Giants of the Floodplains
Kaziranga, Nameri Kaziranga, Nameri Kaziranga, Nameri Kaziranga, Nameri Kaziranga, Nameri Kaziranga, Nameri Kaziranga, Nameri

Kaziranga, Nameri
21 - 28 Jan 2012

What do you call a sanctuary that has the world's largest population of the Great One-horned Rhino, the planet's highest density of Tiger, is India's biggest conservation success and also a UNSECO world heritage site? You may call it an idyll. Some call it a marvel of the Northeast.

The world knows it as Kaziranga National Park.

And stepping into its core, this guided Toehold Tour will unravel the many facets of the wondrous site, and around its sinuous swamps and surreal mist-shrouded vistas, it will introduce you to a world of endless opportunities.

KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK

How is it?
Kaziranga's 470km2 lush green flood plains, which seem to be designed for maximum spectacle value, and fed by the mighty Brahmaputra, are composed of tall, dense grasslands interspersed with cane brakes, open woodlands, interconnecting streams and numerous lakes or 'Beels' – which is a long way of saying that it's a truly mesmeric setting.

And virtually everything about Kaziranga is large, and giants dominate the landscape. From the grasses to the birds, and from the reptiles to the mammals, the underlying credo of this wildlife expo is that chic is the opposite of size-zero. And their rarity and exclusivity add excitement to the experience.

What you will see:
Two decades ago, Kaziranga faced the ignominious threat of losing its most celebrated tenant, the Great One-horned Rhino. Today, it is the best place in the world to see and photograph this primordial pachyderm. And although the rhino is virtually synonymous with the place, it is merely the tip of an iceberg that goes incredibly deep.

Among mammals, the rare and endangered Asiatic Water Buffalo – a species of wild buffalo even larger than the famous African Cape Buffalo – forms a unique attraction. Enormous mud-stained tuskers and mid-sized elephant herds drifting slowly across the great outdoors are a regular fixture.

In a smaller segment, the comely Hog Deer and the endemic Swamp Deer (or the 'Soft Ground Barasingha') offer beautiful attractions on hooves. Occasionally, those bestowed with special fortune may enjoy the exceptional sight of a tiger adorning the great outdoors.

Kaziranga's avian life is famously splendid. Identified by Birdlife International as an "Important Bird Area", a rich variety of migratory birds, water birds, predatory birds and scavengers are found here, including the Black-necked Stork, Red-breasted Parakeet, Asian Barred Owlet, Dusky Eagle-Owl, Dalmatian Pelican, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Jerdon's Babbler, Swamp Francolin, Lesser Coucal, Great Hornbill, Pied Harrier and Cinerous Vulture.

Two of the largest snakes in the world, the Reticulated Python and Rock Python, and the longest venomous snake in the world, the King Cobra are found here. The Assam Roofed Turtle is a fairly common sight that lends itself beautifully to creative imaging.

The adjoining Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, which is a bonus destination on this Tour, is one of the best places in which to see and photograph some of India's endemic primates. A small park that offers big opportunities, it boasts of seven species of primate viz. the Hoolock Gibbon, Assamese Macaque, Pig-tailed Macaque, Stump-tailed Macaque, Rhesus Macaque, Capped Langur and Slow Loris.

Truly, a 'simian adventure' never sounded so enticing!

NAMERI TIGER RESERVE

What about this?
Situated on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra near the Arunachal Pradesh-Assam border, this exotic natural treasure supports an astounding diversity of flora and fauna. It is home to some of the subcontinent's rarest species like the White-winged Wood Duck, and a visit to Nameri is more than likely to yield a productive time with Pied Falconet, Wreathed Hornbill and Ibisbill among others.

Please note: Although this Tour is designed especially for photographers, non-photographers are welcome.

What you will take back:

With such a profusion of opportunities on the platter, you can count on taking back –
  • A holistic wildlife experience
  • Excellent sightings and images of the Great One-horned Rhinoceros in picturesque surroundings
  • Pictures of other mammal and avian attractions of Kaziranga and Nameri
  • Beautiful landscape images of a unique riverine ecosystem
  • Plenty of photography, post-processing and natural history learning with Toehold's expert skippers through our ChaayaaChitra
    ChaayaaChitra: Photography Techniques, Tips, Tricks
    , ChitraTantra
    ChitraTantra: Photo Principles, Reviews, Critique
    , Charchaaloka
    Charchaaloka: Presentations, Lectures, Discussions
    sessions.





PHOTOGRAPHY SKIPPER

Sachin Rai
A keen eye for wildlife and unique perspectives underline Sachin's journey as a nature lover and as a well-established name in the field of nature photography. Having travelled extensively through several remote corners of India for over a decade, Sachin brings with him great respect for nature and a holistic understanding of many of the environmental crises we face today. He loves Amphibians and Tigers and anyone who has ever been out with him in the field will appreciate his contagious craziness and witty sense of humour, things adding to worthwhile company!

Sachin has been documenting many of the less-known and less-noticed aspects of the wild and constantly perseveres to share his experiences with citizens and scientists, especially through his photography website - an enriching resource for budding wildlife enthusiasts and naturalists. He is an active supporter of many conservation NGOs and invests a lot of his time in their outreach activities. He has led several expeditions in search of rare species and ended up rediscovering a 'lost' species of frog, 73 years after its first sighting and description. Sachin has also been honoured with prestigious awards and accolades for his photography and his involvement in wildlife tourism adds great value to our clients' experience.

Sachin's work can be viewed on his website at www.landofthewild.com



WHY GO ON A TOEHOLD PHOTO TOUR?

At Toehold, we are passionate about photography just as you are, which lets us understand your travails and needs perfectly. And we use this insight to specially design our Photography Tours so they give you a toehold to excel at the art and set you up for success.

The Toehold team at your disposal will keep you tuned and geared, so you come in empty-handed but go out with bagful of images and tales of an experience that is better lived than heard. Specifically, you will get -

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WHAT PEOPLE SAID ON OUR PREVIOUS PHOTO TOUR

Photography enthusiasts who were a part of a similar Tour previously said:

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    KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK

  • Day 1, January 21: Arrival in Kaziranga -
    We arrive at Guwahati by noon from various places and the group will leave for Kaziranga together. After a drive of around 6 hours, we settle down in our luxurious resort. And later in the evening over dinner, we will discuss the course of action for the next few days, bracing up for the cold night.
  • Day 2, January 22: Morning and Evening Jeep Safaris
    We enter the forest early in the morning and reach the gates of one of the zones of this beautiful park, aiming to get some evocative pictures of Rhinos in the mist. As the mist lifts, the beauty of the magical swampy grasslands will become evident. After a fascinating ride, we return to the resort and breakfast, after which we discuss our first morning safari understand one another better.

    In the late afternoon we leave for the second safari, hoping to make images of the other magnificent wildlife seen here. A discussion about our photography equipment and what can be done under the given conditions will ensue before dinner, with a view of helping us make the most of the forthcoming safaris.
  • Day 3, January 23: Morning and Evening Jeep Safaris
    We follow the same schedule as Day 2 and explore some other forested areas of the park too. We choose our zones according to the group's preference between mammal and bird photography.
  • GIBBON SANCTUARY

  • Day 4, January 24: Excursion to the Gibbion Sanctuary
    We visit the beautiful Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary and spend the entire day watching and photographing primates. A combination of patience and luck should yield opportunities to watch Hoolock Gibbons at length.
  • Day 5, January 25: Morning and Evening Jeep Safaris
    We venture into the Kaziranga National Park for two more safaris to try our luck with the large mammals and rare birds.
  • NAMERI TIGER RESERVE

  • Day 6, January 26: Arrival and Exploration in Nameri
    We leave for Nameri and arrive well before lunch. The resort we will camp at is at the edge of the forest and many species of birds, including the Oriental Hobby and the Brown Hawk Owl, are seen around the campus. Reptile lovers will be delighted by the enchanting sight of the endemic Tokay Gecko, a very big Gecko that resides in the banyan trees nearby.

    After lunch we undertake a 1km walk through shrubs to reach the river where, on the banks we can see Small Pratincole and Ibisbill as Hornbills fly overhead.

    Crossing the river by boat will bring us to the midst of a pristine forest, where we undertake a longer walk enjoying the habitat and pursuing bird sightings and photo opportunities.
  • Day 7, January 27: River Rafting and Forest Walks
    In the morning we enjoy a raft ride in the river and call it a day after visiting Nameri National Park in the evening.
  • Day 8, January 28: Departure to
    After an eventful trip filled with learning, adventure, fun and memorable experiences, we part and you return home bustling with stories to tell and pictures to share.

Kaziranga & Gibbon Only: INR 29,750/- per participant - Indian Nationals
Nameri: INR 9,500/- per participant - Indian Nationals
Kaziranga & Nameri together: INR 39,250/- 38,250/- - Indian Nationals

Couple Discount: Indian couples are entitled to a discount of 5% on the entire tour.

Foreign Nationals: Please get in touch with us for the tour cost for international guests.

Inclusions:

  • Twin sharing accommodation in a luxury resort at Kaziranga and accommodation in an eco-camp in Nameri.
  • All meals - lunch, dinner, breakfast
  • All applicable taxes
  • All road transfers
  • 6 Safaris in Kaziranga
  • Full day in Gibbon Sanctuary
  • Rafting and guided forest walks while at Nameri

Exclusions:

  • All airfare
  • Any kind of personal expenses or optional tours / extra meals ordered
  • Insurance, laundry, phone calls.
  • Any kind of drinks (alcoholic, mineral, aerated)
  • Camera fees - we will advise the camera fees well in advance.
  • Anything that is not included in the inclusion list

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How many participants are expected in one Safari vehicle on this tour?
    Most of our photography tours are crafted to provide ample attention to the participants. So lesser the number, easier for us to attend to every participant's requirement. You can expect a group of maximum 4 participants in a Safari Vehicle on this tour. Groups of 4 participants form a team and the skippers divide their attention between all such vehicles while on the tour.
  • How different are tours and photo tours?
    Unlike travel agents who plan your holiday from a remote destination to places some times they havent even experienced themselves, Photo Tours are innovative ways to experience a place through the guidance of a professional photographer. Most of our photo tours are fun with a lot of learning and knowledge sharing. More over, your group consisits of photography enthusiasts only making your experience more focused.
  • How sure are you about Photographing Wildlife?
    While we think it would be extremely unfortunate if any of our participants do not get to see and photograph wildlife, we think it is almost impossible keeping in mind the activity around this time of the year. Also keeping in mind our elaborate tour spanning 6 safaris in Kaziranga, we think it is quite sufficient. However, we are in an uncontrolled environment and we cannot claim that sightings are guaranteed.
  • What equipments do you suggest on this tour?
    Keeping in mind mammals and birds, at least 300+ mm of focal length is mandatory. How ever 400mm range is what we believe is very effective. Do let usk now if you would like to rent any equipment for this tour. Wide angle lenses are definately useful on this tour.
  • I am a newbie in Wildlife Photography. Am I eligible?
    This tour is made for starters as well as experienced wildlife photographers. Starters get a great advantage of learning on and off the field along with your skippers. Your experience shouldnt stop you from signing up for sure.
  • Refund/Cancellation Fees:
    1. 15% : Between 30-45 days from date of departure
    2. 50% : Between 7-30 days from date of departure
    3. 90% : Between 2-7 days from the date of departure
    4. No Refund within 48 hours from date of departure
  • Terms & conditions
    • 1. Participants who have a medical history of Blood Pressure, Heart related problems or Asthma are advised to seek medical advice before enrolling for this tour.
    • 2. Fitness to complete the tour is the only criterion for participation.
    • 3. Toehold Travel & Photography Pvt Ltd. shall not be responsible for injuries, damages, or losses caused to any traveler in connection with terrorist activities, social or labor unrest, mechanical or construction failures or difficulties, diseases, local laws, climatic conditions, abnormal conditions or developments, or any other actions, omissions, or conditions outside the travel agent's control.
    • 4. All clients traveling with Toehold Travel & Photography Pvt Ltd. must complete and sign a reservation form and the "Release of Liability, Assumption of Risk & Arbitration Agreement" form.


BOOKINGS CLOSED

LOCALE

Kaziranga, Nameri

QUICK INFO

  • Date : Jan 21st - 28th
  • Kaziranga: INR 29,750/-
    Per Person, Indian Nationals
  • Nameri: INR 9,500/-
    Per Person, Indian Nationals
  • Both: INR 38,250/-
    Per Person, Indian Nationals
  • All fares excluding flights
  • Skipper: Sachin Rai