Bird Watching in North East India

Experience an 18-day adventure in North east India and enjoy a birding trip to Namdhapa National Park, Deepor Lake, Kaziranga National Park and Dibru Saikhowa National Park. Get an adventurous opportunity to explore the parks, get close to the greenery and nature and treasure various birds, plants, mammals, insects and reptiles that inhabit there. Book this tour to gasp the fresh smell of the forest and explore the variety of birds in North East India.

Duration : 17 Nights - 18 Days
Destinations :

Day 0: Departure from U.K

Day 01 : Arrive Kolkata / Delhi

On arrival at Kolkata / Delhi International airport meet with our representative at airport arrival lounge and transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 02 : Kolkata / Delhi - Dibrugarh, by flight

Transfer to the domestic airport to board the flight for Dibrugarh. On arrival at Dibrugarh meet with our representative and transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 03 : Dibrugarh - Deban - Namdhapa National Park, 166 km

Today we will start our birding trip with taking a drive to Namdhapa National Park. We will drive to Deban, via Digboi and Miao, entering the State of Arunachal Pradesh. On the way we will be making stops for birding between Miao and Deban. Upon arrival at Deban check in at Camp Namdhapa / Deban Forest Lodge. After fresh n - up we will spend the remaining day birding alongside the river Noa Dihing that flows adjacent to the forest lodge. Overnight stay in Forest Lodge / Camp.

Day 04 : to Day 08 : Birding across the Nao Dihing - Namdapa Rivers " return

We will be birding here for further 06 consecutive days, we will have 05 nights / 06 days trekking from Deban upto Firm Base, and surroundings. This is the best way for great birding in this area. These walking will be very easy and at a slow pace to allow time to look for interesting new species, in forests teeming with birds.

During our birding trip to camp hornbill, Camp firmbase & mile point we will counter with following species of birds and many more like Ibisbill, Long- billed Plover, White-bellied Heron, Crested and Blyth's Kingfisher, Black-breasted Thrush, Slender-billed Scimitar-Babbler, Snowy throated Babbler, Rufous-necked Laughingthrush, Pale Blue Flycatcher, Large-billed Leaf Warbler, Lesser Fish Eagle, Sultan Tit, Beautiful Nuthatch, White-naped Yuhina, Great, Wreathed , Rufous-necked and Brown Hornbills, White-cheeked Partridge, Pale-headed Woodpecker, Blue-naped Pitta, Collared Treepie, Wedge-billed Wren Babbler,Greater and Lesser Rufous-headed Parrotbills, Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush, Rufous-throated Fulvetta, Green Cochoa, and Dark-sided Thrush.

Day 04 : Camp Horbill

After breakfast, trek to Hornbill 9kms/4-5 hrs). Here we will have chances of spotting - Silver-eared Mesia, Rufous-throated warbler, Black-breasted Sunbird, Green Magpie, Beautiful Sibia, Long-tailed Sibia, Chestnut-breasted Partridge, White-cheeked Partridge, Barred Cuckoo Dove and Streaked Spiderhunter. Camp at Hornbill.

Day 05 : Camp Firm base

Morning bird watching, trek to Firm base (15kms/5-6 hrs). Camp at Firmbase.

Day 06 : 38 Mile Point

Trek to 38 Mile point for birding (7kms). Overnight stay in camp.

Day 07 : 27 Mile Point

Trek to 27 Mile point for birding (15kms). Overnight stay in Camp.

Day 08 : 38 Mile Point - Deban

Trek to Deban base camp (6kms). Overnight stay in forest lodge.

Day 09 : Namdhapa National Park - Guijan, 131 - Dibru Saikhowa National Park,

Morning after breakfast drive to Gujan the entry point to Dibru-Saikhowa. On arrival check in at forest rest house. After fresh-n-up we will spend the afternoon birding around Gujan. Overnight at Forest Rest House.

Day 10 : Dibru Saikhowa National Park

Full days birding by boat and on foot. We will be birding in grasslands, swamps and forest habitat. Overnight, stay at Forest Rest House.

The commonly found avifauna here includes Greater Adjutant Stork, Lesser Adjutant Stork, Great Grebe, Indian Shag, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Night Heron, Yellow Bittern,Openbill Stork, Black Stork, Large Whisstling Teal, Greylag Groose, Common Pintail, Pallas's Fishing Eagle, Griffon Vulture, Osprey, Crested Serpent Eagle, Spot Billed Pelican, White Winged Duck, Bear's Poachard, Greater Spotted Eagle, Bengal Florican, Pale Capped Pigon, Great Pied Hornbill, March Babbler, Jardon's Babbler, Black Breasted Parrotbill etc.

Day 11 : Dibru saikhowa - Kaziranga National Park, 281 km

Morning after breakfast drive to Kaziranga National Park. On arrival check in at the wildlife resort. After fresh n-up we will spend the afternoon birding through tea gardens. Overnight stay at resort.

Day 12 : Kaziranga National Park

Morning after breakfast Jeep safari to the eastern range of national park- this part of the Park is best for birding. Crested Serpent Eagle is common while Palla's Eagle and Grey Headed Fishing Eagle are frequently seen. Others include Greater Adjutant Stork, Bar Headed Geese, Whistling Teal, Pelicans etc. With great luck one might see the endangered Bengal Floricans. Return to the lodge for lunch. After lunch jeep safari to either central or western range. Overnight stay at resort.

Day 13 : Kaziranga National Park

Early morning elephant safari (05:30 am to 06 : 30 am) to the national park for wildlife viewing. Wake up call half an hour before the ride. Return back to resort for breakfast. After breakfast jeep safari (either central or western range). Return to lodge for lunch. After lunch jeep safari (if visited central range in the morning then western range or vice versa. Overnight stay at wildlife resort.

Day 14 : Kaziranga National Park

Morning after breakfast Jeep safari to the eastern range of national park. There are several watch points scattered throughout Kaziranga, and we are allowed out on foot at these. In the afternoon Jeep safari to the nearby Panbari Reserve. Overnight stay at resort.

Day 15 : Kaziranga National Park - Guwhati, 220 km - Deepor Lake - Guwahati

Morning after breakfast drive to Guwhati, on arrival an excursion to Deepor Beel 13 km south west of Guwahati. It's a natural lake, located in the western part of Guwahati. Deepor lake is a haven for bird watcher's and nature lovres, and is said to be the home of some rare species of birds like Ferruginous Pochard and Grey-headed lapwing. An uncommon winter visitor, the solitary snipe and the extremely rare and endangered Goliath Heron have been reported from here. In the evening return to Guwahati. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 16 : Guwahati - Pobitora, 50 km

Morning after breakfast drive to Pobitora. On arrival check in at the forest resort.
Pobitora is a small 16 sq. km wild life sanctuary with a rear sighting of the highly endangered Rufousvented Prinia of the eastern population, regarded by some as a separate species, Swamp Prinia (burnesii) and Cinerascens. Overnight stay at resort.

Day 17 : Pobitora - Guwahati - Kolkata / Delhi

Morning after breakfast, drive to Guwhati. On arrival transfer to airport to board the flight for Kolkata / Delhi. On arrival at the airport meet with our representative and transfer to the hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 18 : Departure

Transfer to the international airport to board the flight for onward destination.

Tour and Services Ends.

Point to be noted :

1) Electricity, With regard to electricity for charging cameras, we foresee that there may have some problem at Namdapha when we will be trekking & camping a number of days in the forest where electricity in any form will not be available. Here we would like to suggest that please carry extra batteries for those days. The base camp at Deban (Namdapha) will have electricity back-up. However, there should not be any problem elsewhere in the itinerary as electricity will be available.

2) Mobile phone Only postpaid connections will work. However, connectivity may not be available everywhere, especially at Namdpaha when one is deep inside the forest.

3) Entry into Arunachal Pradesh requires a permit which is issued by the Secretary (Political) Government of Arunachal Pradesh, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh. An Application giving all details of the proposed visit and information about the applicant such as date of birth, age, local address, permanent address & passport details should be made, at least two months in advance.

Price

Below mentioned are the details; dates and prices per person (in GBP); for "Bird Watching in North East India". We have classified these rates in three categories (deluxe, standard, and luxury) depending upon the type of services provided by these hotels. You can select your trip as per your choice of hotel. In order to get a better idea about the accommodation that we are offering, you can see the respective hotel details by clicking on the official link of the hotels.

Rates Valid From 1st Oct 11 to 31st March 2012

No. of Pax	Standard Hotels
02 Pax	1540 GBP
04 Pax	1336 GBP
06 - 08 Pax	1199 GBP
09 - 12 Pax	1146 GBP
Sgl Supplement	411 GBP

The Above Quote Includes:

• Accommodation as per the itinerary on twin sharing basis
• Daily breakfast
• All meals from Day 02 till day 16
• All the ground transport by exclusive vehicle
• All the arrival / departure transfer by company representative
• All jungle activities as per the itinerary
• Park entry fee
• Naturalist fee
• Driver allowance
• Toll tax
• Parking

The Above Quote does not include :

• Any expenses of personal nature
• Camera fee to the national park
• Alcoholic beverages
• RAP (restricted area permit-applicable for entry into Arunachal Pradesh), the supplement is given separately.
• Any Air Fare
• Anything which is not mention above

Remarks :- A Supplementary costs would be applicable for festival periods such as Diwali, Christmas and New Year.

Supplement for Restricted Area Permit (RAP

No of Person	Per Person Cost
For 02 pax	90 GBP
For 04 & Above	60 GBP

Hotel Used Or Similar

Destination	Standard Accommodation	Web Address
Delhi	Metro Heights	www.hotelmetroheights.com
Kolkata	Hotel Fairlawn	www.fairlawnhotel.com
Dibrugarh	Hotel Rajawas	www.hotelrajawas.com
Namdapha	Forest Lodge & Camping	www.indiawildliferesorts.com/national-parks/namdapha-national-park.html
Dibru Saikhowa National park	Forest Camp
Kaziranga	Landmark Woods	www.kaziranga-national-park.com/landmark-woods.shtml
Guwahati	Landmark Hotels
Pabitora	Tourist Lodge	www.assamtourism.org/wildlife.php#Pobitora

Images

Highlights

Destinations	Tour Highlights
Kolkata	Fort William, Victoria Memorial, Raj Bhawan
Dibrugarh	Koli Aai Thaan, Barbarua Maidam
Namdhapa	Birding
Dibru Saikhowa	Birding
Kaziranga	Elephat Safari for one horned Riho & Tiger, Tea Garden
Guwahati	Kamakhya temple
Pobitora	Birding

Reviews

Hi Tanmay,

Just writing a long overdue thank you for a wonderful (but too short!) holiday in India. We were very impressed with your service and all the trouble you went to in order to accommodate our ever changing itinery and had a fantastic holiday as a result. Also myself and Natalia got engaged in Ranthambore Park so some very fond memories.
I also wanted to thank you in particular for the service given by our driver Surendhar (I hope I have the spelling correct). He has a lovely, courteous and relaxed manner and we had fun on even the longest journeys! He was helpful in every little detail and I couldn't praise him highly enough.
We hope to return to India very soon and if we are arranging any tours yours is the first number we will call,
Cheers, Austin (U.K)

Dear Anil

Apologies for not replying to your earlier email.
My wife and I had a superb holiday in India. The sights and sounds will remain in our minds for many years to come (or at least until we return for another visit). I didn't appreciate how bespoke a tour you provide until actually arriving in India which was very reassuring.
The organisation was excellent and if permitted I would compliment the following people;
Sanjay the driver - superb ambassader really caring and friendly.
Bhim Singh Rana (Bharatpur bird park) & Surya Kant Paliwal (Jaipur) both guides were so passionate and informative on their part of the tour.
Hopefully when I revisit your country if I include Jaipur & Bharatpur in that visit then they would be my choice if guide.

The selection of hotels was good. My only critism would be the first hotel we stayed at on arrival in New Delhi - The Parkland. Being dropped off at a hotel which had only limited facilities, in a part of a city which had not "tourist" facilities - restaurants / shops etc (in fact we had no idea of what part of Delhi we staying in). Possibly the issue of a short introduction to the local area, local map or suggestions on local places of interest. Other than this the accommodation was OK.

I would recommend your agency to anybody interested in visiting India and will certainly be using your organisation again.
Thank you and your colleagues for all your assistance.

Best regards
Graham (U.k)

Dear Tanmay,

I would like to thank you for having arranged our one week Corbett trip and 2 night Delhi stay, you understood my requirement perfectly and provided a perfect holiday. The Traveller Van helped us not feel the strain of a 300 Km Journey from Delhi to Corbett, Infinity resort was comfortable at the same time rustic and not overly luxurious helping us get the perfect Jungle feel, the Jeep Safaris were always on time (05:45 AM!!) and very professional, the fishing safari was an experience in itself though the 2.5 Km mountain trek to reach the fishing beats was not anticipated and hence caused some worry to my elderly parents but in all fairness they enjoyed the experience. I would suggest though that you suggest a stay in Bijrani Forest rest house for the serious wildlife enthusiasts as they get an extra 15-20 minutes before park closes increasing chances of a tiger sighting, we did see the Tiger and enjoyed the experience.

I would definitely recommend your services.
Regards,
Naveed Naqshbandi Dubai, UAE.

To Tanmay Sharma

Just back home after 3 weeks in India. We want to tell you, that we had a wonderfull trip. Everything in your arrangement worked perferctly. Our driver, Kundan Singh, was great. We allways felt safe in his car, and he was allways there for us. On top of this he was good company, important when you spend so much time together. If you want to do something for him, let him learn a little more english. We could easily communicate, but often he needed more words. The birding guide, Nirankar Singh Yadav, was also very good. Qualified and nice to spend 10 days with. If other birdwatchers ask for a guide in that area, use him again. Thanks for your flexibility when we had bad weather in Pangoot. Camp River Wild is a great place, beautiful surroundings and a very good staff.
Birdwatchers often make a report of their trips. Others read it on the internet when planning their trips. We will definitely recommend your company and the driver as well as the birding guide in our report.

Best wishes and many thanks
Tina and Mads Elley

Hi Anil

We are now home from our trip to India and I thought I would give you a little feedback on our time at Corbett National Park.

Firstly, we loved the park and we managed to get a tiger sighting which was amazing so we felt really lucky to be fortunate enough to see one. Our driver was great and Dikhala was definitely the best place to stay to get the most from the wildlife. We thoroughly enjoyed our time there and would definitely return.

Thank you for all of your help in arranging the tour and like I say we did thoroughly enjoy our time there.

Many Thanks,
Alex Fredrickson

Hi Anil

I don't even know how to begin this mail.

Planning such a trip was a dream that I have been dreaming for more than 10 years, since I last traveled in India.

It took time and lots of effort, and finally it took form and shape, and I did it!!!

My enjoyment and satisfaction had exceeded my expectations, and I left India with a wonderful taste and a desire to do it again!!

It would not have been so successful without your skillful trip production. Every place you booked for us was excellent. From

Bandhavgarh, to Kanha, from Pench to Agra, it was all super good. Accommodation, food, transport, guides, you have chosen the best for me, and I am thankful.

The first thing I told my wife when I came back was that we are going to do it again soon, the two of us.

Let me promise you this, if you are still with "Wildlife Tours India" when I paln my second round, I would like you to organize it again for me.

It was perfect!!

Sincerely
Aviad Horev

Hi Anil

Thank you very much for everything during our recent trip to India. You did a terrific job making all of our arrangements and making adjustments whenever they were required. It could have been extremely stressful on our end, dealing with numerous flight delays and unexpected weather conditions, but it wasn't at all, because you took care of everything. weI have already had someone ask me about traveling to India, and we are planning on giving him your information. we can recommend your company highly enough.

Thanks once again for everything. Should we find ourselves in India once again, we will definitely turn to you.

All the best ,
Fred, Robert and Charles

Hi Anil

Thank you for the services, i will certainly pass on and recommend your services.

Lee Smith

Hi

Toni and I just wanted to pass on our thanks for the organization of the trip. We had a great time.

Best regards,
Debi Brunning & Toni Fleming

Hi Anil,

I just want to give some feedback on the service that you provided.

I would like to say a huge thank you for everything that you arranged for us. The two tours were also excellent. We really enjoyed our day. we will have to come back.

We will be recommending your company to our friends and colleagues.

Best regards,
Janet Newman-Carty

Hello Anil

How are you doing? I had a great time visiting your country these past few weeks!

Best regards,
David Lee-Sue

Hi Anil

And thanks again of the great work you did as a successful photo safari!

We will be looking for the new dates and forms now for the future.

I will come back when I do have better idea about further programs and dates. Kanha and Bandhavgarh are very good, but we will need to find then some hopefully little different place to be included.

Best regards,
Jouni Klinga

Essential Information

Visa

You Need to have Indian Visa for entry to India on your holiday. To apply for Indian Visa you have to contact your nearest Indian consulate or you can call on 09057570045 or visit http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/ for more information.

Indian Embassy in London
Address : Indian Embassy
India House, Aldwych,
London WC2B 4NA.
Tel: 020 7836 8484
Site URL : http://www.hcilondon.net/

Money

There is no limit to the amount of foreign currency that visitors can bring.

Banks

Banks are open in the major cities & the nearest towns of the sanctuaries for transaction from 10.00 to 14.00 hrs on all days except Sunday.

Best time to visit

High season: October to April.

Travel wear

Cotton outfits, hats, sunglasses, sunscreen lotion etc. Some woolen clothes require, during winter.

Round the year temperature chart for the Cities & wildlife parks covered in during the Itinerary.

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Tem.	Max- Min	Max- Min	Max- Min	Max- Min	Max- Min	Max- Min	Max- Min	Max- Min	Max- Min	Max- Min	Max- Min	Max- Min
Kolkata	27-14	29-16	34-22	36-26	36-27	36-27	33-26	32-26	32-26	31-22	30-16	28-14
Dibrugarh	22-10	23-12	26-14	28-17	30-22	31-23	31-24	31-24	31-23	30-20	27-18	24-11
Namdhapa
Dibru Saikhowa
Kaziranga
Guwahati	24-10	27-12	31-16	32-20	31-23	32-25	32-26	32-26	32--25	30-22	28-17	25-12
Pobitora	24-10	27-12	31-16	32-20	31-23	32-25	32-26	32-26	32--25	30-22	28-17	25-12

Credit cards

Main hotels, restaurants and shopping centers honor major credit cards.

Currency

Indian Rupee (INR)

Drugs

Heavy punishments including imprisonment are imposed for possession of narcotic drugs.

Food

All standard restaurants offer a variety of cuisines including Continental, Chinese, Indian & local.

Water

It is always better to drink bottled drinking water or drinking water from restaurants. It is not advisable to drink water from slow moving streams, lakes or dams. Mineral water is available in sealed bottles.

FAQs

May I ask for tailor-made itinerary?

Yes, you can ask for it.

What is Indian Time zone?

t is + 0530 GMT

Can I use British pound there in India?

No, you can't use British pound in India directly, you need to change it through bank or authorize money changer into Indian Rupees (INR).

What type of plug sockets use in India?

Please look at the photograph for better idea.
Voltage: 230-240V Frequency (Hz): 50Hz

Who will meet us at the Airport?

Our company representative will be there at the airport arrival lounge carrying a company placard mentioning your name on it.

Does entry fees to the national parks are included in the cost?

Yes, entry fee to all the national parks is included with the cost.

Does monument fees for cities included in the cost?

No, it's not included in the package cost it will as per actual if there are any in the itinerary.

What is the maximum weight allowed on domestic flights?

The normal weight limit is 15 -25 kilogram's.

Is communication to home possible while on wildlife tour?

Yes almost all the wildlife resorts will have the dialing facilities except the few, like in north east India.

What is the weather & temperature like?

Weather in the Indian jungle will be very much pleasant during winter time as the Sun is gradually up, but generally it will quite cold in the morning while you are on your jungle safari.

Which Vaccination is required before visiting India?

The citizens and travelers coming from the United Kingdom, Canada & United States, do not require any vaccination certificate or inoculations. It is highly recommended to get a precautionary measure vaccination against Hepatitis B & carry mosquito repellents, nets or take a course of anti Malaria tablets to avoid Malaria.

What should I carry?

Cool cottons for daywear, Light woolens for the morning & evenings (a warm jacket is required for morning safari as it will be chilling), a couple of pairs of shoes, shorts, sunglasses, anti sun tanning lotion, good Binocular & Camera with a couple of batteries.

What are the major wildlife species, inhabiting in Indian wildlife?

India is well known for a large extent of its tigers, elephants and rhinoceroses, but these are just three giant of the more than 500 species of mammals living in the country. India is blessed with over 2000's species and sub-species of birds. India offers a number of National parks and sanctuaries where you can watch the magnificent tigers, the stately elephants, leopards, the one horned rhinos, a myriad of exotic birds and countless reptiles and insects.

Can we have an Elephant safari during our wildlife tour?

Elephants are the most preferred and convenient way of watching wildlife species in their natural habitat. It is very much possible in most of the tropical wildlife sanctuaries of India like, Corbett, Raja ji, Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Panna, Pench & Kaziranga National Park.

What is the present status of tigers in India?

India has twenty seven Tiger Reserves which comes under the organization of Project Tiger, a joint effort of the Government of India and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). As per the current census there are tiger population will as per below table.

Project Tiger Reserve	Tigers as per the current census
Corbett National Park	138 - Census 1997
Ranthambore National Park	26 - Census 2005
Sariska National Park	24 - Census 1997
Panna National Park	19 - Census 1997
Kanha National Park	106 - Census 1998
Bandhavgarh National Park	49 - Census 1997
Pench National Park	8 - Census 1998
Tadoba National Park	43 - Census 1998
Periyar National Park	30 - Census 1996
Sunderban National Park	270 - Census 1997
Kaziranga National Park	80 - Census 1997
Manas National Park	89 - Census 1997
Namdhapa National Park	61 - Census 2002

Bird Watching Tips

1. Choice of Location :It is very important in bird watching to choose the location, many birders spend the majority of their bird watching time and energy on poor locations.

2. Knowledge of Species: There are approximately 1250 species of birds in India and recognizing each of them is nearly impossible. So when you visit any area for bird watching, do a little research first. You may find that perhaps only a few species actually inhabit that particular area. With a little preparation, you will be able to more readily identify bird species from each other.

3. Practice before you go for bird watching: It is always better to learn to put your binocular on target, it is key to viewing wildlife, and especially birds, after only a few attempts, you'll get good at quickly acquiring your target. Quite often, birds are visible for only a few seconds, practice to become proficient.

4. Listing to Call and songs : Listening helps you hear rustling leaves, wings flapping, and the birds calling.
It is pretty amazing what you can hear once you really start listening. Besides, if you spend the whole day just using your eyes to look for birds, you probably won't see very many. So instead of just looking, relax your eyes, don't look so hard; let the birds find you. You will start to notice movement in your periferal vision, and then you will have an area to look in.

5. Get a pair of Binocular : Spending time and money to get to the right place can be totally wasted when your binoculars are inadequate. If you have an inexpensive pair of binoculars you are not getting the most out of your viewing. Today's technologies come at a price and they provide Crucial benefits in wildlife viewing. For instance, image stabilization will keep your view from shaking-very important when watching from a long Distance. Other cool features include anti-fogging, low-light viewing and wide-view characteristics. Additionally, binoculars with built-in digital cameras enable you to identify birds once you get home. These benefits will definitely enhance your bird watching. A great pair of binoculars will turn a mediocre experience into a great one. You can count on it!

6. Take someone with you : It is always better if you take someone with you, who knows the area well and have experience of bird watching, it will help you to remember the sightings.