Off to India Safari in a few days time...
Oct 14th, 2006, 10:24 AM
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Off to India Safari in a few days time...
I do know this is the Africa forum but a number of you expressed interest in my upcoming wildlife trip to India so I thought I'd post here.
Itinerary is as follows:
Fly London to Delhi overnight
Afternoon at leisure and overnight Delhi
Fly and drive to Kaziranga (3 nt)
Drive and fly to Bharatpur (2 nt)
Drive and overnight train to Umaria (for Bandhavgarh)
Bandhavgarh (5 nt)
Drive and overnight train to Roorkee
Roorkee (3 nt)
Drive to Delhi (2 nt)
Fly Delhi to London
We originally planned this trip to attend my cousin's wedding - since we couldn't afford trips to both India and Africa (to take a safari holiday, as we'd hoped to do) we decided to incorporate the safari into this trip instead. Some of you will be aware that the wedding was first rescheduled and then cancelled but by that point we were locked into the trip so we're going anyway.
Whilst I'm sure (hoping?) we'll have a great trip, there is still a part of me that's fighting against disappointment that we're missing an opportunity to go on safari in Africa (last trip was in 2004) when there's now no wedding to motivate it but... I hope I'll return with some positive feedback (and photos) and will certainly let you know how it went.
Itinerary is as follows:
Fly London to Delhi overnight
Afternoon at leisure and overnight Delhi
Fly and drive to Kaziranga (3 nt)
Drive and fly to Bharatpur (2 nt)
Drive and overnight train to Umaria (for Bandhavgarh)
Bandhavgarh (5 nt)
Drive and overnight train to Roorkee
Roorkee (3 nt)
Drive to Delhi (2 nt)
Fly Delhi to London
We originally planned this trip to attend my cousin's wedding - since we couldn't afford trips to both India and Africa (to take a safari holiday, as we'd hoped to do) we decided to incorporate the safari into this trip instead. Some of you will be aware that the wedding was first rescheduled and then cancelled but by that point we were locked into the trip so we're going anyway.
Whilst I'm sure (hoping?) we'll have a great trip, there is still a part of me that's fighting against disappointment that we're missing an opportunity to go on safari in Africa (last trip was in 2004) when there's now no wedding to motivate it but... I hope I'll return with some positive feedback (and photos) and will certainly let you know how it went.
Oct 14th, 2006, 02:53 PM
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Oh I know that safari technically just means a journey but to me it will always mean a wildlife holiday in Africa!
And I know this India itinerary is nothing to be sneezed at AND I am hoping it will be magnificent but... the hope to get back to Africa this year had been soooo strong and now I just don't know when it might be. Certainly I'll be needing help from you kind folk to plan a low budget trip for next year since finances are more strapped at the moment than they were before our last trip!
But I am excited about the rhinos and tigers in particular and looking forward to seeing my family over there again (though I saw many in April) and I'm sure we'll have a good trip!
Got to pack over the next few days as I've managed to keep putting it off!!!
And I know this India itinerary is nothing to be sneezed at AND I am hoping it will be magnificent but... the hope to get back to Africa this year had been soooo strong and now I just don't know when it might be. Certainly I'll be needing help from you kind folk to plan a low budget trip for next year since finances are more strapped at the moment than they were before our last trip!
But I am excited about the rhinos and tigers in particular and looking forward to seeing my family over there again (though I saw many in April) and I'm sure we'll have a good trip!
Got to pack over the next few days as I've managed to keep putting it off!!!
Oct 14th, 2006, 03:13 PM
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Have a great trip Kavey! I can't wait to see what incredible photos you get (as you ALWAYS do!), one just may have to join Tomboy on the wall.....
And, as we will be going next year I can't wait to read all about it!
Banhavgarh is the resort you went before isn't it?
And, as we will be going next year I can't wait to read all about it!
Banhavgarh is the resort you went before isn't it?
Oct 14th, 2006, 04:38 PM
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I think this all happened when you were in Africa, Imelda - I have had a penpal in India since I was eight (a VERY long time ago...). We have kept in touch all these years, and have met a few times. Her son, who is the same age as my son, came to university over here, in Seattle - about 3 hrs south of us. He has been here ever since, about 10 years now. He more or less became my 'second' son (I have a few of those...). He is getting married back in India in Dec 2007 - my goal is to work hard enough this year to get Jim and myself, as well as my son Jamie, and his girlfriend over there for the wedding!
We have been once before, but Jamie and Laura haven't so we must show them a good time - and tigers is HIGH on my list as that is somewhere we didn't go on our last trip. And besides, tigers are animals and animals rank first in my books!
The resort that Kavey went to last year looks INCREDIBLE!
We have been once before, but Jamie and Laura haven't so we must show them a good time - and tigers is HIGH on my list as that is somewhere we didn't go on our last trip. And besides, tigers are animals and animals rank first in my books!
The resort that Kavey went to last year looks INCREDIBLE!
Oct 15th, 2006, 03:08 AM
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Thanks everyone!
Lynda, in April I went to Ranthambore not Bandhavgarh and was lucky enough to stay in Vanya Vilas - I attended the Festival of Wildlife organised by Wildlife Worldwide where they took over the entire Vanya Vilas resort! It was fabulous.
I was INCREDIBLY lucky with my tiger sightings - not only did I see them on every drive I made but one (and that one my jeep buddies and I all asked for a focus on birds and other animals) but I had some truly magnificent sightings too - extended, close up sightings of active tigers! Unfortunately, I was so emotional and so excited I didn't shoot photos of the best sighting until the best bit was over (though, nor did the professional photographers in the jeep with me so I felt better) and on the other particularly good sighting I was shaking with excitement and the photos are blurred - I still love them but they aren't any good to share!!!
Given that poaching in the last couple of years has reduced the Ranthambore tiger population from over 40 (a slow, laborious increase down to conservation efforts over the last few decades) back down to 14 or so individuals, I was extremely lucky to see tigers at all let alone to see 4 different individuals.
Wayne, I'm a digital girl so no film at all but LOTS of storage space so will no doubt take lots of photos!
Speaking of pics, I finally processed some of my Galapagos ones a month or two back - I haven't loaded them to any private site but you can see some of them on Alamy using this link or searching on "favelle galapagos" if you'd like to:
http://tinyurl.com/y5h3w6
Lynda, in April I went to Ranthambore not Bandhavgarh and was lucky enough to stay in Vanya Vilas - I attended the Festival of Wildlife organised by Wildlife Worldwide where they took over the entire Vanya Vilas resort! It was fabulous.
I was INCREDIBLY lucky with my tiger sightings - not only did I see them on every drive I made but one (and that one my jeep buddies and I all asked for a focus on birds and other animals) but I had some truly magnificent sightings too - extended, close up sightings of active tigers! Unfortunately, I was so emotional and so excited I didn't shoot photos of the best sighting until the best bit was over (though, nor did the professional photographers in the jeep with me so I felt better) and on the other particularly good sighting I was shaking with excitement and the photos are blurred - I still love them but they aren't any good to share!!!
Given that poaching in the last couple of years has reduced the Ranthambore tiger population from over 40 (a slow, laborious increase down to conservation efforts over the last few decades) back down to 14 or so individuals, I was extremely lucky to see tigers at all let alone to see 4 different individuals.
Wayne, I'm a digital girl so no film at all but LOTS of storage space so will no doubt take lots of photos!
Speaking of pics, I finally processed some of my Galapagos ones a month or two back - I haven't loaded them to any private site but you can see some of them on Alamy using this link or searching on "favelle galapagos" if you'd like to:
http://tinyurl.com/y5h3w6
Oct 15th, 2006, 06:41 AM
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Kavey, please post all the details of your trip to India. I am planning a visit to India next year in conjunction with our trip to East Africa. No safari though, just to visit family. Since we will be travelling Emirates I knew my family wouldnt forgive me if we didnt fly the extra two or three hours to visit them.
I know ccafrica is building some lodges there and would love to visit during a future trip. Have done the southern resorts Kabini, Periyar Madumalai in the past.
I know ccafrica is building some lodges there and would love to visit during a future trip. Have done the southern resorts Kabini, Periyar Madumalai in the past.
Oct 15th, 2006, 07:18 AM
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Emdee
I did look into staying at one of the CCAfrica new properties but they were asking $600 per person per night for a lodge that would have been open only a matter of days before our stay - knowing India I just doubt that the experience within those first few days when there will be teething problems, staff training issues on so on would match my expectations for such a high budget. And anyway, our finances aren't great at the moment so we're doing this trip on a lower budget. As I mentioned above, I did stay for 4 nights at Vanya Vilas in Ranthambore and that was just fantastic. The accommodation is just beautiful, the service is excellent though a touch TOO obsequious for my preferences, the food is absolutely excellent and the Banyan Tree Spa is just wonderful too.
On this trip we're staying at Wild Grass Lodge in Kaziranga, Laxmi Vilas Palace in Bharatpur and Tiger Trails in Bandhavgarh (where we're kindly being upgraded to one of their new deluxe cottages).
I did look into staying at one of the CCAfrica new properties but they were asking $600 per person per night for a lodge that would have been open only a matter of days before our stay - knowing India I just doubt that the experience within those first few days when there will be teething problems, staff training issues on so on would match my expectations for such a high budget. And anyway, our finances aren't great at the moment so we're doing this trip on a lower budget. As I mentioned above, I did stay for 4 nights at Vanya Vilas in Ranthambore and that was just fantastic. The accommodation is just beautiful, the service is excellent though a touch TOO obsequious for my preferences, the food is absolutely excellent and the Banyan Tree Spa is just wonderful too.
On this trip we're staying at Wild Grass Lodge in Kaziranga, Laxmi Vilas Palace in Bharatpur and Tiger Trails in Bandhavgarh (where we're kindly being upgraded to one of their new deluxe cottages).
Oct 15th, 2006, 07:23 AM
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India is AMAZING!
To see a Tiger in the wild...I was lucky enough to see one jump in the water and swim. My favorite park was KANA. You will enjoy yourself big time ...just know it's not like Africa-the animals are few & far between. But when a Tiger comes out-WOW! We went to India twice and as everyone knows I have africa in my blood-In Southern India for 3 weeks we never saw another American . [So much to see in India outside of the jungles too -and Nepal is really close by-Tiger Tops]- thomas
To see a Tiger in the wild...I was lucky enough to see one jump in the water and swim. My favorite park was KANA. You will enjoy yourself big time ...just know it's not like Africa-the animals are few & far between. But when a Tiger comes out-WOW! We went to India twice and as everyone knows I have africa in my blood-In Southern India for 3 weeks we never saw another American . [So much to see in India outside of the jungles too -and Nepal is really close by-Tiger Tops]- thomas
Oct 15th, 2006, 07:57 AM
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Thomas, yes I know it's not like Africa - in so many ways... I've been many times to India though only on my last trip in April did I go on a wildlife trip.
Sadly, Indians often ask themselves why their wildlife doesn't attract visitors in the same numbers as Africa's but they fail to really look for and then accept the reasons why: bureaucracy is often crazy and actually the rules often serve to make things worse rather than improve them - for example, many Indian parks insist that drivers/ jeeps follow set routes around the park that are assigned to each car/ driver for each day. That makes sense and it's intention is to ensure that visitors are distributed evenly and not overrunning the areas where wildlife has been most recently spotted. However, the rules also insist that each driver completes the entire circuit of his assigned route in the allotted time despite the fact that some are far too long for the time slot. If the driver is even 10 minutes late out of the park he can lose both his vehicle and his license, indeed I know several drivers were suspended for this reason during my own visit to Ranthambore. The length of these circuits means that one can seldom stop for more than a minute or two at an interesting sighting and also that one has to race around the park at high speeds (not conducive to either wildlife viewing or particularly good for the animals or environment) in order to get out in time. Of course, corruption is so high in India, it's hard to really appreciate how bad this is, how prevalent in every facet of India, and this impacts on a visit too - some drivers can bypass the rules above if they have the right person in their pay and so on. Corruption also means that even those officials working for wildlife conservation groups can easily be persuaded to turn a blind eye to poaching. Whilst this problem exists elsewhere, India takes it to new levels.
I love India, it's the country my parents were born in and I have always enjoyed visiting it over the years. And it has many many wonderful aspects and there is much Western countries can learn from it. But it also has a tendency to underplay the seriousness of the corruption and other issues which continue to blight many facets.
Sadly, Indians often ask themselves why their wildlife doesn't attract visitors in the same numbers as Africa's but they fail to really look for and then accept the reasons why: bureaucracy is often crazy and actually the rules often serve to make things worse rather than improve them - for example, many Indian parks insist that drivers/ jeeps follow set routes around the park that are assigned to each car/ driver for each day. That makes sense and it's intention is to ensure that visitors are distributed evenly and not overrunning the areas where wildlife has been most recently spotted. However, the rules also insist that each driver completes the entire circuit of his assigned route in the allotted time despite the fact that some are far too long for the time slot. If the driver is even 10 minutes late out of the park he can lose both his vehicle and his license, indeed I know several drivers were suspended for this reason during my own visit to Ranthambore. The length of these circuits means that one can seldom stop for more than a minute or two at an interesting sighting and also that one has to race around the park at high speeds (not conducive to either wildlife viewing or particularly good for the animals or environment) in order to get out in time. Of course, corruption is so high in India, it's hard to really appreciate how bad this is, how prevalent in every facet of India, and this impacts on a visit too - some drivers can bypass the rules above if they have the right person in their pay and so on. Corruption also means that even those officials working for wildlife conservation groups can easily be persuaded to turn a blind eye to poaching. Whilst this problem exists elsewhere, India takes it to new levels.
I love India, it's the country my parents were born in and I have always enjoyed visiting it over the years. And it has many many wonderful aspects and there is much Western countries can learn from it. But it also has a tendency to underplay the seriousness of the corruption and other issues which continue to blight many facets.
