Central India Tiger Safari Tour

Arrive at Mumbai International airport, where our representative will meet you and transfer you to your hotel.

Ancient yet modern, fabulously rich yet achingly poor, Mumbai is India in microcosm. Once a sultry tropical archipelago of seven islands, and the Raj’s brightest jewel, Mumbai was the dowry of Portuguese Princess Infanta Catherine de Braganza who married Charles II of England in 1661. Today it’s a teeming metropolis, commercial hub of an old civilization seeking to find its place in the New World Order. Forty percent of India’s taxes come from this city alone, and half of India’s international trade passes through its splendid natural harbour. In fact Mumbai is the very soul of human enterprise.

Morning after breakfast, drive to gateway of India and board ferry, which will take you to Elephanta Island ( 1 hr ride), 9 nautical miles across the sea from the Gateway of India, Elephanta, also known as ‘Gharapuri’, is famous for the wonders of the 7th century, the painstakingly hewn rock-cut cave temple, dedicated to Shiva. The Maheshamurti panel in which Shiva is shown as a creator, protector and destroyer, is a sight that should be enjoyed at least once in a lifetime. Regular excursions to Elephanta start every day from the Gateway of India. (Caves remain closed for visitors on Monday)

Take a ferry back to Gateway of India and go for a city tour of Mumbai; visit Prince of Wales museum, a magnificent, but somewhat strange structure, built in a confluence of Gothic and Moorish styles, and crowned by a sparkling white dome. It boasts a good collection of ancient Indus Valley artifacts dating back to 2000 BC, plus some priceless Tibetan and Nepali Art. There is an entire gallery devoted to Buddhist tankha scrolls and another to Tibetan bronzes, but the chief attraction here is the collection of over 2000 miniature paintings from the various art schools of India. Also visit Mani Bhawan (Gandhi Museum), queens necklace (Marine Drive) and Washerman’s place etc.

Thereafter, begin the 2 hour slum walking tour from Mahim station. The east flank of the Mahim Station is dominated by the plastic and metal recycling catacombs of 13th compound. It is amazing to see the heavy machinery’s melting and moulding the plastic pellets for toys and button manufacturers producing Barbie dolls of India. The delicious aroma from tiny bakeries and sweet shops, the exotic smell of soaps and cosmetics creates new magical incense, one can feel instantaneously. The dime-sized cyber cafes, mass-producing tailors, altar shapers and the children waving from the precipitous balconies are the sights in these slums that qualifies an active show and tell.

Continue walking to Kumbhar Wada (Still Walking in Dharavi Slums). Khumbarwada area is the place occupied by the potter’s community from Gujarat, the origin habitat of Dharavi zone, they set up their communal clay pits and kilns in the 1930s, where the mud wells and kilns portray the story of struggle and hardships with each round of the potters wheel and unfurls the luster of this region. (B)

1 hr. flight from Mumbai to Nagpur and 145 kms/3 hrs drive to Tadoba.

Tadoba is probably one of India’s finest Tiger Reserves. The success of protection and conservation has seen number of tigers in this reserve increase close to the optimal capacity for a habitat, this means the herbivore population is maintained in balance and thus the flora too is able to grow and regenerate continuously. In other words, the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve boasts of a healthy forest. Interestingly, new monitoring technologies available have also shown a steady movement and an exchange of population of animals like the tiger with other neighbouring forests – some even in the neighbouring states.

Enjoy your first safari in the jungle in the afternoon. Overnight at the lodge.(B,L,D)

Tadoba is the land of the Gond tribals, who once ruled these areas – you will be blessed with some of the most memorable wilderness experiences. Besides mammals, this park also has a great number of birds – eagles, buzzards and falcons.
Morning and afternoon safaris on both days. (B,L,D)

Pench National park, nestling in the lower southern reaches of the satpura hills is named after Pench river, meandering through the park from north to south. It is located on the southern boundary of Madhya Pradesh, bordering Maharashtra. Pench National Park is one of the most popular wildlife reserves in India. The park also has its mention in the famous story of 1894, ‘The Jungle Book’, penned down by the renowned English Author Rudyard Kipling. The story was worldwide applauded, and hence, the national park became one of the popular national parks in the world in the 1970s and also a prominent tourist attraction in India.

One afternoon safari on the day of arrival in Pench and 2 safaris ( morning and afternoon) each on days 7 and 8. (B,L,D)

Leave today for another stunning Park in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Arrive in the noon and followed by lunch, you will go for your first Safari here. The safari goes through the stunning Sal forests and meadows looking for sloth bear, jackal, the rare hardground Barasingha and sambar. There are many success stories of wildlife conservation associated with Kanha Tiger reserve and most prominent among them is the revival of population of hard Ground Barasingha. Kanha was declared a National Park in 1955 and Tiger reserve in 1973. The mammal and bird diversity of the park is fabulous having almost the entire faunal element of central India including Tiger, Leopard and Wild Dogs. 5 Types of Deer including the smallest one Mouse deer with Indian Gaur constitute the prey species for the carnivores. The beautiful mosaic of habitat of Sal forest and savannah grasslands are ideal for survival of the big mammals especially tigers.

Two perennial rivers flowing through the reserve ensures the water supply to the wildlife and forest throughout the year.

One afternoon safari on day 9 and 2 safaris ( morning and afternoon) each on days 7 and 8. (B,L,D)

220 kms, 5 hrs drive to Raipur and then a short flight to Mumbai.

Drive to Raipur today to take a flight back to Mumbai. Stay near to airport hotel for the overnight. (B,L,D)

You will be transferred to the airport for your onward journey. (B)