Hi Michael,

If you have the time, you might seriously consider a round-the-world ticket -- it would allow you to stop over at several of the desinations you listed.

Out of curiosity, why is UAE on your hot list? It doesn't seem to offer much other than super-luxury hotels, shopping, and beaches, which doesn't seem to fit your style based on your posts here.

Cheers,
Julian

Hi,
We went to India last year and spent 3 days in Kabini River Jungle lodge, Nagarahole national park, Karnataka state. We were quite impressed with the quality of guiding during our morning and evening safaris. The area is specatcular, with lots of wildlife especially elephants. The guides were well-trained naturalists and we would definitely like to go back.

Hi Julian,

SOrry for the delay..........yes, Ranthambore has a great setting....ancient forts and ruins from the Mughal dynasty makes a great setting in the middle of the shrub jungle and the lake is stunning too.....there are a couple of really nice resorts too.....very very nice

However, the parks have a crappy rule like, a particular jeep only has to drive a certain route on a given day (even if they hv information that the tigers are on the other route)

Hopefully CCAfrica will have their properties in the MP parks, with proper rules...

Waxwing,

I do like going to Kabini and Nagarhole, but now there are a couple of private resorts right next to the Kabini river lodge, those are a lot better......i wasnt very impressed with Kabini river lodge.....however, i did get a 45 min tiger sighting during my stay there in May 2004

Hari, Good morning !!!!, its quite early, u are really becoming a fodor addict, keep it up, Sonali.

Hi Julian,There are some parks which have the crappy rule of only doing a particular route. I am quite sure kanha does not have the rule, any way I will be going to kanha so will definately give u an update on the lodges and park rules

Indian wildlife is not only about tigers, there are huge nos of elephants, also leopards, wild dogs, bison are frequently seen

Hope all of you come to India,

Cheers, Sonali.

Hi! I agree with Sonali.......Indian wildlife is more than just the tigers.......the indian wild dog that she is talking about is a beautiful animal. Orangish red in colour....i have seen wild dogs on almost every trip to Kabini/nagarahole and i've seen them atleast twice in Mudumallai (Tamil Nadu state)

The Indian bison or Gaur is a fantastic animal.....especially the males are majestic (even the African buffalo/American bison pales in comparison)

Ofcourse, the Indian leopard.....but you are never going to see them (quantity or quality) as in the Sabi sands.....a fleeting glimpse at best!

Julian, if I visit the UAE, it would not be to shop or stay in a super-luxury hotel (although I'd likely eat at the Burj al Arab), but, rather, to gain exposure to another Middle Eastern country. I have visited a few (Saudi Arabia, Israel, the Palestinian Territories and Egypt) and that part of the world is a driving force in international events, and I think I'd benefit by spending additional time in that region.

I would intend to visit the safari-lodge operated by Emirates Airlines in the desert, which has restocked a large area with gazelle and other native fauna, and also visit the various Emirates with sidetrips to Oman and either Bahrain or Qatar.

To me, the UAE is not particularly appealing, but its a good base, and I perceive it as much safer than other countries in the area that I'd prefer (for example, Iran or Yemen).

Thanks for your recommendation for a RTW ticket, but I only intend to visit one of those destinations on my December trip, not all of them.

Michael

Micheal, I will keep u posted on CCA lodges in India and mail u my trip report of kanha.
Hope u can make it to India this year
Like I mentioned earlier there is alot more to Indian wildlife than tigers,
Sonali

Hi Michael,

I'd forgotten about the eco-lodge in the desert -- now that sounds like an interesting reason to go to Dubai. I've never understood the appeal of the luxury hotel/shopping/beach thing myself though it goes over very well here in the UK (then again, I think anywhere with sun will go over well in this solar-deprived country).

I don't think you'd need to fly to Dubai to go to Oman -- I can't remember where you're based, but there are direct flights from London to Oman. Libya, Lebanon, and Syria are also easily accessible from the UK, though getting a visa for Libya might be a bit of a challenge.

Even if you don't plan to do a lot of stops, a RTW ticket may actually be less expensive (or only marginally more expensive) than, say, a round-trip ticket to New Zealand.

Cheers,
Julian

Hello,

That restriction to set routes in Rathambore sounds like it could put a real cramp in any game-viewing -- I certainly hope this won't be the case in the reserves where the CCA camps will be. I doubt it will be a problem because if it was, CCA wouldn't have agreed to run their camps there -- it goes completely against the CCA philosophy of game viewing.

I'd certainly like to see other Indian wildlife as well as the tigers -- leopards, other jungle cats, and wild dogs would be high on my list!

Cheers,
Julian

Julian, until I renew my passport (in April 2007), I won't be able to visit Libya, Lebanon or Syria. I have an Israeli stamp from my visit in 1998.

Round trip ticket from New York to NZ is less than $1,500, which is not bad. Also, I would do a stopover in Tahiti on one or both ends of that trip.

Hi Michael,

Oops -- too bad about the Israeli stamp. I thought people avoided them by getting a piece of paper inserted in their passport stamped. I believe you can renew your passport early if you want to.

Seriously, check out the cost of a RTW ticket -- you may be surprised. I've seen RTW tickets for about the price for your roundtrip to NZ.

Cheers,
Julian

Julian, I'm looking for shortest, not cheapest, ticket. I have done two RTW trips for business, and while fun, its much shorter for me to go directly to NZ and back. These were my two RTW trips and its a lot of time in the plane:

1. NY -> San Francisco -> Honolulu -> Jakarta -> Sydney -> Uluru (sidetrip) -> Sydney -> London -> Warsaw -> NY

2. NY -> Mumbai -> HK -> Melbourne (for Australian Open on way home) -> LA -> NY

Hi Michael,

That IS a lot of time on a plane! My time on planes is always my least favourite part of any trip, so I completely agree -- if money is not an issue, go with the shorter trip. Your idea of breaking up the trip with a stopover in Asia will also help lessen the pain.

If a lot of time in the air is unavoidable, splurging for business or at least Premium Economy on one leg can make the time pass much more swiftly.

Cheers,
Julian

Julian,

The Indian wild dogs are more common in the Southern parks.....Mudumallai, Nagarahole, Kabini etc etc., Closer to where i live in Tamil Nadu. Must definitely look me up.......keep me posted

You can now go to the CCAfrica website at www.ccafrica.com for their storyline of the tie up with taj hotels here in India.

Hope to see most africa addicted fodorites here in India in the near future....

Hari

Hello,

An update has been posted on the CCA Wildwatch website about the progress on the lodges in India,

http://www.ccafrica.com/newsletters/...r_feb2006a.htm

Cheers,
Julian

Thanks Julian........OCT 15,....i will ensure i go chk it out opening wkend.....

However, i expect tiger sightings to get better as we get into Nov, Dec and into Jan and Feb.....October may not be best....

Hari

Hi Hari,

Would you mind dropping me an email? I have a few questions about game-viewing in India.

Cheers,
Julian

Julian,

I saw on a posting that you and Rocco have started a travel business together. Does this mean that you have dropped your medical practice as a neuro-ophthalmolohgist?

Thanks,
Jack