most stunningly handsome and awe-inspiring creatures on Earth. Whether achieved from a vehicle, or on foot, a glimpse of this most powerful of all the great cats is an unforgettable highlight of any natural history visit to India. Just to set off in search of a Tiger is guaranteed to send adrenaline coursing through the veins; whilst every movement in the undergrowth raises the expectation of a sudden appearance by that so-familiar striped body, footprints in the dust or the warning cries of deer serving only to heighten the almost unbearable sense of excitement. Since the 1980s Naturetrek has enabled many hundreds of our clients to achieve their dream of seeing a Tiger and this outstanding tour is perhaps our most comprehensive Tiger-watching holiday so far, embracing the four Indian Tiger Reserves that currently provide the most consistent record of Tiger sightings in the subcontinent. The holiday is designed to maximise the chances of Tiger observation by spending ample time in each of these reserves where, even if the Tigers prove elusive, you can be assured of a host of other mammals including Grey Langur, Sambar and both Spotted and Swamp Deer. We should also see Gaur (the huge Asiatic bison), Wild Boar, Asiatic Jackal and, with luck, Leopard or Dhole (Asian Wild Dog). Although the focus will be very much on the mammals, the birdlife is prolific and even non-birdwatchers cannot fail to be impressed by the variety of form and colour displayed by the avifauna.

We begin our tour with an afternoon arrival into Nagpur airport after a comfortable flight via Doha on one of the world’s best international airlines. From here we drive straight to Pench National Park, a journey of just over two hours. This previously little-known reserve was the setting for the popular BBC TV series ‘Tiger — Spy in the Jungle’, which portrayed the life of a resident family of Tigers and, almost overnight, transformed the profile of Pench. Designated as Project Tiger’s 19th Tiger Reserve in 1992, Pench today protects 758 square kilometres of prime Tiger habitat in the southern reaches of the Satpura Hills, which lie in the region which inspired Rudyard Kipling’s ‘Jungle Book’. We spend three nights here and can savour the reality of the television images!

Next, we will take a scenic drive into the heart of rural Madhya Pradesh and spend three nights in Kanha National Park. Kanha encompasses 1,945 square kilometres and is one of the largest reserves in India. It occupies a beautiful location on a plateau in the Maikal range of hills, and comprises a crescent of forested hills surrounding broad undulating grasslands dotted with clumps of bamboo and Sal forest. Small pools and a perennial lake provide essential drinking holes for the animals. Here, as elsewhere, we will undertake morning and afternoon game drives in search of Tigers and other wildlife.

Another long drive, through farmland and the Vindhyan Hills, brings us to Bandhavgarh National Park. This park, like Kanha, has acquired a reputation as one of the very best for consistent Tiger sightings. It lies in a region steeped in history and, in the heart of the reserve, atop an 800-metre plateau, stands the ruin of the magnificent hilltop fort which bears testament to the succession of dynasties which once ruled this area. Regular game drives in the park should bring us yet more encounters with the main objective of our tour.

Finally we drive to Panna National Park, a stunning reserve that protects over 543 square kilometres of rolling hills and plateaux, grassy meadows, gorges and waterfalls. The broad waters of the River Ken pass through the park and a boat trip here provides superb wildlife-viewing with abundant waterbirds and many large Marsh Mugger Crocodiles. Tigers have suffered badly from poaching here, but we have a slim chance of an encounter in this beautiful park.

We will fly back to Delhi from the famous city of Khajuraho, and thence to London. However, for the aficionado, we offer an opportunity to extend your holiday with a visit to Ranthambore, one of India’s most spectacular and best-known Tiger Reserves.