Naturetrek Newsletter

We would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

We hope you enjoy this edition of our e-newsletter and look forward to seeing you on one of our tours in 2006.

PHOTO GALLERY
A selection of superb images taken by Naturetrek client Peter Price

CRICKET AND WILDLIFE
Your chance to enjoy the 2006 India test matches and some of the country’s finest wildlife

INDIA IN THE NEW YEAR
If you are looking for a break in the New Year then the magic of India may be just for you

CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEA
Looking for that last minute Christmas present? Naturetrek Gift Vouchers available

Apply to us now for your Complimentary Ticket (worth £10) to Destinations, the London Travel Show, from 2nd to 5th February 2005.

Destinations, the annual London Travel Show at Earl’s Court, runs from Thursday 2nd February to Sunday 5th February 2005. This is your opportunity to be inspired by the vast range of travel opportunities and ideas offered beneath one roof… and to visit our Naturetrek stand (no. R01) to discuss your wildlife interests and travel arrangements with our expert consultants.

Do join us in February, applying for your free ticket(s) by phoning Abby Grainger (01962 733051) or e-mailing abby@naturetrek.co.uk with your name, address and number of tickets required.

We're always delighted to receive images of tours taken by the enthusiastic photographers amongst you. Regular client Peter Price has posted collections of his images on the internet. Amongst them are some amazing shots of an adult female Giant Anteater taken during our tour in Guyana in March, together with a youngster riding on the mother's back. We believe that Peter is also the first Naturetrek client to photograph a Harpy Eagle whilst on one of our tours. To see Peter's full Guyana gallery, click here

In October Peter travelled to Peru with us on our Macaws and Machu Picchu tour. Naturetrek General Manager, Andy Tucker, who spent a year in Tambopata, says "Personally I think that the Macaw clay lick at Tambopata is one of the world's great wildlife spectacles. Peter has managed to record the magical ambience of the clay lick on film - something that I miserably failed to achieve during a year in the area!”. To see the whole of Peter's Peru gallery, including some stunning images of Humboldt Current seabirds, Cock-of-the-rock, Sunbittern, Agami Heron and colourful tanagers, click here

With the number of English cricket supporters reaching an all time high this summer, many are looking forward to the England v India Test matches in 2006. Combine the best of the action and wildlife watching on a Naturetrek holiday.

The dates for the Test matches between England and India have been released and we are pleased to present the trip dossier for our cricket tour. Although the schedule is not yet ‘official’, we are in constant contact with the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) and in case of any changes we will let you know.

Please note that there is a lot of interest in this tour; should you be interested in travelling with us we urge you to reserve your place as soon as possible, as the holiday is limited to 16 people.

If you are looking for the perfect wildlife holiday destination to escape the cold and damp British winter then a holiday to India might be just what you are looking for. The extract below, taken from Chris Kehoe’s excellent trip report on the most recent Naturetrek ‘Just Tigers!’ tour, illustrates just how exciting a holiday to India can be.

November 2005 saw yet another highly successful Just Tigers tour to India. During such tours the secret is to spend an extended period of time at one of India’s foremost Tiger Reserves, in this case Kanha NP in Madhya Pradesh where the group were based for seven nights. From our very comfortable base at Tuli Tiger Resort we took twice daily jeep safaris into the park. During a total of 13 drives (each lasting 3-6 hours, with the longer morning excursions punctuated by a packed breakfast stop) no fewer than 6 or 7 different Tigers were seen in a total of 12 separate sightings. Our first encounter, enjoyed by all, came after we had been in the national park for only 40 minutes when a Tigress with two well grown cubs was seen at close range. Everyone had at least five sightings of these magnificent big cats and we all had extended close views of males patrolling along the jeep tracks, or from Elephant back during a so-called Tiger show. In addition, between us we saw three Leopards, seven Jungle Cats and a single Sloth Bear while the local pack of Dhole (Indian Wild Dogs) was seen on two occasions. Commoner herbivores such as abundant Chital (Spotted Deer) and Sambar were supplemented by repeated encounters with impressive Gaur (the largest Bovine in the world) and Barasingha (‘Kanha Swamp Deer) one of the rarest mammals on earth and the original reason for establishing Kanha as a protected area.

Keener birders were certainly not disappointed as a wide range of species were found including Painted Francolin, Orange-headed Thrush, Crested Hawk-eagle, Indian Black Eagle and four species of owls as well as numerous commoner species (over 150 species in total); even a few vultures (3 species were seen) are still hanging on in this remote corner of India after the catastrophic population declines elsewhere. Kanha is not the easiest place in the world to get to but once there the rigours of an overnight train journey followed by a four hour drive soon seem well worthwhile. The return journey to Delhi was broken by a day of sightseeing in Agra, at the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, and several group members decided to extend their stays with extensions to Chambal/Bharatpur (some of the best birdwatching in the world!) or Ranthambore where yet more Tigers were seen, including TV’s famous Machali and her latest offspring.

If you are looking for that special last minute Christmas present then look no further – Naturetrek gift vouchers could not be simpler.

This ideal gift (or you may choose to buy a complete holiday) can be subsequently redeemed against any Naturetrek holiday, making Christmas shopping and choosing a holiday, much easier.

Please call us on 01962 733051 or email info@naturetrek.co.uk for further details

To view a list of the late availability for Naturetrek tours departing over the next couple of months, please click here. However, as things are constantly changing, we advise you to call our Cheriton Mill office on 01962 733051 to check for any amendments.

We hope you have enjoyed reading this edition of the Naturetrek e-news. If you would like some help planning a future wildlife holiday, please call or e-mail us on info@naturetrek.co.uk and we will be happy to assist you.

We are continually striving to improve our e-newsletter – any comments and feedback would be gratefully appreciated!

If you would prefer not to hear from us in this way, please email remove@naturetrek.co.uk

For more information on any of our holidays please call us on 01962 733051