Description
One of our favourite big cats safaris; search for Bengal tigers and Asiatic leopards in India and Sri Lanka.An incredible safari combining the best areas of both India and Sri Lanka to see the big cats of Asia.
Overview
In India you will visit Bandhavgarh National Park to go in search of the impressive bengal tiger before travelling to Yala National Park to spot the elusive Asian leopard.
You will experience a whole host of wildlife on this 16 day safari, spending time in the best spots in India to track Bengal tigers, and Sri Lanka to search for Asian leopards – a truly unforgettable and incredible experience. These endangered species are rare, and this safari gives you the best chance of encountering these big cats in the wild. You can also expect to see common langurs, jungle cat, elephants and even panthers!
You will begin your wildlife adventure by exploring Bandhavgarh and Kanha National Parks in India. Both of these are fantastic places for tiger-spotting, and you will hopefully catch sight of one of the wild Bengal tigers here! These endangered animals are shy and reclusive, but if you’re lucky you’ll catch a glimpse of one of these mysterious creatures. You will then fly to Sri Lanka, where you explore Udawalawe National Park, hopefully catching sight of some of the large population of elephants that reside there, before going to stay in Yala National Park, home to the highest concentration of leopards in the world.
This is a tailor-made wildlife safari and can be edited to suit your needs, wants and budget. We have chosen the accommodation to be as close as possible to the wildlife-rich areas of interest.
What makes this trip extraordinary?
- Embark on a journey in search of two of the world’s most important big cats; leopards and tigers!
- Explore wildlife rich national parks in India and Sri Lanka.
- Great wildlife viewing with the chance to see elephant, wild boar, Bengal fox and jungle cat!
- Visit the historical fort city of Galle.
Itinerary
Arrive Delhi
Upon arrival in Delhi you will be met by our local representative and transferred to your hotel for the evening.
Overnight: Leela Palace New Delhi
Delhi - Bandhavgarh
The view of this wildlife-rich park is quite spectacular; around half the park is covered with fine strands of sal, forested areas occupy the higher areas of the park and long stretches of Bamboo and grasslands can be found throughout. You can find more than 22 species of mammals at Bandhavgarh – you will search for the elusive Bengal tigers that reside here, but you may also spot common langurs, rhesus macaque and Asiatic jackal. The park is a haven for birdlife with 250 different species here as well as reptiles including cobra, turtle, rat snake and python.
Overnight: Kings Lodge (B, D)
Bandhavgarh National Park
You will spend two full days here exploring the park, enjoying morning and afternoon game drives with relaxing breaks for lunch and taking walks through the park if you wish. During these days you may be lucky enough to catch sight of one of 90 tigers that live here, as well as spot some of the many other resident animals, birds and reptiles.
Overnight: Kings Lodge (B, L, D)
Bandhavgarh - Kanha
There are over 22 species of mammals to spot here including tigers, common langur, wild pig, swamp deer, barking deer and panthers. You may also spot jungle cat, striped hyena, porcupine or Indian wild dog during your time here! The park is also home to 200 species of birds such as the crested serpent eagle and pond heron. The thick undergrowth here is an ideal spot for the tigers to camouflage and disguise themselves in, which makes it even more thrilling when you spot one.
Overnight: Shergarh Tented Camp (B, L, D)
Kanha National Park
Your days will start with morning game drives they can be rather cold so be sure to wrap up! The tigers in this park are doing extremely well, and you may also striped hyenas, sloth bears and wild dogs. You can enjoy your breakfast in the beautiful surrounds of the park, and you will head back to camp at lunchtime. You will then be able to relax for a few hours and explore the park if you wish, before going on your afternoon game drive. You can also go on nature walks, bike rides, or bird watching treks escorted by one of the camp’s expert naturalists.
Overnight: Shergarh Tented Camp (B, L, D)
Kanha National Park - Delhi
This morning, after your final morning game drive through the park, you will be driven approximately 4 and a half hours to Raipur airport where you will board a flight to Delhi. Upon arrival in Delhi you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
Delhi - Colombo
Today you will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight (please note that this flight is not included in the safari and needs to be arranged by yourself). Upon arrival you will be met by your driver who will take you to Colombo.
Colombo - Udawalawe
Today you will journey to Udawalawe. You will check into your hotel and the rest of the day is yours to relax and enjoy your new surroundings.
Udawalawe National Park
This park is known for its high Sri Lankan elephant population who can often be spotted in large herds. The wide open plains mean that it’s likely you will be able to spot elephants on your game drives here. Other wildlife you may encounter include spotted deer, monitor lizards, sambar deer and wild boar – there is a chance you may see a Sri Lankan leopard, although sightings are rare
Udawalawe - Yala
This morning you will be driven to Yala National Park; the park is situated in the south-eastern corner of the island, and the environment here differs to Udawalawe drastically; the terrain is varied, and is comprised of beaches, green plains, jungle and rocky areas. Yala National Park has the highest concentration of leopards anywhere in the world, and so your chances of seeing one whilst exploring this park are extremely high! There are also a large number of elephants at Yala, who sometimes enjoy bathing in the watering holes at the park, so you may spot one of these wonderful creatures whilst exploring the park!
Yala National Park
You will enjoy early morning safaris, in search of the array of wildlife that resides here, returning to the campsite for lunch before embarking on your afternoon adventure. Evenings will be spent sharing stories of your animal sightings with one another, before going to sleep surrounded by the noises of the jungle.
Yala - Galle
Today you leave Yala National Park, heading to the historical city of Galle. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and you will have time to explore the many markets, shops and galleries here. You will then check in to your hotel for the night, which sits perched upon a rocky cliff overlooking the Indian Ocean and is perfect for visits to the beach.
Depart Galle
Today you will check out of your hotel before being transferred to the airport for your onward flight.
Accommodation
- Leela Palace New Delhi
- Kings Lodge
- Shergarh Tented Camp
- Jetwing LightHouse
Cancellation Policy
Life is unpredictable and we understand that sometimes you have to cancel or change your trip dates and it is our endeavor to make it as easy as possible for you. However, please understand that we plan everything including guide fees, permits, accommodation, and ration in advance. Therefore, any cancellation means inconvenience and certain losses to the people involved in various stages of the program. Keeping that in mind, our cancellation charges are as below,
- Cancellations prior to 30 days from the start of the event: Full refund as cash.
- Cancellations between 30 days and 15 days to the start of the event: 50 % refund as cash.
- Cancellations less than 15 days to the start of the event: No refund.
- Cancellations will be accepted only by email.
Note: We reserve the right to cancel a program before departure in the event of logistical problems arising due to natural calamities, strikes, wars or any other circumstances that make the event inadvisable. In this case, we will refund 50% of the event fees.
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