Please note: The Tour commences and ends at Bandhavgarh. Transfer from and back to the nearest airport town (Jabalpur) or railway station town (Katni) by shared cabs will be at an additional cost. Assistance will be provided in choosing and booking flights or trains, and cab-pooling, but please talk to us for special needs.


• Day 1, March 17: Arrival and Initial Foray
  
  Leaving Jabalpur early in the morning, participants arrive in Bandhavgarh after a journey lasting about five hours. Following a scrumptious luncheon and a round of mutual introduction, your Skipper will brief the group on the natural history features and tourist rules of the Park and set the tone for the Tour.
  
  Then it’s time for the much-awaited first safari, during which we acquaint ourselves with the Park’s topographical features. A dash of beginner’s luck can yield the coveted sight of a Tiger early on the trip, kicking the event off to a rollicking start, but even if feline fortune doesn’t shine through, the beauty of the Park is bound to enthrall us with plenty of time remaining on the Tour to see and photograph the principal object of our pursuit.
  
  Following our maiden foray into the Park, we return to camp, where the Tour’s first interactive Charchaaloka
  Charchaaloka: Presentations, Lectures, Discussions
  session will ensue. These unique Toehold sessions, which are highly fruitful and great fun, are reported by earlier participants to be as enjoyable as the safaris themselves and should entertain you as much as educate you.
  
  Having spent a noteworthy day replete with exploration, photography and frolic, we enjoy a scrumptious supper before hitting the sack for the night with dreams of what lies ahead.
• Day 2, March 18: Morning and Afternoon Safaris in Bandhavgarh
  
  The morning safari lasts for a full four hours, giving us a splendid chance to not only track tigers but also see and photograph many other inhabitants of this Central Indian Eden. We exit the park at 9:45a.m and return to our comfortable resort for a refreshing shower and a rejuvenating breakfast.
  
  After a brief repose, we meet for a session of ChitraTantra
  ChitraTantra: Photo Principles, Reviews, Critique
  , where your Skipper will impart a wealth of useful photography tips, tricks and techniques. Intriguing and interactive, this discussion is bound to open your eyes to many new things you can try on the rides to come.
  
  Lunch will be followed by the second safari at 3:30. Afternoons are great for bird-watching, and while we wait for Tigers to start moving or visit the numerous waterholes to counter the summer heat, we have a great time photographing some of the winged attractions of Bandhavgarh, which may include White-rumped Shamas, Indian Pittas, Red Jungle Fowl and Greater Adjutant Storks. Meanwhile your Skipper will constantly monitor the situation and strategize with the guide and the driver to maximize Tiger sighting opportunities.
  
  Should a Tiger encounter materialize, your Skipper will do everything in his strength to put you in the best possible position for viewing and photography.
  
  After hopefully a fruitful excursion, we return to the resort for a cup of tea and later meet for a session of ChaayaaChitra
  ChaayaaChitra: Photography Techniques, Tips, Tricks
  followed by dinner and shuteye.
• Day 3 and 4, March 19 and 20: More Morning and Afternoon Safaris in Bandhavgarh
  
  For the next two days, we follow the same schedule with variations in strategy and approach if and as required. Your Skipper will always be thinking a step ahead and will collaborate with the drivers and naturalists to take strategic decisions both proactively and driven by need, in an effort to achieve a rewarding time.
  
  
• Day 5: March 21: Checkout and Dispersal
  
  We venture into the Park for one final throw of the dice in the way of a morning safari. Upon our return, having completed a fruitful stint in the land of the tiger, we depart Bandhavgarh after breakfast and drive back to Jabalpur whence we return to our abodes.
  

Frequently Asked Questions

• How different are your Photo Tours from ordinary tours?
  
  Unlike travel agents who plan your holiday from a remote destination to places they sometimes haven’t experienced themselves, Photo Tours offer a comprehensive toehold to experience a place through the guidance of a professional photographer. The common ingredients in all our Photo Tours are fun and a lot of learning and knowledge sharing. Besides, most or all of our Tour participants are photography enthusiasts, which keeps the group in harmony and helps make your experience focussed.
• How many people can I expect to share the vehicle with on safari?
  
  Toehold's Photo Tours are designed for optimal space and comfort for photography on safari, so you may expect to share your vehicle with a maximum of three other people (including the Skipper), apart from the driver and the naturalist. Need even more space? Talk to us to arrange for a bespoke safari.
• How sure are you about photographing wildlife on this Tour?
  
  Considering the meticulous attention to timing we pay while scheduling Tours and the local expertise we leverage, we believe that it would be extremely unfortunate if our sightings and photography were unsatisfactory. Of all the Indian Parks, Bandhavgarh offers the best opportunity to observe and photograph the Bengal Tiger. However, since we will be in an uncontrolled environment, we do not claim that sightings – especially of big cats - are guaranteed.
• What equipment do you suggest on this Tour?
  
  For Tigers and other mammals, a telephoto zoom lens in the range of 70 to 200mm or 100 to 400mm works very well. If opting for a fixed (‘prime’) lens, the 300mm focal length on a cropped sensor body with a 1.4x extender (‘teleconverter’) is the best compromise. Although it is often said about bird photography that the ideal focal length is 100mm more than the one you brought, a lens with a focal length of around 400mm is essential. A wide-angle or normal zoom to capture landscapes or creative perspectives of wildlife is recommended. And since the light conditions in Indian jungles can often be challenging, an image-stabilized lens and a camera body that performs well at high sensitivities are boons. However, if you do not have appropriate equipment, there is no need to fret. Toehold offers an exhaustive array of cameras and lenses for hire, so you can always hire what you need. Click here to see what we offer on rent.
• I am a newbie in nature photography. Am I eligible?
  
  Absolutely! This Tour is meant for fledgling as well as experienced photographers. Beginners get all the advantages of learning on and off the field from Toehold’s eminent Skippers. In fact if you are a newbie, you should jump on this terrific learning opportunity and sign up right away!