India Photography Safari with Paul Goldstein

Experience Overview

Join this extended tiger safari in India with renowned wildlife photographer Paul Goldstein and his esteemed colleague, naturalist Himanshu Bagde. This newly extended journey now includes four days in Tadoba National Park, plus six in Bandhavgarh National Park. Critically there are four full day safaris included across both parks. Both are among the best places in India to see Bengal tigers, but there’s also plenty of other wildlife to spot: leopards, jungle cats and sloth bears and many species of antelope plus many bird species. With Paul’s expertise behind the lens and tiger pedigree and Himanshu’s infectious enthusiasm and deep connections to the region, you have the perfect blend of guidance and local insight to capture precious images.  Please click here for the reverse itinerary 
Profile
— Accommodation: 11 Superior nights (cottages) — Travel by air-conditioned bus, 4×4 vehicles and internal flights — Three full-day and 12 half-day safaris — Trip supports the TOFTigers campaign to protect biodiversity and restore habitats
At a Glance
— Accommodation: 11 Superior nights (cottages) — Travel by air-conditioned bus, 4×4 vehicles and internal flights — Three full-day and 12 half-day safaris — Trip supports the TOFTigers campaign to protect biodiversity and restore habitats
Trip For You
This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate) with a Wildlife Rating of Five. Visit our Activity Level Guidelines page for more on our trip grading or our Wildlife Holidays page for more on our Wildlife Ratings. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.   This is not a physically demanding adventure; however, there are very early morning starts (4.30am/5.30am, for example) on consecutive days, as this is the best time to spot tigers. You will, however, have a minimum of three to four hours between morning and afternoon safaris to relax at the resort (except for the full-day safaris). Animal sightings: To get really competent images of tigers requires time and time in the best areas. India has many rules and regulations that can make game drives at times frustrating, however, to see one of these striped cats through precision optics is a reward and thrill that far outweighs any red tape. This safari not only has brilliant drivers and forest rangers, many who have worked with Paul for over 20 years but also with the full day permits, offering an earlier start and later finish as well as access to all routes, the chances of quality sightings are dramatically increased. Drives: The 4x4s used in the national park are simple and often require you to step up into them and step down from them. On the game drives, we navigate bumpy tracks for most of the day and this can be arduous for some after a long day in the vehicle. Game drive regulations: The following guidelines and conditions apply to all bookings: 1) We cannot guarantee the operation of any departure until we have the necessary game drives secured. Our aim is to secure game drives from a variety of gates/zones as per the itinerary, but this is subject to availability. The date at which we book the game drives will vary depending on when the booking system allows us to do so for your departure. If we are unable to secure the game drives and have to cancel the trip, you will receive a full refund. 2) It is sometimes possible to book onto the trip after the game drives have been secured; however, large supplements (additional costs) are likely to be incurred. If we have made initial game drive bookings for a departure, we may need to wait until we have further people ready to book before we can secure an additional jeep. 3) We must provide a list of names and passport details at the time of booking each game drive. Once game drives are booked, name changes are not permitted. This means you cannot change or swap jeeps during the trip. 4) It is vital we have your correct passport details at the time of booking. If you end up travelling on a different passport, it is imperative you carry your old passport, or a photocopy of it, with you. If this isn’t possible, you need a letter from the passport agency regarding the change of passport, specifying the details of the old passport and the details of the new passport issued. Photography permit requirements: The four full-day game drives include photography permits. As part of the permit agreement, we must submit a few good-quality sample photographs in high resolution to the national park from each jeep on the permits. These photographs should be with the date and times confirmed as having been taken during the photography safaris in the park. Therefore, everyone travelling on this trip must be willing to submit sample photographs to the tour leaders before leaving Bandhavgarh and Tadoba. The leaders will assist in collecting photographs.
Group Description
Paul Goldstein and our local wildlife expert leader Himanshu accompany the group throughout. Both have infectious enthusiasm and reverence for the wildlife of India and particularly the beautiful Bengal tiger. Paul has run these tiger safaris for photographers and wildlife enthusiasts for more than 25 years. These photographic adventures have been remarkably successful. Many have done repeat safaris to India with him and this is sure to be popular. During the game drives, each vehicle is accompanied by a Forest Guard (mandatory by the local authorities). These are part of an initiative by the national park authorities to generate employment for the local villages. The Forest Guards have excellent awareness of the wildlife and are skilled in tracking; however, many have very limited English so will often communicate through hand signals rather than conversation. Himanshu and Paul rotate around the safari jeeps to ensure you all have an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the wildlife through their experience.
Eating Drinking
11 breakfasts, 11 lunches, and 11 dinners included Breakfasts at the parks are taken after the morning safaris and afternoon tea is provided on some days. There is a restaurant at the hotels serving a variety of options. There are usually some non-spicy curries, but these are in limited supply. If you are a vegetarian, India is probably one of the best destinations to travel to with a wide range of dishes on offer. Tea and soft drinks are very cheap. A (large) bottle of beer is approximately 410 rupees (US$5). Mineral water is widely available.
Transportation
We use a combination of internal flights, private minibus, SUVs and 4x4s. All vehicles except the 4x4s are air-conditioned. Game drives: We use 4x4s in Bandhavgarh and Tadoba. These are exclusive to us with only three group members allocated to each in Bandhavgarh and Tadoba with exception of the full day drives in Tadoba where four group members are allocated per 4x4. Please note, seatbelts are not always available. During the game drives, each vehicle is accompanied by a local Forest Guard; they are not guides and their English and wildlife knowledge may not reach the same level as Paul and Himanshu, but many have worked there for 20 years or more. The Exodus leader will rotate between vehicles throughout the trip. Domestic flights: The domestic flights have the following baggage allowance (this may be lower than your international flight allowance). Hand baggage: One bag up to 15lb (7kg)Check-in baggage: 33lb (15kg) allowance per person (one piece only)Please note, electronic devices, powerpacks and batteries should be packed in hand luggage as these are not permitted in your hold/main luggage.Excess baggage charge: Approximately 500-1,000 rupees (US$6-US$12) for every kilogram over 15kg
Joining Instructions
Key information Start Hotel: Nature Heritage Resort, Bandhavgarh, Railway ORH, Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve Bandhavgarh, Madhya Pradesh 484664 Phone: +91 95759 62222 Recommended arrival time: No later than 10am at the international arrivals hall of Indira Gandhi International Airport. We then transfer to the domestic terminal for the onward flight to Jabalpur. Airport: Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) Getting to the hotel The hotel is reached by a domestic flight included in your package. Your options for this journey are: Meet at the airport Your easiest option is to join the group at Indira Gandhi International Airport. You will not be allowed inside the Arrivals Hall without a ticket, therefore, you should wait outside Gate no.6 at Indira Gandhi International Airport Terminal 3, close to the exit where the leader will collect you once passengers from the group flight have arrived. The meet time will be set to coincide with a group scheduled on a flight from London, UK. Please refer to the final joining instructions for the most accurate information on timings. Catching your return flight You will be transferred from your hotel to Nagpur Airport for the domestic flight to Delhi to coincide with the group international return flight. If you have plans to stay in Delhi or elsewhere at the end of your itinerary, please speak with your sales representative to discuss additional services we can assist with.
Weather Information
May is the ideal time to visit for tiger sightings, but days are normally hot (sometimes very hot) and nights mild with little or no rain. Evenings can sometimes be surprisingly cool, so bring something warm as well as a sun hat, sunscreen and sunglasses.
Spending Money
We recommend you allow at least 1,200 rupees (US$14) per day for minor purchases, such as soft drinks and small souvenirs.
Tipping
Tipping is customary in India and usually expected. To make things easy, your tour leader will offer to arrange and look after a group tipping kitty, which is used to tip hotel staff, drivers and any other support staff used throughout your trip, including national park drivers and guides, and some small snacks and tea breaks. Your leader will suggest how much to contribute, depending on group size, but it is usually around 14,000 rupees (US$168) per person based on the maximum group size of 10 passengers to cover the entire trip duration. At any time during the trip, your leader will happily show you an account of how the kitty is being distributed. A tip for the leader is not included in the kitty and is at your own discretion. If you wish to show your appreciation, Paul will be happy to suggest an appropriate amount but approximately 420-520 rupees (US$6-US$6) per person per day would be appreciated.

Highlights