I really couldn't fault this holiday, it exceeded all our expectations. Neelesh listened to what we wanted and put together a really good package. We made a few adjustments as time went on and he was always very quick to respond to our questions. We were met at Delhi airport, and at each step of the way by a representative with a board and assisted to a very clean, spacious and comfortable AC car. Drivers were good and careful and there was plenty of room for our luggage. We stayed at mid-range hotels and they were all much better than we had expected (especially from some of the trip adviser reviews) service was without fault, food was great, everything was punctual and on time, and staff were always concerned for our comfort and enjoyment at their resort. The wildlife was amazing, 20 different tigers in 5 different parks, over 100 mostly new bird species in Bharatpur NP in 2 days- thanks to our amazing bird guide. We would definitely recommend this trip to anyone wanting to see wildlife in India, and would use this company again.
The trip as a whole was fantastic (9 days), but seeing a wild Tiger for the first time was something else. It was quite an emotional experience. We saw 6 Tigers during 10 safaris. We also saw 2 Jungle Cats, 4 sp of deer, Bison, Jackal, 2 cobras and over 100 sp of birds. We missed a leopard by 30 seconds. We saw tigers on 5 of the 10 safaris. The safaris can involve a lot of driving and searching but well worth it. One Tiger lay in the road in front of us for 10 minutes, 30 feet away. Wow! We stayed at Courtyard House for 6 nights. It could not be faulted. The people were lovely, the food was amazing and a great location for easy access to Kahna National Park. We (2 adults + 2 grown up kids 17 and 19) flew to Delhi, stayed one night, then flew to Jabalpur. It was 4.5 hrs by Car to Courtyard House. 6 days of safaris then back to Jabalpur. An overnight train to Agra. Next day we visited the Taj Mahal and Red Fort, then back to Delhi and home the following day.
This was an excellently run trip & of a high standard. My only comment would be that the e mail I received before we started was a bit sparse so we were unsure how it would work out beforehand. I rate it highly but you have to trust it will all work smoothly.
Seeing a tiger in the wild was simply amazing, but another heartstopping experience happened a few days later. While having an outdoor supper at the hotel (in a remote area surrounded by small farms), a tiger nearby started calling. It sounded so close and the area was so dark. Simply amazing to be that close to wild tigers. My vacation was amazing. Neelesh was incredibly responsive during all stages of my trip planning. On arrival everything was taken care of, from airport pick-up to drop off, and everything in between. He even arranged a trip to Agra with a guide for me. The hotel was beautiful, with incredible food and a gorgeous pool to relax in during the afternoons. The safari was the highlight, and every part of my stay was incredible.
Tiger are much more likely to be seen in the summer i.e. March and April, when the waterholes have shrunk or disappeared and the tigers are obliged to show themselves more often because of thirst. We have been to 3 different tiger reserves, in November and January, and each time we did 6 safaris before we saw a tiger. So many people who only plan one or two safaris at these times are terribly disappointed, whereas in the summer you are much more likely to have success, so I'm told. After that my main advice would be to discuss your needs with Neelesh, who runs this company with great care and devotion. He operates in several tiger reserves and owns Courtyard House at Kanha, which is heaven on earth, and he took real care to fix us a truly brilliant experience.
Excellent, well organised, all arrangements went smoothly and we had a great time.
Excellent, well organised, all arrangements went smoothly and we had a great time. Seeing tigers in the wild - just a glimpse in Pench national park but several great sightings in Kanha park.
The two most exciting aspects of my Tiger Tour package at Kanha National Park were; viewing a large male tiger for over half an hour in the wilderness, and the tremendously lucky spotting of a pack of wild dogs (my guide mentioned that the dogs had not been seen at all last year). Additionally I added about a gazillion birds to my life list and spotted almost every mammal for which the park is famous. My guide Uday Patel is a fabulous naturalist and tracker, he just really made the trip! He shared not only animal lore but discussed many, many aspects of Indian cultures, traditions and society.
Absolutely fabulous. The arrangements went like clockwork, everyone was extremely welcoming and genuinely keen to ensure we had an amazing time in their country.
Superb, we had a great time and enjoyed both Tadoba and Kanha national parks, the lodges we stayed at and saw some amazing wildlife and birds too.
I feel that I was looked after very well, Neelesh who organised my itinerary was most attentive and called all drivers to check I had been collected on time etc. Whilst I was at Courtyard house I was given the most impressive guide (Uday) whom I felt I had known for years and was very interesting to chat to and very good company.
Where to start! The lions, the leopard and her cub, the jungle cat kitten, or the magical sighting of wolves. The insight into Gujarati culture was also unforgettable and we were grateful to our driver, Mr Khuman Singh, for not only finding us so much wildlife but also introducing us to local people from all walks of life. Outstanding. I certainly hope to use this company again in the future.
For us the nature based activities and bird watching were tremendous. We had some really good guides and got to see tigers and a leopard which is very rare. The people, the culture and the environment were very exotic to us. People were on the whole very gracious and helpful and we left feeling we wanted to come back to other parts and to learn and understand more. Very good to excellent. Better than expected.
The first sighting of a tiger in the wild is so exciting and the memory of that will stay with us forever. Also, seeing the Taj Mahal is a never to be forgotten experience, even for the second time! Amazing! The tour operator arranged the holiday just as we requested. Everything went smoothly and was very well organized.
Without doubt the 13, yes 13 tiger sightings during our stay in Kanha National Park for 5 1/2 days in December 2008. This included a very young tiger cub!! A great privilege to see one tiger let alone more than one. Full credit to Bapu and Raju, our guide and driver respectively, for without whom this would not have been possible. The two sightings of different Indian Wild Dogs packs was also very special as well as all the other wonderful wildlife and birds.