DAY 1
Upon your arrival at New Delhi International Airport, our Indian wildlife guide Pradeep, who speaks fluent English, and Marie, your French tour companion, will welcome you at Terminal 2. At 9:35 AM, we will take a 1 hour and 45-minute flight to Nagpur, the starting point of our adventure.
Once we land, a private vehicle will be ready to transfer us to the Tadoba Jungle Camp, a luxury eco-lodge where we will stay throughout the journey. The drive will take approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes, with a stop along the way for a delicious local lunch.
Upon arrival at the camp, you will settle into your luxury cottages, followed by a delightful dinner. The camp offers full board accommodation with excellent amenities, including a swimming pool, a beautiful tropical garden, and a water feature where our friendly resident geese, Anju and Manju, live.
The Tadoba Jungle Camp is ideally located, just 5 to 15 minutes away from the gates of the Tadoba Tiger Reserve, one of the best wildlife reserves in India for tiger sightings.
Enjoy dining on the panoramic terrace of the restaurant, where you’ll be served delicious meals blending Indian and international cuisine. During your stay, you may be lucky enough to see wild animals roaming near the terrace, including cheetals (Indian deer), along with a variety of exotic birds and colorful butterflies.
Day 2
Tadoba Safari: Sunrise Adventure with Tigers and Leopards
Start your day early with a delicious masala chai before we set off at 6 AM for our first safari. As the sun rises over Tadoba Lake, the mist blankets the jungle, and the forest comes alive with sounds of the wildlife awakening. Some animals venture into the sun to warm up, while others return from hunting to find a safe place to rest for the day.
Focus on Big Cats: Leopards and Tigers
Beauty & Blacky, the two melanistic leopards, along with spotted leopards, and four tigresses with their cubs, dominate this part of the jungle.
Beauty is a 2-year-old melanistic female leopard, known for her elusive nature, while Blacky is a 7-year-old male melanistic leopard with an enigmatic gaze and a coat that reveals spots (rosettes) in the sunlight. Both leopards have grown accustomed to the sounds of jeeps and humans in their shared territory, spanning Moharli, Teliya Lake, Junona, Mudholi, Khutwanda, and Tadoba Lake, alongside other spotted leopards.
This area is also home to tigresses like Sonan with her 6-month-old cubs, Roman with two 14-month-old cubs, and Bubbly and Biliss, each raising three cubs. These tigresses nurture their young, who stay with them until the age of two. Their territories are well-known, and daily protection by rangers ensures safety, offering great opportunities for tiger sightings, observation, and photography.
After spending the morning exploring the red dirt roads of the park, we will return to the lodge by 10:30 AM for breakfast and lunch, followed by a brief rest.
At 2 PM, we head out again, continuing our search for big cats and other wildlife. Tadoba is also rich in dholes (wild dogs that hunt in packs), sloth bears, and jackals.
Wild Herbivores and Birdwatching Paradise
On the trails, we may come across cheetals (spotted deer), sambars, barking deer, nilgai (blue bulls), and gaurs (Indian bison). The water bodies are frequented by a wide variety of birds, making Tadoba a true birdwatcher’s paradise.
This experience feels like stepping into The Jungle Book with monkeys like macaques and langurs performing their playful antics. They will sound their famous alarm calls at the sight of any predator, giving us hints of a nearby big cat.
We’ll take advantage of the golden light at sunset for more photography, capturing the beautiful sunset over Tadoba Lake, before returning to the lodge around 6:30 PM for tea and a light snack.
At 7 PM, there will be a wildlife documentary screening for those interested. You can also relax in the garden by the firepit, enjoying a cold beer or other drinks (alcohol is permitted in this state but not included). This will be the perfect moment to share stories, photos, and impressions of the day before we enjoy dinner.
Day 3 to 11
Exploring the Untamed Ecosystem of Tadoba
After enjoying our morning tea, we will set off at dawn to traverse the pathways of this stunning, untouched ecosystem. The environment is rich with bamboo, teak, ain, bina, haldus, and towering trees known as “ghost trees” due to their striking white bark.
The bamboo and teak dominate the dry deciduous tropical flora of this gem in Vidharbha, where the Andhari River meanders through the forest, providing sustenance for a wide variety of wildlife.
Throughout these days, you will experience the vibrant beauty of this habitat, with opportunities for wildlife sightings, guided by our expert naturalists who will share their knowledge of the local flora and fauna.
Meals will be provided at the lodge, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner, where you can relax and share stories of your adventures before resting for the night.
Day 12
Journey to Pench National Park
We will depart early in the morning for Pench National Park, located straddling the border of Madhya Pradesh and neighboring Maharashtra, near the town of Seoni. We will travel 250 km to reach the Pench Jungle Camp.
A picnic lunch will be provided along the way, allowing you to enjoy the scenic views.
In the afternoon, we will embark on a safari in this new park, which is part of the Project Tiger initiative led by the Indian government. The park recently welcomed a young black leopard, adding an exciting element to our adventure.
We will return to the lodge by 6 PM for a delightful dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 13 to 16
Safari Adventures in Pench National Park
After enjoying a warm cup of tea, our jeep will take us to the park gates for a morning safari in search of big cats. In this teak-dominated forest, we will encounter a high concentration of herbivores and other wildlife typical of India.
We will return to the lodge by 10:30 AM for breakfast, followed by some relaxation and lunch.
At 3 PM, we will head back into the park for a second safari of the day. Pench is home to numerous jackals, dholes (Asian wild dogs), leopards, and a recently arrived 2-year-old melanistic leopard (black panther), making it a perfect sanctuary for wildlife enthusiasts.
This schedule will be followed for the entire duration of our five-day stay.
Day 17
Departure from Nagpur
After breakfast, we will depart for the airport in a private transfer to Nagpur. From there, we will take a connecting flight via Delhi, departing at 5:20 PM and arriving in the capital at 7:10 PM.
You will have your last evening free to relax and reflect on your incredible journey. Your international return flight marks the end of this unforgettable adventure.
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