overview
Seeing a tiger in the wild is a truly memorable experience, but one that is increasingly under threat. The wild tiger population in India is now estimated to be as low as 1,500 and India’s National Parks are the only viable sanctuary left to these majestic animals.
This wildlife experience is very different to an African safari, the animals are more elusive and the vehicles are smaller. However, the wonder of being in a pristine natural environment, or spotting game from an elephant, and the beauty of the parks at sunrise or sunset, make wildlife viewing in India a fantastic experience.
Wonderful World can arrange tailor-made visits to a number of different National Parks, and works with camps/ lodges whose operations are in keeping with the TOFT (Tour Operatros for Tigers) conservation guidelines. For more information on how Shergarh, Mahua Kothi and Aman-i-Khas play their part in conservation please contact us.
kanha national park
Every year thousands of visitors come to view Kanha’s diverse wildlife amongst spread over 1,300 square miles of thick forest and savannah plains in the Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh, in central India. Here, over 100 tigers roam the jungle in its pristine wilderness. Wild dog and the elusive leopard are the other two major predators.
Though Rudyard Kipling never visited Kanha, the lush sal and bamboo forests, grassy meadows and ravines of this beautiful park were the inspiration for his famous novel "The Jungle Book".
Kanha is home to some 22 mammal species. Among them are Indian bison - the world’s largest wild cattle, wild boar, jungle cat, jackal, four deer species, three antelope species and the rarely sighted, nocturnal sloth bear.
Amongst the deer species are the hard-ground adapted Barasingha found only at Kanha. In the 1960’s Barasingha numbers had dropped below forty. A highly successful conservation programme has brought the population into hundreds, and many are found in the Mukki range, south of the Reserve.
Over 220 species of birds are found including racket-tailed drongos, bee-eaters, crested serpant and hawk eagles, shikras and flycatchers. Waterholes and high plateaus such as Bahmni Dadar are excellent spots for bird watching, and quiet locations to stop and immerse in the natural peace of the jungle.
Traditionally the land was inhabitated by mainly Baiga and Gond tribes who practiced shift-cultivation. This was stopped in 1870, and the area was preserved as a hunting ground for the privileged, until the world’s tiger population had dropped to an alarming figure.
Today Kanha is at the forefront of efforts to save the tiger and its habitat. Part of the Project Tiger programme, involved the relocation of 27 villagers outside of the core area. It is now of prime importance to work fairly with the local people to protect the tiger. This will ultimately preserve the entire eco-system that still thrives in Kanha.
ranthambhore tiger reserve
In the heart of Rajasthan lies one of the most renowned National Parks in India, Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve. One of the most popular parks with tiger sightings at its best, dotted with lakes and ponds around which the wildlife abounds, Ranthambhore is a photographers’ dream come true. Hailed as one of India's finest wildlife locales, it was established as a sanctuary in 1959 and included in the very first phase of Project Tiger in 1972.
Formerly the Maharajah of Jaipur’s personal hunting grounds, the park became a National Park in 1981. It is bordered on two sides by the Aravalli Hills and Vindhya range. A mixture of forest, undulating hills, valleys, and pools, the park provides opportunities to see a variety of deer, monkeys, and birds.
The tigers maybe be less numerous than in days gone by (there are about 25 tigers and 40 leopards in the reserve), but sightings are still very common, and there is enough other wildlife and impressive scenery in the reserve to while away the hours between sightings. The centrepiece of the reserve is the ruined fortress of Ranthambhore itself, perched high above the jungle with amazing views of the whole area.
Some of the finest lodges in India are located here. Choose between Vanyavilas and Aman-i-Khas, both of which offer luxurious tented accommodation on the edge of the Ranthambhore Reserve.
bandhavgarh national park
Set amidst the Vindhyanchal ranges, the park covers an area of 437 sq. km. and has a series of ridges running through it. About half the park is covered with Sal while mixed forests are found in the higher reaches of the hills. Stretches of bamboo and grasslands are found throughout. The main viewing area is still in the core of the park with its 32 picturesque wooded hills. There are more than 22 species of mammals and 250 species of birds. Common langurs and rhesus macaque represent the primate group. Carnivores include the Asiatic Jackal, Bengal Fox, Sloth Bear, Ratel, Grey Mongoose, Striped Hyena, Jungle Cat, Leopard and of course the most famous of all the Royal Bengal Tiger.
The other animals spotted in the park are wild boar, spotted deer, sambhar, nilgai, chinkara and gaur. The vegetation along streams and marshes is rich in bird-life. The common ones are little grebe, egret, lesser adjutant, sarus crane, black ibis, lesser whistling teal, white-eyed buzzard, black kite, crested serpent eagle, black vulture, egyptian vulture, common peafowl, red jungle fowl, dove, parakeet, kingfisher and indian roller. Reptilian fauna include cobra, krait, viper, rat snake, python, turtle and a number of lizard species.