This deluxe tour, through the heartlandof wild India, combines theopportunity to enjoy wildlife viewingin two of India's finest Tiger Reserves withvisits also to some of the greatmonuments of Moghul India, including theTaj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri.Above all, this tour offers you theopportunity to enjoy it all from the comfortof some of India's very best hotels andluxury tented camps, and we spare noexpense in ensuring the utmost quality ofall aspects of this holiday whilstmaintaining a competitive price.We begin in the capital, where we stay inthe tranquil 5-star Leela KempinskiGurgaon. This splendid deluxe hotel islocated near the airport and boasts a largeswimming pool and a tranquil garden filledwith parakeets, mynas and Five-stripedPalm Squirrels. Whilst here, we offer keenbirdwatchers a visit to Sultanpur NationalPark and the more culturally minded a tourof some of the monuments of Old Delhi.Next we travel to Kanha, taking acomfortable flight to Jabalpur or Raipurfollowed by a scenic drive into the heart ofrural Madhya Pradesh where KanhaNational Park is situated. Our delightfulbase for a 3-night stay here is SinginawaJungle Lodge, a world class lodge in theTiger heartland, or Tiger Corridors, a luxurytented camp hosting a maximum of just 16guests in eight air-conditioned tents, eachwith its own bathroom and verandah andeach occupying a private setting withinwooded grounds which also hold a lovelyswimming pool. Tiger Corridors is locatednear the Kisli entrance to the park, givingus access to the best area in Kanha forsightings of Tigers, the park's wealth ofother large mammals, and abundantbirdlife.It will take us all day to drive, on roughroads, through the Vindhyan Hills and thefarmlands and villages of Madhya Pradesh,to Bandhavgarh National Park and TigerReserve. Once there we will settle in for a3-night stay at Kings Lodge, a group ofluxury chalets with their own privateswimming pool set in 12 acres of forest.Each spacious chalet has a luxuriousattached bathroom whilst, in the diningroom and lounge area, delicious Indiancuisine and a good library may be enjoyed. During our time at Kanha andBandhavgarh we will strike out twice dailyon morning and evening game drives intothe parks, rising at dawn and returning atdusk, though enjoying a lengthy middaysiesta. Whilst Tigers can never beguaranteed, the combination of these two top Tiger Reserves within a week gives you the best chance you could havein that period. Tigers may sometimes beencountered from the jeep but, should thegovernment elephants and their mahouts,who usually track the Tigers on a dailybasis, locate an animal in the forest orgrasslands away from the jeep tracks, you may also be lucky enough to take anelephant ride to view a resting animal. Our aim, though, is to observe, enjoy and photograph all the many species of mammals - amongst them Sambar,Spotted and Swamp Deer, CommonLangur and Rhesus Monkeys, Gaur (thehuge Asiatic Bison), Wild Boar, AsiaticJackal, Jungle Cat and, with luck, perhapseven a Leopard, Wolf, Dhole (the IndianWild Dog) or Sloth Bear - as well as awealth of birdlife. Journeying onwards, the overnight sleepertrain from Umaria to Agra may not quiteoffer the high standard of accommodationto which we have become accustomed,but it is, nonetheless, an experience, andone that is rewarded with a day to relax,and a night in one of the world's finesthotels, the Amarvilas. Overlooking India'smost beautiful monument - the Taj Mahal- there is no better base from which toenjoy the Moghul splendour of the Tajitself, nearby Agra Fort and the desertedcity of Fatehpur Sikri . and no better wayto complete our holiday (unless, of course,you choose to extend it with a visit toRanthambore, in Rajasthan, one of themost picturesque of the Tiger Reserves).Wild India . In Style!A deluxe 12-day appreciation of the mammals and birds of Kanha and Bandhavgarh, India's mostrewarding Tiger Reserves, with an optional extension to Ranthambore Tiger Reserve.Friday 4th November - Tuesday 15th November 2011 Cost: £3,195Friday 3rd February - Tuesday 14th February 2012 Cost: £3,395Friday 2nd November - Tuesday 13th November 2012 Cost: £3,395Ranthambore extension available on all tours Cost: from £1,895Book direct on 01962 733051or see page 280 for Booking InformationTIBETNEPALPAKISTANNEW DELHIAGRABHARATPUR BIRDSANCTUARY(EXTENSION)CALCUTTABAY OFBENGALINDIAKANHA TIGER RESERVEUMARIANAGPURRANTHAMBORETIGER RESERVE(EXTENSION)BANDHAVGARHTIGER RESERVEOutline itinerary Day 1Depart London. Day 2Delhi.Day 3/5Kanha National Park.Day 6/8Bandhavgarh NationalPark.Day 9Final day inBandhavgarh; overnighttrain to Agra.Day 10Agra.Day 11Full day's sightseeing inAgra; evening train toDelhi.Day 12Fly London.Ranthambore extensionDay 11Evening transfer fromAgra to Bharatpur.Day 12Morning at BharatpurBird Sanctuary; train toRanthambore.Day 13/14Ranthambore TigerReserve.Day 15Final morning atRanthambore; afternoontrain to Delhi.Day 16Fly London.AccommodationA range of India's finest deluxehotels and luxury tented camps, allwith private facilities.FoodAll included in the price, except forany meals taken in Delhi and Agra.Allow £40.GradingThis is a luxury wildlife tour/safari,with no great level of fitnessrequired. Grade A.FocusWildlife and culture of north India.LeaderSaravana Kumar, HarshaJayaramiah, Bunty Mandhayan,Karan Modi or Indrajit Latey, pluslocal guides.Business classsupplementFrom £1,950.Single room supplement£895 (extension: £1,095).Web quick search: IND36229The Oberoi Amarvilas Hotel, AgraTigerTaj Mahal

Jim Corbett was born in Nainital, inIndia's Himalayan foothills, in 1875. Forover 30 years during the first half of the20th century he achieved 'god-like' status inthe hills of Kumaon and neighbouringregions, as he rid these areas of 19 man-eating Tigers and Leopards that betweenthem claimed over 1,200 lives. His modestaccounts of these exploits became best-selling books, but by 1920 he was turning tophotography, one of that early breed ofnaturalists to turn from hunter toconservationist, and was duly honouredwhen Corbett National Park was founded in1957 and named in his honour. This tourfocuses on the area of the Himalayanfoothills, either side of India's border withNepal, so loved by Corbett and where hespent every moment of his leave. Today,habitat loss confines much of Corbett'swildlife to the area's national parks andwildlife reserves, but we will nonethelessexperience its wealth and diversity as weexplore the jungles of Corbett National Park,the temperate forests and Himalayanfoothills of Nainital, and the extensivegrasslands and Sal forests of Nepal'sSuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve, just to thesouth of the area terrorised by the Thakman-eater a century ago. We begin in India's capital, Delhi, fromwhere we'll spend a day birdwatching inSultanpur National Park, a seasonal wetlandattracting a wealth of waterbirds andpasserines. We will then drive north-east intothe scenic forested hills and wide rivervalleys of Corbett National Park. There we'llbe based for three nights at Dhikala ForestRest-house, which offers only basic accommodation but lies at the heart of thepark, perfectly positioned for serious wildlifeobservation! A mouthwatering selection ofsub-Himalayan birds is on offer in Corbett,as well as a wealth of mammals, amongstthem Indian Elephants, Wild Boar, and herdsof deer which are the prey of a healthypopulation of Leopards and Tigers, all ofwhich we will search for on elephant back.We will also look for the rare fish-eatingGharial Crocodiles along Corbett's fast-flowing rivers, where enigmatic Ibisbills andWallcreepers may also be found in winter. Journeying deeper into the Himalayanfoothills, we next explore the hill station ofNainital. Situated at over 2,000 metres, thisregion offers a new selection of birdsincluding representatives of such typicalHimalayan families as laughing-thrushes,forktails and accentors, plus such winteringgems from the north as Red-flankedBluetail. If conditions permit, we will see thesnowbound summits of the westernHimalaya from a ridge above the town, andwe'll spend a day exploring the temperateforests of the Mangoli Valley which extendsdeep into the hills and gives us access to awide range of Himalayan bird species. Next we cross into Nepal for a 4-night stayat our own comfortable tented camp at theedge of Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve.Suklaphanta covers 305 square kilometresand uniquely protects some of the richestand most extensive grasslands in Asia, aswell as both Sal and riverine forest. Thismixed habitat supports the world's largestpopulation of the nominate race of SwampDeer, as well as an estimated 20 Tigers, 50 Leopards, 20 Asian Elephants and fiveGreat Indian One-horned Rhinoceroses,although these mammals are shy and nothabituated to man's presence due to ablissful absence of tourists and othervisitors in a reserve we can call our own!Golden Jackals, numerous Spotted, Hogand Swamp Deer, and both RhesusMacaques and Terai Langurs are mucheasier to see! ... and perhaps even a Nilgai,Barking Deer, Smooth-coated Otter orMarsh Mugger Crocodile. It is birds, though,that are perhaps the primary highlight here.Nearly 400 species have been recorded inthe reserve, including 50% of Nepal'sglobally threatened species, over half ofwhich are grassland specialists. Amongthem are Bengal Florican, Swamp Francolin,Hodgson's Bushchat, Jerdon's Babbler,both Bristled and Rufous-rumpedGrassbird, and Finn's Weaver, all of whichhave their strongholds in Nepal within theboundaries of Suklaphanta; while in the Salforests parties of the giant Great SlatyWoodpecker (one of the world's largestwoodpeckers) and White-napedWoodpecker may be found. On our return to Delhi, we will spend afurther night at Corbett, this time at acomfortable hotel outside the park fromwhere we are free to enjoy birdwatching andwildlife walks. We'll also take a final gamedrive in the Bijrani area of the park, itsplentiful forest lakes and ponds a magnetfor both birds and mammals. Alternativelyyou might wish to consider extending yourholiday with a visit to the little-knownDudhwa National Park and Tiger Reserve tothe south of Suklaphanta.Northern India - Corbett CountryA 14-day holiday to 'Corbett country' in search of the birds and mammals of the jungles of Corbett National Park, the Himalayan foothills and forests at Nainital, and the grasslands and Sal forests of Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve in Nepal, plus an optional extension to Dudhwa National Park. Sunday 20th November - Saturday 3rd December 2011 Cost: £2,695 Sunday 5th February - Saturday 18th February 2012 Cost: £2,895 Sunday 4th March - Saturday 17th March 2012 Cost: £2,895Sunday 18th November - Saturday 1st December 2012 Cost: £2,895 Dudhwa National Park extension available on all tours Cost: £895Outline itineraryDay 1Depart London.Day 2Sultanpur National Park;overnight Delhi.Day 3/5Corbett National Park.Day 6/7Nainital.Day 8/11Suklaphanta WildlifeReserve (Nepal).Day 12Corbett National Park.Day 13Delhi.Day 14Fly London.Dudhwa extensionDay 12/15Dudhwa National Park.Day 16Dudhwa National Park;overnight train to Delhi.Day 17Delhi.Day 18Fly London.AccommodationComfortable tourist hotel; simpleforest rest-house, lodge and tentedcamp elsewhere. All rooms haveprivate facilities, except atSuklaphanta Wildlife Camp wherethey are shared.FoodAll included in the price, except formain meals in Delhi. Allow £20.Grading A. This is a wildlife tour thatincludes no strenuous walking.Focus Birds and mammals.LeaderHem Sagar Baral or Tika Ram Giri,plus local guides. Single room supplement£625 (extension: £295).Web quick search: IND43230Call now or visit www.naturetrek.co.uk for your free Trip ItineraryINDIANEPALTIBETSULTANPURNATIONAL PARKNEW DELHIKATHMANDUCORBETTNAINITALNATIONAL PARKMt EVERESTSUKLAPHANTAWILDLIFE RESERVEDUDHWA NATIONAL PARK(EXTENSION)(EXTENSION)(EXTENSION)TigerSuklaphanta Wildlife CampSuklaphanta