Please note: The Tour commences and ends at Bandipur. Participants may choose to drive from or via Bangalore and back in their own cars or hired cabs at actual cost. Assistance and coordination for car-pooling will be provided but please talk to us for additional help or special needs.


• Day 1, March 9: Arrival and First Safari
  
  Tour participants converge at Bandipur by noon from various destinations and check in. After a brief rest, a scrumptious lunch beckons at 1:00p.m. More rest will follow, and at 3:00p.m, your Skipper will chair a mutual introduction session and brief you about the Park’s natural history, other features and rules, set the tone for the Tour and orient you to the first ride.
  
  Upon our return, tea will be served, and an hour later, we meet for the first ChaayaaChitra
  ChaayaaChitra: Photography Techniques, Tips, Tricks
  , ChitraTantra
  ChitraTantra: Photo Principles, Reviews, Critique
  , Charchaaloka
  Charchaaloka: Presentations, Lectures, Discussions
  sessions of the Tour. Following a fruitful day of exploration, learning and fun, we dine and hit the sack looking forward to more.
• Day 2, March 10: Morning and Afternoon Safaris in Bandipur
  
  An early wake-up call and tea will set us up on time for the morning safari at 6:30.
  
  Cleaving through the nippy air and misty woods, we savour the opportunity of making atmospheric images of any wildlife we may encounter. Early mornings are a wonderful time to look for big cats, for it is then that they are on the move. In the event of a fortuitous encounter, your Skipper will leave no stone unturned to ensure that you are in the best position possible to watch and photograph the subject of adoration.
  
  Returning from the ride at 9:30a.m, we enjoy a rejuvenating breakfast forthwith and then retreat to our cottages for an hour of repose. We meet again as scheduled by the Skipper for an interactive session before lunch.
  
  After lunch and an extended discussion, a cup of hot tea will warm us up for the afternoon safari, during which we will pursue sightings and photographic opportunities of Elephants, Gaur, birds and the other beautiful denizens of the jungle, and as always, the possibility of a feline encounter always lurks behind the curtain of fortune. A combination of timing and appropriateness of location can yield a memorable experience that is likely to never abandon you.
  
  Another of our highly insightful and enjoyable interactive sessions ensues in the evening before we put our heads to our pillows at the end of another sublime day spent roaming the Southern Indian jungle.
• Day 3, March 11: Last Safari and Checkout
  
  Starting early, you embark on the last safari of the Tour, keeping your fingers crossed for whatever luck awaits you in the final draw. Your Skipper’s knowledge of the Bandipur jungle is next only to the locals’, which allows him to team up with the driver in chalking out the strategy, watching the signs and listening for alarm calls to track predators on the last throw of the dice.
  
  Following hopefully a productive ride, we return to the base satiated and after breakfast and the customary group picture shoot, we return to our abodes carrying many a picture in our hard disks and a wealth of memories in our hearts.
  
  

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 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 Southern Indian parks, Bandipur offers the best opportunity to photograph the Royal 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?
  
  Bandipur offers equal opportunity for bird and mammal photography. 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. For mammals a telephoto zoom lens in the range of 70 to 300mm or 100 to 400mm works very well. A wide-angle or normal zoom to capture landscapes or creative perspectives of wildlife is recommended. And since the light conditions in Southern 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!