Tour Duration: 12 Nights/ 13 Days
Tour Destinations: Corbett National Park – Ranthambhore National Park – Jhalana Leopard Reserve
North India Wildlife Tour takes you to some of the most celebrated wildlife destinations of North India. Starting from Corbett National Park which lies in the foothills of the Western Himalayas. Named after the legendary hunter turn conservator Jim Corbett – Corbett National Park is the first national park of India and the first park where Project Tiger (Tiger Conservation Programme) took place. A unique feature of Corbett is that one gets to spend overnights in the core zones of the jungle. There is a saying that if you have not seen a tiger in the wild probably you have not been to Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve. You will end your journey in a unique Leopard reserve where a small patch of wildness on the outskirts of a thickly populated city supports a high density of leopards in its natural habitat. Jhalana is certainly one of the best places to see leopards in the wild.
Day 01 – Arrive Delhi
Arrive Delhi, met by our representative, and transferred to hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 02 – Delhi to Corbett National Park
After a leisurely morning depart Delhi by road for Corbett National Park (270 Km). Arrive Corbett and check in at the hotel with the rest of the day at leisure or free for optional activities.
Corbett National Park – Nestled on lap of the western Himalayas, named after a legendary hunter turned conservationist ‘Jim Corbett’, the glory of this park goes beyond the reputation of being the oldest National Park in India. One of the most ambitious conservation projects in the world, the ‘Project Tiger’ has been first launched in Corbett. A unique feature of this park is that the Corbett provides its visitors with an experience of staying overnight inside the Tiger Reserve which is a dream true experience for any wildlife enthusiast. Exploring the buffer forests on foot here gives opportunity to the visitors to understand the jungle better. Corbett Tiger Reserve has the reputation of harbouring the largest Tiger density in the wild.
Altitudinal variation from 400 to 1200 m above sea level contributes to rich biodiversity. Vegetation that ranges from the Himalayan to the peninsular region found here provides a diverse habitat. While tropical broad-leafed Sal forest dominates a large part of the landscape, there are river valleys with massive grasslands.
The dominant predator here is Tiger followed by Leopard, Leopard cat, Jungle cat, Fishing cat etc. Prey base includes Hog Deer, Muntjac, Spotted Deer, and Sambar. The savannas are dominated by herds of elephants and other mammals seen here are Indian Pangolin, Sloth Bear, Wild Boar, Yellow-throated Martin, etc. In higher elevation, one can see goat antelopes Goral and the very elusive mammals like Himalayan Serow and Himalayan Black Bear. Around Ramganga reservoir you can expect to see basking Muggar (Crocodile), Gharial, Common Otter etc. One can also see bigger reptiles like King Cobra, Monitor Lizard, Pangolin, Indian Python, etc. here.
Collared falconet, Great Hornbill, Great Slaty Woodpecker, Grey-headed, Lesser and Pallas's Fishing Eagle, Brown and Tawny Fish Owl, Spot-bellied Eagle Owl, Pin-tailed Green Pigeon, Red-headed Vulture, Racket-tailed Drongo, Hodgson’s Bushchat, Nepal Wren Babbler, Long-billed, White-backed, Indian Black, Eurasian, Himalayan and the Red-headed Vulture and Broadbill are avid birdwatcher's delight inside the Tiger reserve.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 03 – Corbett National Park
Morning and evening game viewing drive in day zones of Corbett National Park.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 04 – Corbett National Park
Morning, depart for Dhikala the overnight zone of the Corbett National Park. The largest and one of the most picturesque zone of the Corbett National Park, the Dhikala area is defined by the Sal forest, large spans of grassland, and the Ramganga reservoir. Heard of elephants, highly endangered fish-eating Gharial, Royal Bengal Tiger, and numerous bird species will be some of the highlights of the visit here.
Afternoon game viewing drive in Dhikala.
Overnight in the forest lodge.
Day 05 – Corbett National Park
Morning and afternoon game viewing drive in Dhikala zone.
Overnight in the forest lodge.
Day 06 – Corbett National Park to Delhi
Morning game viewing drive in Dhikala. Later in the morning drive to the Dhangari Gate exit gate embark on the awaiting vehicle and drive to Delhi. Arrive Delhi and Check in at the hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 07 – Delhi to Ranthambhore National Park
Late morning transfer to the railway station to board the train for Swai Madhopur. Arrive Sawai Madhopur and transfer to the hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 08 – Ranthambhore National Park
Morning and evening game viewing drive in Ranthambhore National Park.
Ranthambhore National Park – Nestled in the confluence of the Vindhyas and Aravali range Ranthambhore National Park derives its name from a historic 1000 years old fort that lies on top of the hills. Though the forest here used to be a hunting preserve for Maharaja of Jaipur, it went on to become one of the nine core Tiger Reserves under Project Tiger (a Tiger conservation project) by 1972. Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve undoubtedly is one of the finest tiger reserves in India.
Hundreds of monuments that spread all over the park and scenic Raj Bagh, Padam Talao, and Malik Talao with the spectacular fort in the background add to the picturesque topography of the park. Dry deciduous forest type and scanty undergrowth make wildlife visibility better here than in most other Indian parks.
The Tiger dominates the predator’s list here, followed by the leopard, elusive Caracal, and Jungle Cat. The prey species include Sambar, Chital, Nilgai (Blue Bull), Chinkara Gazelles, etc. Omnivorous completes the list with Wild Boar and Sloth Bear and scavengers like Striped Hyena, Jackal, Mongoose, and Common Fox are also seen here. The other wildlife seen here are Marsh Crocodile and Common Langur etc.
The bird checklist of Ranthambhore is over 300 species. Some of the notable species found here are Common Nightjar, Southern Grey Shrike, Ashy-crowned Sparrow Lark, Black Francolin (Partridge), Sirkeer Malkhoa, Painted Spurfowl, Painted Sandgrouse, Crested Bunting, Jungle Quail, Rock Bush Quail, Rain Quail, Variable Wheatear, Sirkeer Malkoha, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Bonelli’s Eagle, Changeable Hawk Eagle, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, Indian Scops Owl, Dusky Eagle Owl, Indian Vulture, etc.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 09 – Ranthambhore National Park
Morning and evening game viewing drive in the Ranthambhore National Park. There are ten safari zones in Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve and one explores one of these zones depending on the availability.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 10 – Ranthambhore National Park
Morning and evening game viewing drive in the Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 11 – Ranthambhore National Park to Jaipur
Morning drive to Jaipur (200 km). Arrive Jaipur and check-in at the hotel.
Afternoon game drive in Jhalana Leopard Reserve.
Jhalana Leopard Reserve is on the outskirts of Jaipur towards the northeastern side of the city. Spread over an area of 20 sq km on the Aravali Hills (one of the oldest mountain ranges) it is a classic example of how humans and wildlife can coexist peacefully. Officially notified as Leopard Reserve by Rajasthan Government in 2017, Jhalana supports a population of about 40 leopards in their natural habitat. The sheer high density of the leopard population makes leopard sightings here more frequent. The forest type here is dry deciduous – Acacia dominates most of the forest supported by Dhonk, Kher etc. interspersed by grassland.
The leopards are the apex predators here. Apart from that it is a very good place to see Striped Hyna. Other mammals recorded here are Desert Fox, Golden Jackal, Chital, Indian Palm Civets
Spread over an area of 20 sq km in the outskirts of Jaipur city, Jhalana Leopard Safari Park is home to a thriving leopard population. Due to high cat density Jhalana slowly is becoming a favourite destination to spot leopards in its natural habitat. It is a classic example of the coexistence of man and wildlife. Game viewing is done on an open jeep. Apart from Leopard, Jhalana has other attractions such as Striped Hyna, Desert Fox, Golden Jackal, Chital or Spotted Deer, Sambar, Blue Bull, Indian Palm Civets, Desert Cats, Jungle Cats, etc.
Over 300 birds have been recorded in Jhalana. Being in a transition zone one sees a lot of birds here either as residents or as wither migrants and passage migrants.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 12 – Jaipur
Morning and evening game viewing drive in Jhalana Leopard Reserve.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 13 – Jaipur to Delhi and Depart
In time drive to Delhi international airport (270 km) to connect the flight for the onward destination.
Note: There is an option of visiting the Taj Mahal in Agra and the Fort and Palace in Jaipur in the tour if desired.
H-10 (Top Floor),
South Extension, Part I,
New Delhi-110049
India
