India Wildlife Expedition Trip Report!
 

Just discovered Fodor's forums and thought I would post a few of my trip reports. Here is a trip report of a recent trip that you all may enjoy - especially the nature and ecotravel enthusiasts out there! Would love to hear your comments and questions. Enjoy!

http://cokesmithphototravel.com/Expe...ndia_2011.html

fab pics....thanks

Thank you for sharing these beautiful pictures. They are really professional photos. Wonder why more people haven't responded. It's always disappointing to share and not get a response. Please know your efforts in sharing are appreciated.

Lovely pics....thanks for sharing.

I'm really interested in your experience in Assam, as we did the planning for an Assam trip, then switched our destination to Sikkim (which we loved).

Hi Kathie - was your switch due to wildlife potential?

No words to describe it - just amazingly outstanding.....I have never done a wildlife expedition in India - now inspired by what you have seen, this one jumps onto my to do lists.....someday not in the very distant future

Wonderful report and amazing photos. Have bookmarked your site for our trip (at long last) to India. Would like to use your travel company for part of our trip since wildlife will just be a part of our "cultural" trip. Love the happenings on your train trip. Much of the best part of travel happens by chance when getting to know other travelers. I will try to make some of your wife's super recipes.

cokesmith, no, our switch was for cultural reasons. Assam is still on our list and I expect we'll get there in the next few years.

Elainee - you will be very happy with Wild World India. Tell them "Coke" sent you! They do cultural tours as well, so I am thinking that their same high level of service and quality would do well in that area as well. Best wishes!

Wow, what a trip. Amazing.

Wow indeed. You've answered my question before I could ask. I've just discovered the pleasures of viewing Asian wildlife in Sri Lanka, and am now giving India strong consideration. Thanks for posting.

Wow. Unbelievable photos. Now I know what my next trip to India will be! Thank you for sharing these very inspiring images.

And I just discovered your report. Wish I had earlier when you posted because I just got back from a fabulous Wild World India trip.

While there I told them about Fodors, of which they were unaware, and they checked it out and told me about "Coke's" report and what a good job you did. Naturally I came looking when I got home.

You had one amazing trip with some unique destinations. Great sightings everywhere! How do I tastefully commend you on your ass photos? Really, all nonsense aside, those are stunning with great light. Your birds too and the very striking blackbuck shots, wow! And of course the tigers--you captured their images brilliantly. What an excellent photographer you are and obviously you were in the right places at the right time. Which brings up my question of why you chose Dec 18 - Jan 9 and what you encountered in the way of holiday crowds?

Thanks, Coke! Your report and photos will inspire many to visit India for wildlife and they remind me that I need to get cracking on a report.

Elainee, while there, I was talking with Wild World India about cultural excursions and they can plan a personalized itinerary for that too. They told me that some of their clients spend weeks immersed in the cultural aspects of India. The Delhi and Agra portions of my trip were great.

Welcome back Lynn! Now get cracking!!!!!

Thanks for taking a look at the report, Lynn! Glad to know that the fellows from WWI found the trip report here - they certainly deserve the plug!

Spectacular report! Really enjoyed seeing all the fab pictures!

I took the liberty of putting a link to your report within mine (which as of this moment is a work in progress) to show how a trip during the one of the busiest times when foliage is at its thickest can be a wild success!

Your pictures are amazing. I really want to go on a wildlife trip to India but I am very concerned as I have read a lot of negatives about the National Parks and how crowded and crazy and really disrespectful of the animals they are. I think that would really bother me but do you have any recommendations to Parks that were better than others. We are thinking about Sri Lanka for next year but seeing those tiger pictures really make me want to go India. We are on our way to Madagascar in September and our looking for our next wildlife destination after that trip.

Atravelynn - thanks for linking the report. Perhaps more people will read it!

Ihgreenacres - some of what you mention are true. The parks in India can be extremely crowded at times and there were incidents on the trip where disrespect of the animals did appear to be a factor. But the majority of our sightings were pretty good ones with few or no others around. We had some outstanding guides to be sure and they knew what we wanted and did a great job giving us amazing experiences. Timing can be a major factor for the crowds. I was told May is good. Fall is less crowded too. We were there in the peak of the peak seasons but we did manage some outstanding sightings and quality adventures...

Best of luck in Madagascar - here is our trip report from that amazing island!

http://cokesmithphototravel.com/Madagascar.html

Sri Lanka is high on our list as well. I hear the wildlife can be good there too.

Your trip report on Madagascar was incredible. It makes me want to going now but Ocotber will be here quickly. Your pictures are absolutely amazing. The lemurs look like they are posing for the camera. We have a good itinerary planned so I am hopeful that the travel will not be too difficult. As you seem to have travelled to so many amazing wildlife destinations, do you have a top two or three that really stand out. Have you been to Borneo? That is definitely in my top three list.

hi Greenacres,

We do try hard to see the critters in their natural environment and in good light (;-)) Here is our Borneo trip report:

http://cokesmithphototravel.com/Expe...to_Borneo.html

As far at the three that stand out, I would have to say that the Pantanal, various sites in Africa and now China are our high points. We've been living in China now for the past year and have been hiting it hard for wildlife. It's been hard work but we've actually been fairly successful with some amazingly rare species like pandas and gibbons, etc... Check out our China sites too:

http://cokesmithphototravel.com/Our_...Adventure.html

Cheers,

coke

Where are your Africa favorites? We have visited Uganda and Tanzania where we able to see the river crossings on the Mara river which was a once in a lifetime experience. The gorillas were absolutely the best but Ugamda not as much. We have also visited the Pantanal and loved it. Were you in the Southern or Northern Part of the Pantanal? That is one place I would really Like to go back to see again.

OK, I think that I have decided that you have been to more places and seen more wildlife then anyone. I looked through your travelogue and it is absolutely astounding. I thought the we got to travel a lot but you are In a league of your own. As you can tell I am extremely envious and really want to know how you have managed to do so much traveling. Did you win the California lottery? I am from California and keep hoping but not yet. I also am extremely impressed with your son. These days it is often difficult to get children to do anything that is not electronic related. I have a hard time getting my niece and nephew to do a short hike in the local mountains. Your trip to see the panda was something that I do not think I could ever do. What an experience and to capture with a photograph is incredible. Where do you go when you have been everywhere?

As far as disrespect for the wildlife, a couple of times I thought the elephants in the tiger shows were very close to the tigers. I even asked to back up and felt comfortable doing that since I was alone on the elepant and would not cheat any other guest out of close views. But I don't know how close is typical. I also was pleased that the elephant in Bandhavgarh arrived to find a sleeping tiger and we left it that way. No attempt to wake it up or disturb it.

The behavior of people in the vehicles was fine with respect to the tigers from what I saw. Sometimes jockeying for position meant somebody's head might be in your way for a few seconds.

I had expected something far worse than what I experienced. Maybe I was just lucky.

Lhgreenacre's comment about your son is a good one. I was impressed with Coke Jr's enthusiasm for nature. What wonderful opportunities he has enjoyed and hopefully more to come!

Perhaps you have already been, but is the largest mammal migration in the world on your list? I am referring to the fruit bats in Zambia. A sky blackened with flying fruit bats somehow appeals to me. How about you?

Another unusual congregation that intrigues me is the red sided garter snakes in Manitoba that emerge from their holes right about now, in May and then slither back in on Oct. That's in Narcisse, Manitoba in Canada.

Like lhgreenacres, I am curious as to what is next for you?

Yes - basically the tiger shows were the only areas that bordered on disrespect for the animals. But generally it was better in India than what I have seen here in China.

I agree - my little son has an amazing attitude about all of the travel and hardships involved. He never complains and is always game for whatever we have planned. And his so fit that he can keep up with even the most strenuous activity with no difficulty whatsoever. I have never seen any kid like him honestly. But it is all he has ever known. We don't have video games in the house (although we don't ban them - if he wants one, he needs to earn the money and get it for himself....so far, he still likes Star Trek stuff...). but adventure travel is as much as passion for him (and his mom thannk god!) as it is for me. He is always asking "what's our next trip, dad?"

I wish I had won the lottery! My travelogue would be a thousand pages longer ;-)! Just a lot of budget travel and a lot of putting eggs only in the travel basket basically. I did own an ecotour operation for a number of years (La Selva Expeditions) and that took me to a great deal of destinations I could have never have afforded to travel to myself... That lasted until 9-11 when it basically went the way of the dodo...

There are still so many places I want to get to. There are several of my older expeditions that I want to repeat with my family too. Here are some of my "must-get-to-before-I-croak" destinations:

Central African Republic - lowland gorillas and others
Ethiopia (again to do it right this time)
Paraguay - Chaco region mainly
Bolivia - again but to get more time on the Altiplano
West Africa - too many primates there not to get there!I was there before but not with wildlife as a priority...
Gabon
East Brazil - for some of the savanna and Atlantic rainforest species

And many others....

Next? Not sure really. We will be in Thailand all summer but no real expedition plans yet. Although the topic of trying to get to the babirusa forests of Sulawesi was brought up...

Cheers!

Oh yah - and the bat explosion in Zambia does sound amazing too- I saw a special on it a couple months back...and the snakes in Manitoba too. Too many things for just one lifetime!!!

La Selva was Central and South America, right? The name rang a bell right away. You have recovered nicely from the demise of your business based on your recent travels. But I'm sure there were some rough times in the interim.

With a list like that you'll have plenty of answers when your son asks, "What's our next trip, Dad?"

By the time he is an adult the only new destination for your son may be outer space!

So sorry for the long delay - just got back home in Shanghai. La Selva Lodge is what you are thinking about. Same name but no connection actually. I've been to the lodge and it's wonderful.

Hello,

I am planning a trip to India starting this August. Would be concentrating on the national parks in India, especially Bandhavgarh National Park, Ranthambore and Corbett. I have booked with the wildflower resort at Bandhavgarh ( www.wildflowerresort.in ) based on recommendation by a friend who had stayed here earlier. However the wildflower resort and also other hotels in bandhavgarh have informed me that forest jeep safaris bookings have still not opened for coming October. The safari charges are also mentioned on any travel forums. Even the government portal is silent about the charges. Please advise.

Regards,
Eugene

Amazing photographs. I can surely says that you did lots of hard work n patience.