Asia:India
Call of the Wild
Tour Highlights:
• Recall Rudyard Kipling’s "Jungle Book" as you travel deep into tiger country in three of India’s celebrated national parks to scout for leopard, gaur, sloth bears, barking and swamp deer, wild boas and the legendary Royal Bengal tiger.
• Explore the historic cities of Delhi and Mumbai.
• Enjoy an evening Sound & Light Show at the unique 10th century temple complex at Khajuraho.
• Savor the memorable experience of sunrise over the fabled Taj Mahal.
• Relax in luxurious properties and intimate lodgings such as CC Africa/Taj Safari’s Banjaar Tol and Mahua Kothi.
Day 1: Arrive Mumbai (Bombay), India
Welcome to India! Touch down late tonight in Mumbai, an exciting starting point for your India experience. Big Five’s host welcomes you and escorts you to your prestigious hotel along the bay. Taj Mahal - Grand luxury sea view room (B)
Day 2: Mumbai
Today, you are immersed in the energy of Mumbai, an intriguing mix of Indian and colonial influences. Mumbai's culture is vibrant, often aggressive, reflecting the affluence and energy of a bustling city of 15 million people. View Indian art, archaeology and natural history at Prince of Wales Museum. Visit seaside Gateway of India (circa1923), terraced Hanging Gardens, dating from the 1880s, its panoramic view of the Arabian Sea. Visit Mahatma Gandhi’s home and see India’s foremost artists at Jehangir Art Gallery. Stroll through teeming bazaars crammed with antiques, jewelry, produce, flowers, and an array of handcrafted wares. Taj Mahal - Grand luxury sea view room (B)
Day 3: Mumbai / Nagpur / Pench National Park
This morning, transfer to airport for your flight to Nagpur, where you are greeted and driven to` Pench National Park, a teak forest with dense undergrowth. Upon arrival, check into your resort Baghban Pench on the banks of the River Banjar. Baghvan - Cottage (B,D)
Day 4: Pench National Park
The focus of your day is a search for the elusive Royal Bengal tiger during morning and evening jungle excursions in open top vehicles. Your guide will introduce you to this unique ecosystem, and its flora and fauna as you track the rare large cat. If you are lucky, you will know the thrill of catching sight of your first tiger, an encounter you will long cherish. Baghvan - Cottage (B,L,D)
Day 5: Pench National Park / Kanha National Park
After breakfast, you set out on a drive through the countryside to Kanha National Park and the luxurious camp of Banjaar Tola, situated along the banks of the Banjaar River overlooking the heart of the park. This is CC Africa/Taj Safaris' newest camp and the luxurious en-suite tents are of contemporary design with pressed bamboo wall panels, bamboo floors, and locally crafted furniture hewn from the timber of exotic Indian trees. The atmosphere is light, ethereal and organic. Each suite features its own sitting area and swimming pool. Banjaar Tola (B,L,D)
Day 6: Kanha National Park
Kanha National Park is set amid bamboo forests, open grasslands and winding streams. This is the country Kipling wrote about so vividly in his Jungle Book. The park is one of the most well known tiger reserves. The central Kanha valley was declared a sanctuary in 1933, and a national park in 1955. It is known for its animal conservation efforts in collaboration with local residents. You will explore the park on morning and late afternoon safaris. In addition to tigers, some of the animals you might encounter include leopard, gaur, chausingha, sloth bears, barking and swamp deer, langus, wild boas, hyena, jackal and wild dog as well as monitor lizards and pythons. Banjaar Tola (B,L,D)
Day 7: Kanha National Park / Bandhavgarh National Park
Savor an early morning jungle exploration in open-top vehicles. Then, after breakfast, you drive to Bandhavgarh National Park and your lodge, Mahua Kothi. This CC Africa/Taj Safari lodge features 12 charming suites, or kutiyas (jungle village huts), built in the vernacular style of Central India. Each suite has private courtyard, overhead fans, air conditioning and en-suite bathroom with twin hand basins, indoor shower, bath, and separate toilet. Bicycles are parked in each courtyard. Mahua Kothi – Cottage (B,L,D)
Day 8 & 9: Bandhavgarh National Park
Enjoy early morning and afternoon excursions interspersed with time to relax during the heat of midday. Although tigers are the stars at Bandhavgarh, the supporting cast is impressive, including more than 250 species of birds such as grey-headed fishing eagle, plum-headed parakeet, Malabar-pied hornbill, greater racket-tailed drongo and Asian paradise flycatcher. Leopards are rare but can be seen, as well as spotted deer, or chital, chowsinga, sambar, muntjac and nilgai. A hunting pack of wild dogs may also be seen on rare occasions as can jungle cat, Indian fox, wolf and striped hyenas. Common langurs, often the first to bark out a warning of a tiger below, and Rhesus macaques are plentiful. Mahua Kothi - Cottage (B,L,D)
Day 10: Bandhavgarh / Khajuraho
Savor an early morning jungle exploration in open-top vehicles. After breakfast, you are driven to Khajuraho. This evening, you visit the ancient temple complex to enjoy a Sound & Light Show that evokes the life and times of the great Chandela Kings and traces the story of these unique temples from the 10th century to the present. Taj Chandela - Superior Pool View Room (B)
Day 11: Agra
Agra is the city of the Taj Mahal, perhaps the most photographed monument in the world. However, there is a degree of enigma about the Taj. Once you hear about a building so much and once you see so many pictures of a building your expectations are real high; and this is the enigma about the Taj Mahal. No matter how many pictures you have seen or no matter how high your expectations are the Taj never lets you down - the unparalleled glory and beauty of the building surpasses beyond all human imaginations. At sunrise, visit the Taj Mahal to witness this spectacular monument built for love. Besides perfect symmetry in every aspect of its construction, the inlay work of semi precious stones into marble in pietra dura style is absolutely remarkable. After a leisurely breakfast, ride to the massive Agra Fort. The elegant buildings inside reflect an interesting synthesis of Hindu and Central Asian architectural styles. Built by Emperor Akbar, the maze of the courtyards, mosques & private chambers of the fort echo the story of the Mughal Empire. The Moti Masjid & other magnificent buildings reflect the skill of the ancient Indian architects. Amarvilas - Premier Room with Balcony (B)
Day 12: Agra / Delhi
After breakfast, you will drive to Delhi along one of the India’s finest freeways. Upon arrival check in to hotel Imperial. A Home Visit & a Dinner: This evening visit the home of Big Five’s country Manager for a taste of traditional Indian hospitality as well as traditional Indian food. You will have an opportunity to interact with different generations of a typical Indian middle class family and learn more about India and Indians. Beyond a tourist's view, the evening is designed to offer you a more personal encounter in India. Hotel Imperial - Heritage Room (B,D)
Day 13: Delhi
Following a leisurely breakfast, you proceed on a guided tour of New Delhi, visiting such sights as Bahai Temple, Humayun’s Tomb (1586), the Qutab Minar 72 meters high and one of the most perfect towers in the Persian world. The Iron Pillar which has survived the vagaries of weather for over 1500 years. Continue with a drive through Embassy area, the Government buildings (1921-1930) and Connaught Place, the heart and main shopping district of the capital. This afternoon, you cross the city and into the walled gates of the old city with visits to the Jamma Mosque (1650) and drive through the fabled area of Chandni Chowk (Moonlight Square) where the throngs of shoppers and vendors meet in the oldest area of Delhi. Visit the Red Fort (1639-1648), built by Shah Jehan the builder of the Taj Mahal in Agra, to view the inlaid and carved Royal Chambers, on to Raj Ghat and nearby ghats where the founder of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, and thereafter Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, were cremated. Hotel Imperial - Heritage Room (B)
Day 14: Delhi / Depart
Transfer to the International airport to board your onward flight. (B)
Rates/Departures:
Call of the Wild | Double | Single Supplement | Comments |
| Jan 04 - Apr 15, 2009 | $13690 | $6250 | Price includes land and internal air. |
| Apr 16 - Jun 30, 2009 - | $10690 | $4650 |
Rates are for land arrangements only. Airfares are not included unless specifically mentioned in inclusions and can be quoted separately. Rates are per person, in US dollars, and based on two people sharing a room. Valid Jan. 01 – Dec. 21, 2010, unless otherwise noted. The single supplements indicated are based on a single room supplement after the two passenger minimum is met. For solo travelers, additional supplements will apply.