Tigers and More!
India
February 22 to March 11, 2026
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Safari Overview
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Set off on a tiger-focused safari highlighting the breathtaking beauty and wildlife wonders of India’s premier national parks: Bandhavgarh, Kanha, and Pench. After absorbing the mystique of Delhi, you’ll explore diverse habitats as you encounter tigers, leopards, sloth bears, wild dogs, barasingha, and more in their natural surroundings. With an exclusive full-day permit in both Bandhavgarh and Kanha, you’ll have access to enjoy the parks’ wildlife in the early morning, midday, and evening with very few other vehicles, but every day on safari will provide ample opportunities to traverse rich hunting grounds for predators. Guided by Scott Davis and local naturalists, who will share insights into the region’s successful conservation efforts, you will see and learn about India’s thriving wildlife amid its breathtaking vistas.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Experience Delhi’s enticing culture.
- Seek tigers and other wildlife in three of India’s incredible parks.
- Stay in family-run lodging with deep-rooted conservation ties.
- Capture incredible photographs alongside Scott Davis.
OPTIONS
- Begin your adventure among India’s Snow Leopards on our February 11 to 25, 2026 trip.
- Expand your cultural experience by joining our Taj Mahal Extension from March 10 to 13, 2026.
Itinerary Updated: August 2024
Print Trip Safari Options
Date | Description | Lodge | Meals |
---|---|---|---|
Feb 22 – 23 | Travel to Delhi, India. | ||
Feb 24 | Arrive in Delhi from home or our Snow Leopards trip | Claridges, Delhi | |
Feb 25 | Tour some of Delhi’s highlights. | Claridges, Delhi | B, L, D |
Feb 26 – Mar 1 | Travel to Bandhavgarh, then spend 3.5 days enjoying tigers and much more. | Bandhavgarh Jungle Lodge, Bandhavgarh | B, L, D |
Mar 2 – 5 | Travel to Kanha and spend 3.5 days seeking tigers and other magnificent creatures. | Kanha Jungle Lodge, Kanha | B, L, D |
Mar 6 – 8 | Travel to Pench and experience immense wildlife diversity for 2.5 days. | Jamtara Wilderness Camp, Pench | B, L, D |
Mar 9 | Fly back to Delhi after a final game drive. | Andaz, Delhi | B, L, D |
Mar 10 | Depart for home or the Taj Mahal Extension. | B | |
Mar 11 | Arrive home or enjoy Taj Mahal. |
Our Trip Leaders
Scott Davis
Scott, co-owner and co-CEO of Cheesemans’ Ecology Safaris, is an expert wildlife, nature, and travel photographer. Trained as a wildlife and marine biologist, he's explored all seven continents for research and photography. National Geographic, BBC, Animal Planet, NY Times, and other prestigious publications have featured his inspiring work. Scott's passion for teaching and talent for capturing the essence of his subjects make him a highly sought-after tour leader.
Detailed Itinerary
A glimpse into our journey
Arrive in Delhi
Feb 24
Meet our local agent for transport from the Delhi airport to the Claridges. If you would like to arrive earlier, we can arrange divergent airport transfers and extra nights.
Delhi
Feb 25
Your day in Delhi offers a curated selection of activities that highlight the city's heritage. The journey begins at Humayun’s Tomb, a stunning example of Mughal architecture that predates and inspired the Taj Mahal. It's a must-visit site for locals and tourists alike.
Next, explore Shahjahanabad, where you can participate in an ittar-making workshop at an 8th generation studio. This experience allows you to craft your own unique fragrance while learning about the ancient tradition of perfumery. You may also indulge in a classic Old Delhi snack.
Continue your adventure with a rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk, once a bustling market filled with silver and gold. Visit the majestic Jama Masjid, Delhi's largest mosque, renowned for its architectural beauty and serene atmosphere. Here, you can take a moment to absorb the historical and cultural significance of the site.
Savor the flavors of Delhi with a taste of the city's famous cuisine at a local eatery. You will then transition from the old to the new as you travel to New Delhi, where British colonial architecture stands in stark contrast to the older Mughal structures. This part of the journey offers insights into the colonial era and its influence on the city's landscape.
The agenda concludes at the Bangla Sahib Gurudwara, where the soothing sound of the gurbani creates a tranquil atmosphere. This peaceful setting provides an opportunity to reflect on the day’s sensory experiences. Afterwards, explore Khan Market, a hub of boutiques, cafes, and bookstores.
Bandhavgarh
Feb 26 – Mar 1
Catch a flight from Delhi to Jabalpur, then drive (4 hours) to Bandhavgarh National Park, a wildlife reserve in Madhya Pradesh, India. The park covers 172 square miles and is known for its rich biodiversity including over 25 mammal species, 250 bird species, and a high density of tigers.
The Sankhala family, renowned for their conservation efforts, owns the Bandhavgarh Jungle Lodge, offering an immersive wildlife experience. The lodge, close to the park, blends with nature and provides a unique opportunity to observe wildlife and learn about India's conservation challenges. The first evening includes an introduction to the wilderness of Central India and the management of national parks in India. The lodge is designed to reflect an Indian village and offers a friendly, relaxed environment. You can enjoy the sounds of the jungle, sightings of spotted deer and langur monkeys, and a rich variety of birds and insects. The experience emphasizes the passion and dedication of the lodge's team toward wildlife and community conservation.
You will have 3.5 days in Bandhavgarh National Park. The days start early with a wake-up call and tea or coffee, followed by a morning safari in 4x4 jeeps with a resident naturalist. After lunch, you'll head out for an afternoon safari. You will have one full-day permit for jeep safaris. The full-day permit offers unique advantages such as no zoning or routing restrictions and extended park access (15 minutes before opening and 15 minutes after closing). The permit allows you to explore the park freely throughout the day, including late mornings and early afternoons, times restricted to full-day permit holders.
Evenings will include educational lectures and discussions led by naturalists and the expedition leader. The sessions will focus on key topics such as the current state of Indian tigers, conservation challenges, comparisons with African wildlife management, and the role of tourism in protecting India's wildlife, including tigers, elephants, and rhinos.
Kanha
Mar 2 – 5
After the morning safari at Bandhavgarh, you'll drive to Kanha National Park, a scenic journey through rural areas and the town of Mandla. Set on the Chhota Nagpur Plateau in Madhya Pradesh, Kanha offers breathtaking landscapes of grassy plains and strands of sal forests. This 366 square mile preserve was created to save two endangered species: the tiger and the barasingha. One of the largest and most scenic national parks in India, Kanha provides an ideal habitat for both tigers and their prey. The lush sal and bamboo forests, grassy meadows, and ravines of Kanha shelter a significant population of rare species such as tiger, leopard, sloth bear, barasingha, and wild dog.
Upon arrival, you'll check in at Kanha Jungle Lodge, managed by Tarun, a knowledgeable wildlife enthusiast. The lodge, surrounded by rich sal forest, offers a unique jungle experience with minimal environmental impact. Guests can enjoy wildlife sounds and sightings from the lodge, which is close to the Mukki entrance gate of the park. The family-run lodge also includes Tarun's son, Jai, a young naturalist, and Dimple, an avid learner and self-taught naturalist who shares her knowledge of the area's flora and fauna.
Your first evening will include an orientation about the national park, focusing on the park's core and buffer zones and the successful breeding program that saved the barasingha. The lodge provides a friendly, relaxed environment, perfect for observing nature and supporting conservation efforts.
Your following days begin with early wake-up calls and tea or coffee, followed by a morning safari in a 4x4 jeep, accompanied by a resident naturalist and forest guide. You'll enjoy a picnic breakfast in the jungle. After lunch, you'll head out for an afternoon safari.
During your stay, one full-day permit for Kanha National Park provides unrestricted access to all zones and routes. The permit allows you to enter the park 15 minutes before opening and stay 15 minutes after closing, maximizing your wildlife experience. In the evening, you'll have the opportunity to interact with the Sankhala family and watch the award-winning documentary TIGERLAND, which features Kailash Sankhala's conservation efforts.
Pench
Mar 6 – 8
After the morning safari and an early brunch, drive to Pench (4–5 hours). The Satpura-Maikal region, spanning Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, contains various protected areas, including Pench National Park. The park, which inspired Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, is known for its tigers as well as leopards, wolves, wild dogs, and birds. The park is named after the Pench River, which flows through its center and supports a rich ecosystem of wildlife and vegetation. The Pench Tiger Reserve, spread over almost 300 square miles, comprises Indira Priyadarshini Pench National Park, Pench Mowgli Sanctuary, and a buffer. It is recognized for its exceptional biodiversity, including rare flora and fauna. The park's picturesque landscape, lush forests, and diverse wildlife make it a paradise for nature lovers and photographers.
The Pench landscape includes various habitats, such as dense forests, open grasslands, and rivers, offering a haven for a wide range of species. The park's ecological significance and conservation efforts have earned it recognition as a key area for biodiversity conservation in India. Pench offers you a unique opportunity to experience the region's natural beauty and wildlife while learning about the rich cultural and historical heritage of the area.
You'll stay at Jamtara Wilderness Camp, which is comprised of ten luxury tents overlooking the jungle and farmlands. Each tent has uninterrupted views of the surroundings, allowing guests to enjoy nature at its finest. The camp offers unique experiences like the sleep-out option, where you can sleep under the stars on a machaan, a raised platform. Your stay at Jamtara Wilderness Camp will deepen your understanding of conservation efforts and the unique wildlife of Pench.
In addition to daily safari experiences, you'll learn about wildlife and local culture. The mornings start with tea or coffee, followed by an early morning safari. A mid-afternoon safari will also explore the park's wildlife. Optional activities include night safaris and nature walks with expert naturalists, offering the chance to spot nocturnal species. The camp's expert naturalists will guide you through the park, sharing their knowledge and insights into the local wildlife and ecosystems.
Return to Delhi
Mar 9
After a final morning game drive, return to Delhi for a relaxing evening reliving your exploits.
Depart for home or join our Taj Mahal Extension.
Mar 10
Arrive home or enjoy the Taj.
Mar 11
- Cost & Payments
- Included
- Not Included
- Climate
- Fitness Level
- Flights
Conservation
- Conditions
Cost & Payments
Costs (in US$)
Type | Cost Per Person |
---|---|
Trip Cost, double occupancy | $11,900 |
Single supplement | $2050 |
Costs are per person, double occupancy, not including airfare (except for 2 internal flights), singles extra. See Included and Not Included sections for more details.
If you are a single traveler, we will try to find a roommate for you, but if we cannot pair you with a roommate, we may charge you a single supplement.
Payment Schedule
Payment | Due Date | Amount Per Person |
---|---|---|
Deposit | Due now to reserve your space | $500 |
Final | August 15, 2025 | Remaining Balance |
Payments are due based on the schedule above. All reservations require a deposit to confirm reservation of your space.
Cancellations
Until the Final Payment due date, deposits are refundable except for a cancellation fee of $150 per person, which can be applied toward another trip if reserved within six months of the cancelled trip’s departure date. Cancellations are non-transferrable. No refunds are given after the Final Payment due date.
Included
- Carbon offsets for the duration of this trip.
- All leaders, transport, park entry fees, landing fees, and permits for all activities unless described as optional.
- Two internal flights.
- Accommodations (double occupancy) for the nights of February 24 through March 10.
- Meals from breakfast on February 25 through breakfast on March 11.
- Transfers on February 25 from the Delhi Airport to the Claridges and on March 11 from the Andaz to the Delhi Airport.
- Trip Planning Materials – information about entry requirements, flights, packing, gratuities, etc.
Not Included
- Carbon offsets for your flights to/from this trip.
- All airfare (except flights listed as included), airport and departure taxes, and excess baggage fees. Round-trip airfare is approximately $1,20 to $1,400 between the US and Delhi, depending on origin.
- Passport and visa fees.
- Divergent airport transfers (arranged by us) and extra hotel nights.
- Gratuities – tipping is always discretionary. However, we will add a gratuity of $30 per participant ($420 per participant per day for February 25 to Mar 10) to your final payment.
- Items of a personal nature such as laundry, telephone calls, medical costs or hospitalization, room service, alcoholic and other beverages, items not on the regular menu, etc. If you have special dietary needs, please indicate them on your Traveler Form.
Climate
Temperatures generally range from around 55°F at night to 87°F during the day. Although it is the dry season, rain is possible.
Fitness Level
Most days consist of early mornings, game drives on uneven roads, and full days in nature that require good energy levels. Most walking is optional around lodge grounds between game drives. Please contact us if you have any health concerns that may make this trip challenging.
Flights
Detailed logistical information is included in the Trip Planning Materials we will send you.
Flights you book
- Arrive in Delhi, India (DEL) by 11:59pm on Feb 24.
- Depart from Delhi, India (DEL) after 12:00am on Mar 10 or join the Taj Mahal Extension.
Flights we book
- Two internal flights are included in the trip cost.
FAQ
Accommodations
Motion Sickness
Transportation
Conservation
Our company ethos has always regarded conservation as inseparable from responsible tourism. We struggle with the dilemma that traveling worldwide expends climate-changing carbon. However, we wholeheartedly believe that traveling with us will cultivate your passion for conserving our beautiful world while stimulating each destination’s local economy. We encourage you to explore the various ways in which Cheesemans’ operates within this context:
- Cheesemans’ Trips are Carbon Neutral.
- Offsetting your Travel to/from our Trip: We ask you to pledge to offset the carbon emissions for your travel to and from our trips. You can purchase offsets with most airlines (Delta includes them automatically), use our handy carbon calculator and donate to Sustainable Travel International, or contribute to your favorite offsetting organization.
Conditions
Read our current Terms and Conditions.