Tiger Holidays in India

Introduction

Whilst there are various destinations for tiger watching holidays, India is undoubtedly the best choice and within India there are a wide range of locations to experience tigers in their natural habitat. Its game viewing is second to none with superb guides and excellent wildlife.

The best time to view tigers is during the winter months of October to April, and there are so many options to choose from that we welcome you to contact us to discuss them without obligation. Options include types of accommodation, size of groups, commerciality of the experience, methods of travel to see the tigers, and more.

We find that many clients also want to combine tiger watching with enjoying other aspects of India as part of the same holiday. This is where Medway Travel excel because we don't provide a standard package holiday - instead, we listen to your wishes and then provide you with options to match those wishes and your budget. 

The Tiger is the national animal of India, with a total population of around 3,800. Whilst tiger sightings are never guaranteed, Medway Travel can provide you with an extensive range of superb holiday options to include as much Tiger viewing as you wish. Whether you prefer to travel as part of an escorted group tour or completely independently, we can offer the ideal holiday solution by tailor-making a personal itinerary just for you.

Tiger viewing holidays to India work perfectly as part of a multi-centre holiday. As well as the country’s array of outstanding wildlife, India also boasts spectacular landscapes, stunning beach resorts and an expanse of cultural and historical sites. The Golden Triangle of Jaipur, Delhi and Agra lends itself as an ideal extension to a game viewing holiday in the central region of the country.

Wherever you wish to visit and whatever you wish to do, our experienced consultants will be delighted to listen to your ideas and research into offering the best options for you. 

Overview

There are a number of excellent parks in which to see Tigers and we have listed some of them below…

Pench National Park

Pench National park, nestling in the lower southern reaches of the Satpuda hills is named after Pench River, meandering through the park from north to south. It is located on the southern boundary of Madhya Pradesh, bordering Maharashtra.

The 758 square kilometres of the park and its neighbourhood was the original setting of Rudyard Kipling's most famous work, The Jungle Book. The area has always been rich in wildlife. It is dominated by fairly open canopy; mixed forests with considerable shrub cover and open grassy patches.

The Park is especially famous for large herds of Gaur (Indian Bison), Cheetal, Sambar, Nilgai, Wild Dog and Wild Pig. The key predator is the Tiger followed by Leopard, Wild Dog and Wolf. Other animals include Sloth Bear, Chousingha, Chinkara, Barking Deer, Jackal, Fox, Palm Civet, Small Indian Civet, Jungle Cat, Hyena, Porcupine etc.

Kanha National Park

Kanha Tiger Reserve extends over 1900 square kilometres and is one of the largest reserves in India. Set on a plateau in the Maikal hills, the reserve is well known for its Swamp Deer – the protection for which Kanha National Park was established.

Kanha’s vast meadows are well suited to tiger viewing and as such, the Park is known for being one of the best places in the world for sightings of this awesome creature.

Besides Tigers, visitors can also look out for Gaur, Wild Boar, Common Langur, Asiatic Jackal, and perhaps even Leopard.

Bandhavgarh National Park

In recent years, Bandhavgarh, set in the Vindhya Hills of Madhya Pradesh, has earnt itself a well-deserved reputation for being one of the best locations for consistent Tiger sightings. Cautious management of the park makes certain that Bandhavgarh is an idyllic sanctuary for the Tigers, whilst offering its visitors a picturesque and tranquil setting for an encounter with the most magnificent big cat to grace the planet.

Other mammals found here include Chital, Sambar, Muntjac, Nilgai, Chinkara, Chowsingha, Wild Boar, Leopard and Dhole. Birdlife also abounds with over 275 species of bird including hornbills, orioles, parakeets, peacocks, and eagles.

Corbett National Park

India’s first National Park was set up in 1936, and was described by Rudyard Kipling as a primal jungle. Corbett has been a haunt for wildlife lovers and nature enthusiasts for many years, and was the first Park to join the Project Tiger Initiative, which strives to protect the endangered species from extinction.

Leopard, elephant and deer also inhabit the Park, which hosts 50 species of mammals, 25 of reptiles and over 580 of birds. Other visitor sightings include jungle cat, fishing cat, sloth bear, Himalayan black bear, dhole, jackal, yellow throated marten, Himalayan palm civet, Indian grey mongoose, common otter and porcupine.

Ranthambore National Park

Ranthambore National Park is situated in the Sawai Madhopur District of Rajasthan state. There are many ruins of bygone eras scattered all over the jungle, which give it a unique, wonderful and mixed flavour of nature, history and wildlife. It is Tigers hunting in full view of human visitors to Ranthambore National Park is not unheard of, and these tigers are famous for being seen in the daytime too, due to their lack of fear of human presence in vehicles. This lack of fear of humans is excellent for visitors, as they get to see the tigers often.

As well as Tigers, the Park’s population also consists of Hyenas, Deer, Macaques, Jackals, Sloth Bears, Wild Boar, Longeared Hedgehogs, and Mongoose. 

 

Useful Information  

India is 5 ½ hours ahead of GMT, and flights from Heathrow to Delhi take a little over 8 hours, with British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Jet Airways offering a direct service.

The Indian currency is known as the Rupee. Changing money in India can be a tedious process so it is suggested that you change a substantial amount at one time. It is advised that you check with your Doctor for the latest information about health requirements when visiting India.

Visitors to the National Parks will view wildlife in shared jeeps, on elephant back or by boat.

Each National Park offers visitors a choice of accommodation options, ranging from safari-style tents in jungle camps, to cottages and lodges in luxury nature hideouts. Whatever your preferences, tastes and interests, please share your wishes with us when you enquire.

Travel within India is often by train, road or air. No visitor to India should leave without experiencing a train ride, as this is the perfect way to witness the country and is an experience in itself! 

A basic holiday package starts from £1,695 per person based upon two people sharing.

You can also combine your wildlife experience with rest and relaxation at one of a number of India's beach resorts, a journey onboard one of the Railways of India, or sightseeing in the Golden Triangle of Agra, Delhi and Jaipur. 

 

Essential Information

Weather

The best time to travel to India for wildlife viewing is in the cooler, winter months between October and March. March to June can be dry and extremely hot, while June to September is monsoon season.

Passports and Visas

Passports are required to be valid for a minimum of six months from the date you apply for your visa to India. Your passport must also be valid for at least six months from the date of your arrival in India.
You must obtain a visa before travelling to India; without one you will be refused entry. Medway Travel will be pleased to assist you in obtaining a visa.

Health

For up-to-date health advice for India, please consult your GP.

Insurance

We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions from the policy, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake whilst on holiday. Medway Travel can provide you with a quote for this – please contact a member of the Leisure team for further details.

Testimonials

Mel,

Apologies for the delay in replying to your earlier 'Welcome home' email - I have been swamped at work since returning from India.

We had the most amazing holiday and saw so many  incredible things  that we were almost overwhelmed.  I attach a sample of the over 500 photos we took( I am sure you will have seen pictures like these many time, but they are special to us !!)

Generally the arrangements worked exceptionally well - there was a glitch when we were handed our travel documents at Nagpur and we noticed the day sightseeing in Delhi had been missed off - however a couple of phone calls from Pench and all was resolved and all was fine.

The accommodation generally was very good - Tiger Trails at Bandhavgarh was probably the worst, while Pench, Agra and Delhi were outstanding - the agents you use in Agra were first class - the best guide, driver etc and also the most helpful.

Some of our experiences were never to be forgotten - our first Tiger at Kanha ( the male in the pictures above - only 3 mtrs away!), the overnight train from Umaria, the traffic in Delhi - the list could go on for ever !!!

Many thanks for organizing our trip - rest assured it was time well spent !!!

We will sadly have to wait some time for our next big trip as we have done two in the last 6 months, but when we decide where we are thinking of, we will be in touch.

Thanks again

Adrian ( & Chris)

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