Dates

9th April - 16th April 2025

Overview & Photographic Opportunity

This safari is purely based on photographing some of the last wild populations of The Royal Bengal Tiger and the other wildlife species that call the picturesque Ranthambhore National Park home . 

The safari will begin in New Delhi (9th April 2025), where upon arrival, the guests will spend 1 night at the J.W. Marriott (Aerocity) Hotel. The following day (10th April 2025), after breakfast, they will embark on an early drive from the capital to Ranthambhore, where for the next five days, (10th-14th April 2025), they will have exceptional opportunities and interactions to photograph the magnificent Bengal Tiger in its natural environment.

Over the course of the safari, guests may have the opportunity to encounter and photograph some of the numerous species of mammals and birds including the three types of deer (Chital, Nilgai and Sambar), the sloth bear, Indian leopard, striped hyena, langurs, macaque and mugger crocodiles just to name a few. The sanctuary is home to a wide variety of trees, plants, birds and reptiles, as well as some of the largest banyan trees in India.

In the summer months, temperatures can soar up to 45 Degrees Celcius/113 Fahrenheit, and big cat activity during this period is at an all time high as both predators and prey flock to the nearest watering source either to quench their thirst or to cool down from the sweltering heat. The scarcity of water encourages animals out into the open and the tigers lay in ambush and take advantage of the arriving herbivores to hunt and replenish their fat and energy reserves.

This trip is strategically planned for early summer, when visitors are fewer and tigers are less elusive.

Guides

Aatish & Aashit will be your personal guides and photographic instructors throughout the entire duration of your safari. They will share their extensive knowledge of the wildlife, flora and fauna not only of the surrounding areas, but also the different parks and sanctuaries of India. To get the perfect photograph it is important to be able to study the animal and understand it's overall behaviour, so as to perfectly position the vehicle and most importantly not to harass the animal or destroy the environment in any way possible. Over the years, having spent numerous hours closely interacting with the wildlife, they will assure you the perfect position to guarantee you that picture perfect shot.

All guides have a vast knowledge in a variety of fields, which include, ornithology, botany, geography, entomology and of course a extensive knowledge of the different animals encountered whilst on safari.

Camps, Hotels and Lodges

While in Delhi, guests will spend the night at The J.W. Marriott Hotel. The hotel is located in the New Delhi Aerocity and is a few minutes drive to The infamous Red Fort and the city centre. The hotel is famed for its exceptional standards of efficiency, service and five star hospitality and is only a 10 minute drive from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport.

While on safari in Ranthambhore, the guests will be staying at Khem Villas Camp, a luxury five star resort located right on the outskirts of the National Park. Khem Villas, is a jungle camp established by Usha and Goverdhan Singh Rathore along with Pritam Singh on the outskirts of Ranthambhore. Goverdhan is the son of Fateh Singh Rathore one of India’s leading Tiger experts who is also aptly referred to as the "Founding father of Ranthambhore" helping put the park on the Tiger Map of the World.

Like all things at Khem Villas, even the accommodation here is environmentally sensitive and sound. Great pains have been taken to use locally sourced materials and skills.

It has a personal touch and sensibility of being unfussy and focussed on the nature around. At Khem Villas you will always be mindful of the vast jungle and the magic of nature all around you. Each room has been designed keeping in mind that simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

The accommodation is in the form of spacious luxury cottages designed to make you feel like royalty. Soft fabrics and hardwood teak furniture that belie the fact that you are in the midst of a hard jungle. Each private cottage is in a compound of its own, nicely spaced away from the other for a very private experience.

Guests will be provided a satisfying selection of Indian, Western and Oriental Cuisine during their stay. Out of respect to nature, all the food at Khem Villas is vegetarian. Rest assured, you will be pleasantly surprised! Most of the everyday ingredients are sourced from their organic farms at the hotel. Even the milk is from the local farm where the cows are fed organic feed.

Vehicles

All vehicles used while on safari are entirely safari modified Gypsy 4x4s that are custom built to deal with the harshest of terrains and also to ensure your comfort and safety. They are capable of carrying up to a maximum of 6 PAX, but we recommend only 3-4 PAX per vehicle to ensure the utmost satisfaction, easy wildlife observation and photography. All vehicles are fully open to the environment to improve all round game viewing and offer you a 360-degree panoramic view of your surroundings.

Guests/Participants

This safari will be for a minimum of 4 guests and a maximum of 6 guests. Each vehicle will comprise of 3-4 guests ensuring them maximum space for all their photographic gear and equipment and maximum comfort while on game drives.

An Itinerary Focused On Maximizing Your Tiger Safari

A normal day in Ranthambhore Park includes two game drives - 1 in the morning (06:00 - 09:30) and 1 in the evening (15:00 - 18:30). Ranthambhore National Park is divided in to 10 different zones. Upon arrival to the park gate, each vehicle is issued a specific zone of the reserve by the park authorities where they will conduct their game drive. The zones are well maintained under strict rules and regulations by the conservation authorities of the park. The drivers/guides are under strict instructions not to cross over to different zones that they have not been assigned to.

We cap our group sizes to a maximum of 6 guests, with 2-3 guests per vehicle excluding the tour leader. This means a quite experience and personal attention from us (the tour leaders). This also assures all guests can carry all their camera gear comfortably and leaves us with the flexibility to adapt to changing conditions in a way that maximizes photo opportunities.

Single Supplement

Additional cost for a single supplement will be TBA

COVID-19 Notes

1) Any advance to hotels /lodges (for accommodation and safaris) will be paid only after taking your go ahead.

2) Flight tickets or train tickets (if any) will be booked after taking your go ahead.

3) Flights are generally booked 6 to 8 months before travel and safari permits and train tickets have to be booked 4 months before travel.

4) Once booked, if clients cancel due to any reason (including COVID), a cancellation charge will be charged for flights, trains and safari permits.

5) If clients cancel due to COVID, the hotel will give a credit note for full amount paid for the accommodation and for the partial amount paid for the safari (after deducting the cancellation charge). This credit can be utilised on any future booking(s). Clients will have to submit a COVID positive report.

6) We will get a full refund for the flights only if the airlines cancel the same. If the clients cancels due to any reason (including COVID) we will get a refund only after deducting the cancellation charge. Clients will have to submit a COVID positive report.

7) If there is a lockdown in India enforced by the Indian government due to COVID and the national parks are closed by the forest department, then the safari charges will be refunded after deduction of online transaction charges.

Pre Departure Guest Information To India

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