Tiger Safari (india)

[TigerS6]

Does anyone have any hints or tips for a Tiger safari in India?
Any Contacts? - Any recommendations?

I've looked at a few options, and a couple of agents are coming up with a 'tailor-made' solution, which even sounds expensive! lol

Aiming for 17-21 days.
I think we're pretty much looking for something like:

<Travel>
Delhi (2 Days)
<Travel>
Agra - for the Taj Mahal, Baby Taj and Red fort (1 day)
<Travel>
Bandhavgarh National Park (3 days)
<Travel>
Kanha National Park (2 days)
<Travel>
Goa (7 Days minimum)
<Return home>

Any hints/tips?!!

[897sma]

I get emails from time to time for tiger safaris run by Jonathan Scott, the guy off big cat diary etc. The cost is around £5k pp iirc.

Not sure if he has a website with details but a quick google would tell you.

Edit: http://www.jonathanangelascott.com/main/wordpress/

Edited by 897sma on Saturday 29th December 17:07

[TigerS6]

Cool, I'll take a look, but it's a bit steep... I'm getting about £3k pp by pricing up the bits myself (so far).

[BrabusMog]

Would you consider a group tour? If so, take a look at companies such as Explore, it's a much cheaper way to do things if you don't mind being part of a group.

[TigerS6]

I won't discount it, but we'd prefer a private tour (acknowledging there is a premium involved).

[BrabusMog]

If you PM me, I can pass your itinerary request on to a colleague who does tailor made intineraries, specialising in India.

[TigerS6]

First quote back from a 'well known tour operator'... £4330 which is well below what I thought they'd come up with.
There is an awful lot of faffing around in their quote, so I'd need to sort it, but it does have Agra, Bandhavgar and Goa in it which I guess are the 'key' components.

[897sma]

TigerS6 said:

First quote back from a 'well known tour operator'... £4330 which is well below what I thought they'd come up with.
There is an awful lot of faffing around in their quote, so I'd need to sort it, but it does have Agra, Bandhavgar and Goa in it which I guess are the 'key' components.

Is that each or for two of you? Are flights included too?

[TigerS6]

That is for both of us and does include flights!.... I know!

Having said that, I've been in contact with a local agent in India who says that I'm going to struggle to get into Bandhavgarh park in March (it's sold out), and really should be looking late April.
Alternatively he suggested Tadoba, which I'd not heard of before, but a quick read up seems like it might be a good option, and might well pull me away from the tourist trail?

Anyone know it?

[Broomsticklady]

Saw this thread and came into it to mention Taboda!! We were there in 2009, saw about 18 tigers and 20 odd sightings! And 'proper' sightings, not via elephant back when the poor cats ar ebasically cornered by elephants. The Indian psyche seems to be for immediate gratification and the elephant sightings provide that for the local monied population, which helps with tiger awareness but isn't the best thing for the animals (IMHO).

There isn't / wasn't a huge infrastructure around Tadoba in terms of accomodation - we went with Nature Trek and a group of about 8 stayed in a family (large!) premises, and were fed local food tailored slightly to western tastes. Having also tigered at Rathambore, Pench and Kanha (avoided Bandavargh due to tourist numbers there), I would recommend Taboda to anyone. Word of warning tho - if you're only staying a couple of days, avoid weekends like the plague - a public road runs thru the park, and it gets mobbed, and is out of control at times. When we were there, a tigress had 4 15 month cubs whom we had the pleasure of watching in a waterhole, but a hole next to the road. At the weekend the road was mobbed, horns were going and it was an altogether unpleasant experince, whereas during the week we were I think the only westerners in the park and very few locals there either. As well as her babies we also had the unforgettable experince of having Mummy come out of the bamboo next to our jeep and walk down the road next to us for 100 yds or so - palpitation moment!!

Nina

[TigerS6]

That's Excellent, thanks Nina.
I think it has cemented my thoughts on our new itinerary.

So my final outstanding question is which hotel/resort to finish up at in Goa :|
Taj Exotica seems to be a bit of a favourite at the moment.

[TigerS6]

Slight change of plan, or rather Itinerary....
the 27th March is India's "Holi" day (festival of colours).... this is the one where they throw paint at each other! So we have rejigged our itinerary to do Tadoba & Kanha first, then travel back up to Delhi (by train) to be there for this festival (should be very impressive), then Agra (taj Mahal), then back to Delhi, then fly down to Goa.

We are going to be absolutely knackered after this holiday!!

[TigerS6]

All booked and ready to go

In the end I've sorted the flights through a friend who works for BA, local flights direct (it's soooo cheap!), the safari's by a local chap recommended off another forum I go on, and a hotel I read up on on trip advisor! lol

3 weeks and just over £4.5k bargain!


I would just like to extend my many thanks to the guys who contacted me through here and passed on various contacts, although ultimately we didn't go with those options, it was not for want of trying through the guys, everyone tried to accomodate our rather restricted timescales and 'heavy' itinerary. So thanks again.