I have just returned from spending four incredible weeks in India and would like to share my experiences with anyone interested in Wildlife. I have to admit my main aim was to sight Tigers and I certainly did! I have been visiting India on a regular basis for the past 7-8 years and my enthusiasm and true love for this amazing country continues. Speaking with someone recently who has only visited this diverse country once, summed up how I feel in few words……quote….’has an emotional hold on one’. How true.

I was introduced to Geeta and Guri and Joint Adventures when speaking with a dear Indian friend who suggested I contact them as I was considering doing a Wildlife Tour. I could not have wished for more. They arranged everything for me. I spent 3 nights in Bandhavgarh (Garden of Eden) set amongst the Vindhyan Hills of Madhya Pradesh where the Tiger sightings were truly magnificent. 8 Tigers; 12 actual sightings along with everything this National Park has to offer.

Early morning and afternoon jeep rides along with picnic breakfasts. I stayed at Tiger Trails Resort, situated just outside the park where the accommodation is made up of individual cottages where one is looked after by very attentive staff. Taxi drive to Kanha National Park for another 3 days. My room at Wild Chalet Resort overlooked the River Banjar a subsidiary of the Narmada, one of India’s seven sacred rivers. Again early morning jeep rides with a very experienced Naturalist. Sightings of Gaur (Bison) unique to this park) and Barasingha unique to Kanha.

I returned to Delhi for a few days by train…. an experience not to be missed if one hasn’t already travelled by Indian rail!! I continued to Corbett National Park to spend 3 days with Geetaa and Guri and what a fantastic time I had. Their enthusiasm for wildlife was infectious. I discovered what Jungle life was all about. Not only the Tiger (which again I had 4 sightings both jeep and elephant back) but of the amazing number of birds, animals, flora and fauna and incredible scenery. I had the privilege of staying inside Corbett where Geeta entertained me with her amazing variety of Indian cuisine which I so enjoyed. Everything was done with such style inspite of being in the heart of the Jungle! Evenings were spent sitting under starlit skies with a drink in hand listening to the sounds of the Jungle. Jackal tentatively snooping around. Herds of Chittal grazing. The alarm calls of the Sambar or Chittal warning that a predator was on the prowl. Exciting sounds. One evening after supper we heard rustling sounds. Suddenly were aware that a herd of elephants were making their way down to the nearby river. I continued my travels to Dudwha National Park situated on the borders of Nepal home to the Swamp deer, One-horned Rhino and Bengal Florican. Each of the parks have their own charm,however, I have a special love for Dudwha having visited it numerous times but will definitely be returning to Corbett having experienced so much and have so much more to discover and see. I have now been back in the U.K for three weeks and am homesick for India and am already planning my return visit with Geetaa and Guri.

Please contact me if you would like to know more. Jane Popham. Janepopham@yahoo.co.uk