Grade 1 available from September to June for a minimum of 2 persons.
Group departs 17/1/98 to 2/2/98
India’s largest mammal, the Elephant is the focus of this 17 day wildlife safari. Following a visit to historic Mysore, Nagarhole is the first destination. The thick undergrowth provides splendid shelter for the Tiger and Leopard, while the Wild Dog preys upon Chital and Sambar. Bandipur is well known for its elephant, gaur and chital. In Mudumalai elephant and gaur are often seen, while the park is also rich in birdlife - Malabar Great Black Woodpecker, Malabar Trogon, and the Hawk Eagle. Periyar is one of India’s most unique sanctuaries. Elephant can be observed like at no other sanctuary.
Outline Itinerary: Day 1 Arrive Bombay. 2 Fly to Bangalore. 3 Drive to Nagarhole. 4 Nagarhole. 5 Drive to Mysore. 6 To Bandipur. 7 Bandipur. 8 Visit Mudumalai. 9 Drive to Ooty. 10 By road to Cochin. 11 Full day in Cochin. 12 Drive to Periyar NP. 13 Periyar. 14 Drive via Trivandrum to Kovalm Beach. 15 Kovalm Beach. 16 Fly to Bombay. 17 Depart Bombay.
SOUTH INDIA WILDLIFE
Day 1 Arrive Bombay and transfer to your hotel.
Day 2 Fly Indian Airlines to Bangalore and transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon we will take you for a sightseeing tour of Bangalore.
Day 3 After breakfast depart Bangalore for the Nagarhole Sanctuary. Check into the Hotel. Situated within the south-eastern parts of Koodogu (Coorg) and south-western parts of Mysore District. It borders on Kerala State and Mysore Town is about 50km to the north-east. The southern border is contiguous with the reservoir of the dammed Kabini River. The south-eastern boundary follows the state border and the western border running along the main Mysore-Mangalore road. The northern boundary extends along this road to just south of Hunsur and the eastern boundary runs from this point south to the Kabini Reservoir. The Brahmagiri Mountains are to the west of the park.
Created a national park in 1974. Originally designated a 28,700ha game sanctuary in 1955, centred on Nagarhole settlement. Enlarged to its present size in 1974 by combining Mysore forests and Nagarhole Sanctuary. Proposed extensions to the national park total 14,400ha and include the Kaveri River forests to the north and the remaining part of the Kakankote Reserve Forest. The national park is included in the proposed Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
The landscape is generally one of gentle slopes and shallow valleys, altitude ranges from 600m to 900m with a mean altitude of 700m. The largest river draining the area in the south is the Kabini, which was dammed in 1974. Other important rivers include Lakshmana, Teentha and Nagarhole. There are several perennial and seasonal streams and tanks, all of which drain into the four major rivers. Swamps (hadlus) are numerous in the Coorg Wynad due to the high rainfall.
Three seasons are usually recognised: a wet season or monsoon, lasting from June to September; followed by a cool season that lasts up to January; and then a hot season from February to May. Seasonal variations in temperature are moderate, ranging from between 15C and 28C. Rainfall is usually about 1500mm per year.
There are two main types of vegetation: moist deciduous forest which is found in northern and western parts where rainfall is usually above 1200mm; and dry deciduous forest in the south-eastern part.
Moist deciduous forests are tall and dense with a two-storey canopy. The upper canopy, at approximately 30m, is dominated by mathi Terminalia tomentosa, nandi Lagerstroemia lanceolata, honne Pterocarpus marsupium, tadasalu Grewia tilaefolia, rosewood Dalbergia latifolia and teak Tectona grandis. The lower canopy has the prolific fruit yielders: nelli Phyllanthus emblica, kooli Gonclina arborea, kadutega Dillenia pentagyna and Randia spp. The shrub layer is usually very dense and varied in composition. A unique feature of these forests is the open grassy swamps, locally called hadlus,where the grass is lush year-round. In the dry deciduous forests, the canopy is lower and trees are more widely spaced. A second canopy is barely discernable. Many moist forest trees are present: dindalu Anogeissus latifolia is usually the commonest; kakhe Cassia fistula, flame-of-the-forest Butea monosperia and bamboo Dendrocalamus strictus are all common.
The fauna is very diverse. Primates include langur Presbytis entellus, bonnet macaque Macaca radiata and slender loris Loris tardigradus. Notable carnivores are tiger Panthera tigris, which is present in larger numbers than in Bandipur National Park, leopard Panthera pardus, leopard cat Felis bengalencis, jungle cat F. chaus, jackal Canis aureus, wild dog Cuon alpinus, sloth bear Melursus ursinus and rarely hyena Hyaena hyaena. Herbivores include elephant Elephas maximus, with a population of approximately 300 animals, spotted deer Cervus axis, sambar C. unicolor, Indian muntjac Muntiacus muntjak, four-horned antelope Tetracerus quadricornis, mouse-deer Tragulus meminna, gaur Bos gaurus and wild boar Sus scrofa. Small mammals include: civet Vivernicula indica, common palm civet Paradoxurus hermaphroditus, mongooses Herpestes fuscus and H. vitticollis, common otter Lutra lutra, hare Lepus nigricollis, pangolin Manis crassicaudata, giant flying squirrel Petaurista petaurista, giant squirrel Ratufa indica maxima and porcupine Hystrix indica.
Over 250 species of birds are present, including the endemics malabar trogon Harpactes faciatus and malabar pied-hornbill Anthracoceros coronatus, and birds of prey such as crested hawk-eagle Spizaetus cirrhatus and crested serpent-eagle Spilornis cheela.
Among reptiles, mugger Crocodylus palustris, monitor lizard Varanus bengalensis, and rock python Python molurus are present.
Day 4 Full day exploring the Park, with early morning and late afternoon safaris.
Day 5 Drive for two hours to Mysore and check into your hotel. Afternoon city tour.
Day 6 After breakfast drive to the Bandipur Sanctuary and check into the hotel. Created a national park in 1974, but originally established as a sanctuary in the early 1930s with an area of 6,000ha. The sanctuary was elevated in status and enlarged to 80,300ha in 1941 and renamed Venugopal Wildlife Park after a temple. The national park is included in the proposed Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
The terrain is undulating and broken by chains of hills, flat-topped hillocks and water-courses altitude ranges from 780m to 1,455m, at the top of Gopalswamy Betta. The reserve is drained by the Kubini, Nugu and Moyar rivers and by the Bavali, Moolehole, Kekkanalla, and Marandi streams. The River Moyar has cut a picturesque gorge, known as Mysore Ditch, which is 260m deep.
Cold, dry and wet seasons are distinguished. The cold season lasts from November to mid-February, and is followed by a dry season lasting until June. The wet season starts mid-June, though heavy pre-monsoon showers fall in April and May. Temperatures range between 18-24C in November and 21-33C in June
Three main types of vegetation are evident: scrub, in the eastern most portion; tropical dry deciduous forest, which occurs in the central portion, in areas of poor site quality, with shallow hard soil, flat floor and low rainfall; and tropical moist mixed deciduous forest in the western part. Scrub is characterised by stunted tree growth in areas of shallow hard soil with almost no humus. Shorea talura, sandal Santalum album, Terminalia chebula, Anogeissus latifolia, Azadirachta indica, Chloroxylon swietenia, Acacia leucophloea, A. catechu, Stereospermum chelonoides, Zizyphus spp., Diospyros melanoxylon and Diospyros montana are predominant.
Tropical dry deciduous forest comprises a top canopy of Anogeissus latifolia, Tectona grandis,Terminalia tomentosa, T.belerica, T. chebula, T. paniculata, Pterocarpus marsupium, Dalbergia latifolia, D. paniculata, Grewia tillaefolia, Salmalia malabarica, Gmelina arborea, Albizzia odoratissima, Coreya arborea, Schleichera trijuga, Odina wodier, Stereospernum chelonoides, S. xylocarpum, Schrebera swietenoides, Butea monosperma, Emblica officinalis, Lagerstroemia parviflora and Gardenia spp., and a lower canopy of Vangueria spinosa, Randia dumetorum, R. uliginosa, Wrightia tinctoria, Zizyphus jujuba, Z. xylocarpus, Santalum album, Kydia calycina, Bridelia retusa, Shorea talura and Cassia fistula. Undergrowth is mainly grasses and Lantana sp.
Tropical moist mixed deciduous forest, the most valuable forest of the state, used to feature extensive stands of bamboo (Bambusa arundinacea and Dendrocalamus strictus), much of which died off after flowering. Top canopy species include: Tectona grandis, Lagerstroemia lanceolata, Terminalia tomentosa, T. belerica, Dalbergia latifolia, Pterocarpus marsupium, Salmolia malabarica, Adina cardifolia, Grewas tilaefolia, Anogeissus latifolia, Stereospermum zylocarpum, Schleichera oleora, Albizzia odorotissima, Odina wodier, Ficus infectoria and other species of Ficus. The lower canopy consists of Embilica officinalis, Mallotus philippinensis, Kydia calycina, Butea monosperma, Zizyphus xylocarpus, Vangueria spinosa, Grewia tiliaefolia, Gmelina arborea, Bridelia retusa, Bauhinia racemosa, Cassia fistula, Cordia myxa and Randia dumetonum. The undergrowth comprises Kydia calycina young growth, Solanum ferox, S. indicum, Helicteris isora, Hemidesmus indicus, Holarrhena antidysentrica, Lantana camara, Eupatorium dermodium sp., Fleminga sp., Veronia sp., and Grewia hirsuta (Neginhal, 1974).
The park is very rich in wildlife. Two species of primate are present: common langur Presbytis entellus and bonnet macaque Macaca radiata. Among the larger carnivores are tiger Panthera tigris, leopard Panthera pardus, wild dog Cuon alpinus, jungle cat Felis chaus and sloth bear Melursus ursinus. Less common are striped hyena Hyaena hyaena and jackal Canis aureus. Large herbivores include Indian elephant Elephas maximus, of which there are approximately 700-800 animals, mouse deer Tragulus meminnia, Indian muntjac Muntiacus muntjak, spotted deer Cervus axis, sambar C. unicolor, four-horned antelope Tetracerus quadricornis, gaur Bos gaurus, and wild boar Sus scrofa. Indian porcupine Hystrix indica and Indian hare Lepus nigricollis are present. Reptiles include mugger crocodile Crocodylus palustris in the Nugu River and python Python molurus.
Over 180 bird species have been recorded, including peafowl Pavo cristatus and grey jungle-fowl Gallus sonneratii.
Day 7 Full day at Bandipur.
Day 8 To-day, we visit the neighbouring sanctuary of Mudmalai at the foot of the Blue Mountain. Elephant and gaur are often found here, but one of the main attractions are the rich and varied bird species of the reserve.
Day 9 Drive to the hill town of Ooty and check into the hotel for the night
Day 10 Drive to Cochin in the northern Kerala, and overnight in hotel.
Day 11 Full day in Cochin with ferry tours on the backwaters.
Day 12 Drive to Periyar National Park and check into the hotel. Periyar is one of India’s most unique sanctuaries, where the elephant can be observed like at no other sanctuary in the world. Excellent swimmers, they can be seen in or near the lake, climbing in orderly herds along the hill crests, feeding on grasses, tree lava and foliage or enjoying a dust bath.
Declared a sanctuary, at that time named Nellikkampatty, in 1934 at the instigation of the Maharajah of Travancore. Renotified as Periyar and enlarged from 60,000ha to its present size of 77,700ha in 1950. Originally declared a reserved forest in 1899 in order to protect the catchment area of the Periyar River. This was dammed in 1895, submerging 2,600ha of evergreen forest. Periyar became Kerala's only tiger reserve in 1978.
The terrain is undulating with high peaks ranging from 1,200m to over 1,800m. The central feature of the park is the reservoir with a waterspread area of 2,600ha, ranging in depth from 32m to 46m. There are a few islands, with vegetation. The area is drained by the Periyar and Mullayar river systems. The former originates from deep within the evergreen core area, some 50km south of the Sanctuary headquarters at Thekkady, and meets the latter at Mullakudy where the lake begins.
Annual temperatures generally vary between 15C and 31C. April and May are the hottest months. Mean annual rainfall is 2030mm. The south-west monsoon lasts from June to August/September, with maximum precipitation occurring in July-August. Minimum precipitation occurs in January High rainfall also occurs during the north-east monsoon in September-November.
Vegetation comprises chiefly tropical evergreen forest (30,500ha) and semi-evergreen forest (27,500ha). Moist deciduous forest and grasslands predominate in the central part of the sanctuary, particularly around the reservoir, and cover 9,800ha and 1,200ha, respectively; and reed brakes located in evergreen and semi-evergreen forests cover 1,000ha. There are also 5,000ha of Eucalyptus grandis plantations in the buffer zone to the west.
Threatened mammal species include the highly endangered and endemic lion-tailed macaqueMacaca silenus, Nilgiri langur Presbytis johnii, tiger Panthera tigris, leopard P. pardus, wild dog Cuon alpinus, elephant Elephas maximus and gaur Bos gaurus. Small numbers of Nilgiri tahr Hemitragus hylocrius have been sighted on a few occasions, but the species is probably now locally extinct. Other carnivores include sloth bear Melursus ursinus, jungle cat Felis chaus, palm civet Paradoxurus hemaphroditus, jackal Canis aureus, otter Lutra lutra. Sambar Cervus unicolor is the most common of the ungulates. Others include Indian muntjac Muntiacus muntjak and Indian spotted chevrotain Tragulus meminna. Wild boar Sus scrofa is relatively abundant. Other mammals include giant Indian squirrel Ratufa indica, various smaller squirrel species, and mongoose, porcupine Hystrix indica and black-naped hare Lepus nigricollis. There are an estimated 44 tiger (1985), 24 leopard (1984), 932 elephant (1983) and 281 gaur (1983), based on censuses by the Forest Department.
Some 181 bird species have been recorded, many of which are residents. Anseriformes are notably absent, possibly due to the lack of shallow water at the edge of the reservoir. Psittaciformes, Circuliformes, Coraiiciformes and Passeriformes are well-represented. The spectacular great Indian hornbill Buceros bicornis is found in relative abundance.
Day 13 Full days in Periyar with boat rides to view elephant herds.
Day 14 Drive via Trivandrum to Kovalm Beach Resort and check into the four star Hotel Samudra.
Day 15 In Kovalm with Trivandrum city tour.
Day 16 Fly Trivandum to Bombay and stay overnight.
Day 17 Depart Bombay.
Included in the price: all accommodation on B&B basis, park entrance charges, local guides at all places and 2 in-park visits in all parks, city tours as specified and all transfers.
Not included in the price: International and national air fares, insurance, lunches and dinners, camera and photographic charges and additional park tours.
Ref: SIW All itineraries are subject to change without prior notice.
Recommended equipment list
Footwear: Light walking shoes, light socks.
Clothing: Waterproof jacket and trousers, sweater or fleece jacket, underwear, cotton trousers or jeans, shirts and T-shirts, shorts,sun hat, bathing suit, track suit.
Other equipment: Holdall or stash sack, day pack, water bottle, sun cream, sunglasses, flashlight with spare bulbs and batteries, lip salve.
Other items: Insect repellent, toilet articles, diary, pocket knife, tie cord, towel, sewing kit, plasters, binoculars, camera, film, cards and personal medical kit.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
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