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Location
India

Red Panda Safari

Details
14 DAYS FROM 18500 PP

Best time to go
MARCH - MID MAY & OCT - NOV

Red Panda

Red Panda Safari

Singalila National Park

Join your expert trained trackers as you search for the elusive red panda in Singalila and see the the one-horned Rhino in large numbers at Kaziranga National Park. See the backdrop of the mighty snow glad Himalayan peaks and explore the local markets from the most important hill station in Eastern India, Darjeeling. Witness the spectacular views of the landscape surrounding you as you ride the famous Darjeeling Hill Railway, a world heritage site.

Red Panda Wikicommons
Red Panda Wikicommons

why book this trip

Experience the opportunity to join the researchers at Singalila National Park in the setting of camera traps, hoping to capture the parks elusive predators on camera. The exact itinerary will depend on the conservation programmes being carried out in the area at the time of your visit, but your work will have a real positive impact on the local wildlife and communities. Camera traps are used to see which animals have passed by recently; rare species including black leopards, leopard cats and Indian civets have all been recorded here. The data collected is used to educate the local forest-dwelling populations on how to coexist sustainably with the animals.

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Day 1: Arrive Kolkata

On arrival into Kolkata airport, you will be met by your driver and guide who will transfer you to Oberoi Grand. The second largest city in India, Kolkata is located on the east bank of the River Hooghly and served as the capital of India during the British Raj until 1911.

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Oberoi Grand

Mixing classical Victorian and traditional Indian styles, this colonial style hotel is elegantly appointed, still standing tall after over 125 years on its feet. Its neo-classical façade and pillared entrance are instantly striking, welcoming you to what is sure to be a wonderful stay. The 204 rooms and 9 suites successfully fuse modern facilities with a classical style, and the hotel has ample facilities to keep you comfortable, spas to bars. Fondly known as ‘Grande Dame of Chowringhee’, it is perfectly located for access to the ‘City of Joy’, Kolkata (Calcutta).

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Day 2: Kolkata - Kaziranga National Park

Today you will be escorted to the airport to board the flight for Jorhat. Upon arrival you will be met and driven 3 hours to Kaziranga National Park, a World Heritage Site and Tiger reserve. More than 400 species of birds both resident and migratory are found here.

Cl India Rhino Charging Richard Denyer

Kaziranga National Park

A bastion of biodiversity, Kaziranga National Park contains over two thirds of the world’s population of Indian one-horned rhinoceros, which has gone from just 12 in 1908 to an astonishing 1,700, granting it world recognition as a conservation success story. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985, the park lies in the flat plains and shallow swamplands that border the mighty Brahmaputra River and offers excellent wildlife viewing over 430 kilometres of land. Located in the state of Assam in the far eastern reaches of India, the park is one of the most remote in India, with the nearest areas being Jorhat and Guwahati. We recommend staying at Diphlu River Lodge.

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Days 3 - 5: Kaziranga National Park

Early in the morning and in the afternoons you will take private a jeep safari in the National Park. Kaziranga is famous for hosting two thirds of the world’s population of one-horned rhinoceros however; it is also home to breeding populations of water buffalo, swamp deer and elephant.

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Diphlu River Lodge

This wonderfully homely lodge is fantastically located on the banks of the River Diphlu and adjacent to the Kaziranga National Park. Being this close to the park do not be surprised if you get a number of uninvited guests at mealtimes whilst dining under the starlit sky. With Diphlu River Lodge as your base you have the opportunity to go in search of the illusive tiger.

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Day 6: Kaziranga National Park - Guwahati

Early this morning you will take your final private Jeep safari in the National Park. After your safari you will be driven (approx 4 hrs) to Guwahati. Upon arrival you will be met and taken to your hotel, Taj Guwahati for the night.

Premium Temptation Suite 4X3

Taj Guwahati

Set in the gateway to the mystical northeast, this modern hotel by Taj offers comfort and luxury in equal measure

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Day 7: Guwahati - Bagdogra - Darjeeling

This morning you will be escorted to the airport for your flight to Baddogra. On arrival, you will be met and driven 3 hours to the Windamere Darjeeling. This evening you will set out to explore the local market or simply relax and take in your surroundings of the snow-clad Himalayan peaks.

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Windamere Hotel Darjeeling

Once a haunt for English and Scottish tea Planters it's now a wonderfully located hotel sitting atop of Observatory Hill. There are relaxing gardens and you can here the chimes of bells from a nearby Buddhist temple. The cottages are all decorated in keeping with the heritage but with all the modern conveniences you'd need.

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Day 8: Darjeeling

This morning you will ride the famous Darjeeling Hill Railway, now a world heritage site. Return to the hotel for lunch before being taken on a guided tour of Darjeeling town. There will also be sightseeing of the Himalayan Zoological Park, Gumba Rock Site and the nearby tea gardens.

Sl India Bengal Tiger Credit Steve Winter

India's Big Five

Chances are, you’ve heard of Africa’s “Big Five”, a list of five iconic animals that our clients hope to spot whilst on safari. Though India may not come to mind for most people as a top wildlife destination, it has its own Big Five!

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Day 9: Darjeeling - Singalila

After breakfast you will be driven through the stunning landscapes of the Himalayan foothills approximately 2.5 hours to Manebhanjen, the entry point to Singalila National Park. Settle in to your homestay, enjoying the breathtaking views.

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Shikhar Tarry

Shikhar Tarry is a cozy 4-room homestay nestled in the heart of Manebhanjan, a bustling mountain town in the eastern Himalayas. The heated rooms offer a comfortable bed equipped with electric blankets, and each room features an attached bathroom with running hot water and a shower. The kitchen, located on the second floor, is managed by the hospitable ladies of the house, who specialize in preparing delicious home-cooked Nepalese and Lepcha meals, in addition to serving standard Indian dishes. This warm and inviting homestay provides a perfect retreat for travelers looking to experience the authentic local culture and hospitality of the Himalayan region.

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Day 10 - 13: Singalila

Spend the next few days exploring Singalila National Park and the surrounding communities with a team of researchers and expert trackers. Hike in search of the endangered red pandas who live in these remote forests, heading out on a different forest trail each day.


Ac Habres Nest India Red Panda

Singalila National Park

Singalila National Park lies on the India-Nepal border, 2,100 to 3,650 metres above sea level, and is the best location for finding the elusive red panda. Other wildlife found in this Himalayan forest includes the clouded leopard, pangolin, Himalayan black bear and over 300 species of exotic birds.

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What to expect from a trip to India

Why Natural World Safaris?

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Wildlife Specialists

Wildlife remains our primary focus and we ensure accommodation is carefully selected as the very best places to stay for front-row wildlife spectacles for the time of the year you are travelling.

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Wealth of Experience

Our considerable wealth of experience and wildlife expertise has ensured a 100% tiger sighting success rate over the last 4 years in each of our India tiger safaris.

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Tailored Safaris

Share your interests with our Destination Specialists and we will match you to the in-country experts, providing you with nothing but the best access and highly experienced wildlife trackers and guides.

Client Reviews

Rated 5/5 based on 2 customer reviews
  • india-carsten-fischer

    Harriet was a great source of advice throughout the planning and the trip. We had many changex and she was patient and flexible in adjusting the itinerary. It was the second trip with her as the Specialist and it won’t be the last. Guides were great!! Loved the vibe and the excellent expertise. Thanks again for creating this memorable experience. Hotels were superb, luxurious but in time and with a local touch. Would have loved to stay longer in each of them.

    5 out of 5

  • Melanie O'Shea

    Harriet was fantastic to work with in putting together our dream trip. She turned around an incredibly quick and extraordinarily competitive itinerary for us when we had been let down elsewhere and managed all of our queries quickly and calmly. She was a pleasure to deal with and extremely helpful. This trip was a ten out of ten. We felt incredibly well looked after and utterly immersed in everything we saw. Fabulous local guides and naturalists at every turn ensured we took so much knowledge and appreciation home with us along with brilliant memories. The perfect introduction to this beautiful country. Did I mention we saw a tiger? We'd love to travel again with such brilliant destination information and on-the-ground teams combined with a competitively and sensibly priced approach.

    5 out of 5