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The Western Ghats of peninsular India is a bio-diversity rich landscape with varied habitats. Stretching across 5 states, it harbours a plethora of flora and fauna and also home to a large variety of endangered wildlife species, many of which are endemic to the Ghats. In the southern part of the ghats is the Anamalai Tiger Reserve, a place we call one of India’s best kept secrets.
On this Wildlife Photography Tour, we would keep Valparai, a tea plantation hub as our base to explore the Anamalais. We will spend 3 nights in 2 locations as we explore the best of both areas in search of some of the most elusive beings of these hills. Anamalais which literally translates to Elephant Hills is home to the endangered Lion-tailed Macaque and the Nilgiri Tahr, both endemic to the Ghats.
The tour begins in the Manchester of South India – Coimbatore. The group will assemble at a location from where we drive towards Valparai via the town of Pollachi and up the windy ghat road into the Anamalais. Along the way, we will make a stop at a vantage point to capture breath-taking scenery of the hills and also look for the endangered Nilgiri Tahr.
Wake up every morning to the songs of the Whistling School Boy (Malabar Whistling Thrush) and take in the goodness of the crisp morning breeze. The scents of the rainforests are addictive and the spectacular views are sure to blow your mind away. Explore the untrodden paths in this ancient forest, all while you enjoy the warm hospitality of the bungalow staff.
Our first stop will be at a Colonial British Bungalow perched on a hillock surrounded by tea gardens. The seemingly agricultural landscape is a wild place. Elephants, Indian Gaur, Barking Deer, Leopards and other small carnivores like Leopard Cats call these gardens their home. Over the first 2 nights, we will explore different areas around the Bungalow looking for the myriad of wildlife and birds. Guests would be introduced to the basics of camera trapping and also have a hands-on session in setting up a DSLR camera trap and lighting to get that perfect shot.
Our beautiful Bungalow
For our 3rd night, we will move to another location. The accommodation would be a similar colonial bungalow nestled amidst a Shola rainforest patch which is teeming with Birdlife. We will dedicate half a day to photograph Lion-tailed Macaques as they go about their daily routine. During the tour, there will be a number of activities including walks for Birds, Jeep safaris in the plantations and landscape photography sessions. Spend the weekend in the hills for an experience of a lifetime!
Day 1: October 21, 2021
Transfer from Coimbatore to Valparai
Assembling at a particular place in Coimbatore, we will depart towards Valparai. Along the way, we will stop at a few locations for landscape photography. After about a 3-3.5 hour drive will arrive at our first Bungalow. Following lunch, there will be a camera trap introduction session after which we will venture out on a jeep safari. At one of the locations, we will setup the trap and return to the Bungalow. Dinner is served and overnight.
Day 2: October 22, 2021
Hornbills and more
Today, we will begin with checking the camera traps to see if anything crossed and then head towards a forest patch to look for birds including the Great Hornbill.
Breakfast will be at the Bungalow. After breakfast, the skipper will host an image review and post processing session and later in the afternoon post lunch, head back for another jeep safari in the estate looking for Indian Gaur, Elephants and other wildlife.
We will once again setup our camera traps and later return to the bungalow for dinner. Post dinner, we will have discussions about the day’s activities and stay overnight at the Bungalow.
Day 3: October 23, 2021
Lion-tailed Macaques and Birds
Starting early, we will again check camera traps to see if any of the nocturnal wonders of the Anamalais have crossed our paths. After breakfast, we will transfer to the next bungalow about an hour away.
After lunch, we will depart to the famous Puduthottam Forest to look for Lion-tailed Macaques. The rest of the day will be spent photographing them. In the evening, we will visit some of the tea gardens to look for Birds and other wildlife like Indian Gaur and Elephants.
Dinner and overnight.
Day 4: October 24, 2021
Check-out and disperse
Like all good things come to an end too soon, the rainforest rendezvous would end too. After a short morning drive to look for Birds, we will check-out and depart to Coimbatore. The tour ends around 3:00 pm.
The above itinerary indicative and will be modified as per prevailing weather conditions and wildlife movement during the tour.
October 21, 2021
₹36,500 + 5% GST per person
Spaces:
2 spots available
Guide:
Gaurav Ramnarayanan
The tour begins at Coimbatore at 6:30 am on October 14th. Guests traveling from other cities can arrive the previous day. Please talk to us to discuss this in detail. Coimbatore is well connected by Air and Rail to all the major cities in India.
All guests must carry an RT-PCR negative test to participate in the workshop. If a second dose of vaccination is completed and 28 days has elapsed since, then a RT-PCR test is not required. All the staff in the bungalows are vaccinated and will wear masks and maintaining social distancing throughout the tour. All guest rooms and vehicles will be sanitised before check-in.
All prices mentioned are in Indian Rupees and are based on per person on double occupancy. 5% GST is applicable on the mentioned rates. If you are a single traveler and prefer to have a single room, talk to us for a quote on single occupancy charges.
