SRI LANKA INDIA NEPAL Sultanpur National Sariska Park National Park Corbett National Park Ranthambhore National Park Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary Bandhavgarh National Park Kanha National Park Pench National Park Panna National Park Nagarhole National Park Sasangir National Park Rann of Kutch National Park Velavedar National Park Periyar National Park Goa Madras Mumbai Lumbini Kolkata Sunderbans National Park Kaziranga National Park Delhi Chitwan National Park Kathmandu Pokhara Mt. Annapurna Mt. Everest BAY OF BENGAL ARABIAN SEA Asia Encompassing a vast area, Asia provides some excellent wildlife destinations where, despite encroachment of human habitation and industry, a growing awareness of the need to preserve the natural world has led to some great locations for wildlife-viewing. In the forests and waterways of Borneo you may search for Orangutans, Proboscis Monkeys, Elephants and many other animals and birds. China is now emerging as a new wildlife destination with the creation of ‘bamboo corridors’ and reserves to help its Giant Pandas and other mammals. We are proud to be one of the first companies to support these projects through sustainable tourism and can now offer you a unique opportunity to track pandas in the wild, including hands-on panda care in a research station. On the Indian subcontinent our ever popular ‘Tiger Tiger’ itinerary visits some of the top big cat sanctuaries, but there are also opportunities to look for the rare Asiatic Lions of Sasangir, One-horned Rhinoceros in Kaziranga and to enjoy India's rich and varied cultural heritage. Peace and stability returns to the mountain nation of Nepal which is great news for trekkers and animal lovers wanting to experience the famous Elephant-backed safaris and the excellent birding on offer. The picturesque island of Sri Lanka has also recovered from natural disasters to once again take its place as one of our top destinations for Leopard and Elephant-viewing, and the birding here is fabulous too! 84 F O R R E S E R V A T I O N S C A L L U S O N 0845 130 6982

CHINA BORNEO Chongqing Chengdu Kinabalu Park Genung Mulu National Park Kinabatangan Turtle Islands Park Danum Valley Sepilok BORNEO Mount Kinabalu National Park Santubong National Park Genung Mulu National Park Bako National Park Kinabatangan Turtle Islands Park Danum Valley Sepilok Highlights February • As leaves fall, grasses wither and water sources recede in the reserves of the Indian subcontinent, opportunities to see the magnificent Tiger, Leopard and other game are at their best from now until April. March • Spring time is one of the best times for panda tracking in the Qinling Mountains of China, before the vegetation becomes too thick and while the young bamboo shoots are sprouting lower down the valleys. May • In India and Sri Lanka many wildlife camps and lodges close in preparation for the monsoon season which can make travelling difficult. They will generally open again in September/October. October • India’s dry season begins now and the national parks open again. • The foliage starts to die off in the Qinling Mountains of central China, making panda tracking easier once again. Climate For most of south-east Asia and the Indian subcontinent life is dictated by the annual summer monsoon which commences in the southern regions around June, and moves northward, ending around September. Winter ranges from mild, dry and tropical in the south, to cold on the northern plains of India, with snow and freezing temperatures in northern China. Borneo has an equatorial tropical climate which means high humidity and rainfall year round with November to March generally being the wettest period. Wildlife-viewing can actually often be good during the wet seasons and will generally only be suspended when the rains make travelling difficult. S E E U S O N T H E W E B AT wildlifeworldwide.com 85 Asia / Introduction