India - Tiger Direct!

Saw Tigers and cubs up close due to expert Naturetrek guide working with local Indian guides following tiger tracks and alarm calls of other animals in the jungle. Alongside lots of other mammals and birds. Lodge stays were brilliant and I thoroughly enjoyed transfers by road to experience local Indian culture. Whole organisation of trip was flawless. I booked my next Naturetrek in 2023 two days after getting back from Tiger Direct after getting information immediately from the guides in India and the tour operator and I have recommended Naturetrek to other friends especially in my local wildlife groups. Naturetrek give excellent preparation to us with guidance notes before leaving and covering every aspect of the travelling and descriptions of what we might see. Also giving us a questionnaire as to our preferences and expectations of the trip. At all times the tour operator was available to answer any small or bigger queries I had fur my first trip with Naturetrek and the actual two Naturetrek guides in India we’re helpful, sensitive well informed and organised and fun to be with. 

N.S. Surrey, Nov 22

A trip to India - 4 national parks - Tadoba, Pench, Kanha and Satpura - to look for tigers and other wildlife. We stayed at beautiful, friendly lodges, ate delicious food, were so well looked after and saw a multitude of wildlife, including tigers, leopards and sloth bears, as well as smaller animals and beautiful birds and scenery. Naturetrek is like a big, happy family. They look after you, organise everything and give clear instructions regarding all aspects of travel and the venues themselves. Mostly everything is paid for so spending money can be kept to a minimum; lines of communication are constantly open so there are people to contact with any query, however small and silly! The company has a series of open days throughout the year when you can meet the people planning your trip, discuss all aspects of your holiday and choose what is most suitable for you. Over a number of years we really feel we've got to know them - no wonder people travel with Naturetrek over and over again.

M.S. West Sussex, Nov 22

I did the pre-tour into Tadoba National Park and am very glad that I did as we saw tigers on each trip into the park. It was an amazing experience and beyond my expectations! Even the trips into the park where we did not see tigers, we saw an animal or bird that we had not seen before. The guides and drivers were very knowledgeable and made the tour special in every way. I found them [Naturetrek] very organized, friendly and helpful. The guides were excellent and asked us regularly if we were comfortable and if the food and rooms were satisfactory. The lodges were great and well located next to the park so we were at the park gate within minutes. The tour size was kept small so we got to know each other and that made for a better experience. Thank you to Naturetrek for a wonderful experience. The memories will last a lifetime!

S.R. Canada, Feb 20

We spent 14 days at 4 different lodges and National Parks in central India. Everything was perfectly planned, the lodges were amazing and the wildlife in the parks was fantastic. Naturetrek always make sure that their holidays are packed full! If you're not out looking at big animals, there is always time for some bird or butterfly watching. They use top grade accommodation and plan everything to ensure guests have a great holiday.  

J.E. West Midlands, Feb 20

Our holiday was absolutely fantastic. We were so well looked after by everyone. All the staff involved in our stay deserve a massive thank you. We don't eat Indian food at home so we weren't sure we were going to like the food. However we were amazed at how fresh and delicious it all was. We were blessed on seeing tigers up close. They are so much bigger in real life, they are such beautiful creatures. We saw a male, a female, and females with cubs. We saw beautiful birds which were so colourful, the birds of prey were also stunning. Our guides pointed out everything and had amazing knowledge. We were the only vehicle to have the absolute pleasure of seeing wild dogs too, which decided to play just in front of us. It was an honour. We also saw snakes which was an absolute treat too. A fantastic holiday, I'd love to do it all again!

J.D. Greater Manchester, Feb 20

A fantastic short break to India and two national parks in search of tigers and other wildlife. My first trip with Naturetrek and I was hugely impressed with the service and organisation. They were recommended to me by a friend and were fantastic. The guides were brilliant - knowledgeable, helpful, friendly, enthusiastic. The accommodation was excellent and overall I couldn’t have hoped for more from a tour operator. 

C.G. Cheshire, Nov 19

Eight tigers, 13 sloth bears, 2 packs of wild dogs, 4 sorts of deer, and fabulous birds. What more could we ask! But I have to say what really made it was meeting Nick. We felt really privileged. You don’t need me to tell you how fantastic he is – so knowledgeable, wildlife and nature exuding from every pore, brilliantly entertaining and is so personable. We tried to persuade him to become a presenter on the BBC to follow in David Attenborough’s footsteps. He would be superb!

J.T. Surrey

I would like to congratulate Naturetrek on an extremely well organised and interesting trip to Pench and Kanha National Parks. The team guides, Sara and Dilip, looked after us well and did everything to make the trip interesting and such a success. The guides within the national parks also deserve a special mention as they did all they could to enable us to see as much of India’s animal and bird life as possible. The accommodation, food and service throughout the tour was excellent, and the meal in Nagpur on the last night of the trip. A most enjoyable and unforgettable experience.

P.F. Aberdeenshire

What a fantastic trip! We saw tigers on 4 days out of 6, including following one for 25 minutes; the other wildlife was equally brilliant. Accommodation and food was food was superb and logistics were very well organised – particularly having a hotel room on the final night in Nagpur. Nick is a fantastic tour leader. His wildlife knowledge is staggering and his interpersonal skills make him perfect for the role. Thanks a lot all!

C.W. Somerset

We were very privileged on the extension to see the two tigers hunting a Sambar stag (an event that made the TV, front page of both the state newspaper and The Times of India, and internet)! I was also one of the lucky four at Kanha who had a male tiger walk right in front of our vehicle – an amazing view from only a couple of metres away!

S.W. Nottinghamshire

Trip exceeded all expectations. I hoped for one tiger sighting but ended up with eight! ... I loved the whole trip.

Mrs T. Herefordshire

We have just returned from the above holiday and wish to let you know how much we enjoyed it. The tour leader Narendra Sharma was excellent and he looked after us very well. His knowledge of both birds and animals was exceptional and he was polite and friendly throughout. The organisation, accommodation and safari’s were all of a very high standard and we were very impressed.

Mr & Mrs B. Staffordshire

We had a fabulous time and saw everything we hoped to see, and more. But even if we hadn't, the holiday was enhanced considerably by Indrajit, an extremely likeable man who knew the answer to everything we asked him, kept us all enthralled and had a great sense of humour. As novice adventurers, he 'held our hands' every step of the way too, and was always able to put us at ease. Also, we knew very little about birds beforehand but, thanks to Indrajit, now have a keen interest and considerably more knowledge about India's birdlife.

C.H. Buckinghamshire

Fabulous trip. I couldn't really have asked for more. Both parks had such diversity and beauty, plus we got to see 6 tigers (4 being cubs). The food was excellent in all 3 hotels and last, but by no means least, our naturalist guide, Indrajit, was brilliant. There wasn't a bird, butterfly, plant or mammal that he didn't know and he was a very personable companion on the trip. I would go again tomorrow if I could!

D.S. Yorkshire

We really enjoyed the trip. Everything was organised very well for us and the Indian staff and guides were all extremely efficient, friendly and helpful.

J.H. Cambridgeshire

We had a fabulous time on the Satpura extension. The lodge is one of the nicest places I have ever stayed in anywhere in the world. The accommodation is excellent and the food was delicious. Ali who runs the hotel as well as being a guide is one of the nicest people I have ever met on these trips.

E.H. Worcestershire

You surpassed our already high expectations. The Tiger sightings at Tadoba were excellent and all of the parks we visited were a delight. The trip was well organised, efficient and of high quality in every way.

A.D. Gloucestershire

I would like to thank Naturetrek and particularly Rajan Jolly for a particularly well organised trip. All the transport was organised without unnecessary delays, the accommodation and food was excellent with both the Tiger Corridor and Kanha Jungle Lodge giving great detail to comfort. The park entrances/permits, transport and guides into both Pench and Kanha Tiger Reserves were excellent in organisation and quality, added to which the experience within the reserves was excellent and the exhilaration of seeing my first Tiger will live long in my memory. I would like to express my particular thanks to Harish Sharma who made the holiday particularly pleasant, his constant efforts to ensure everything was in order, his pleasant demeanour and his particular knowledge of the birds, bird call, mammals and mammal calls made for a most memorable trip. Praise must also go to Durgesh Singh who again tirelessly worked to ensure the holiday went smoothly.

M.A. West Yorkshire

We saw, at very close range, Tigers and cubs, Sloth Bears and Leopards plus many other indigenous mammals and enjoyed frequent sightings of exotic eagles and owls. Our first tiger sighting was made after just 20 minutes of entering the National Park on our first day! Our most memorable experience? Well, two actually - A Tigress who brought her twin cubs to show off to us on a bank at eye-level just 12 feet away from our open jeep and a male tiger crossing the track immediately behind our parked jeep and who gave us a good hard look then emitted a spine-chilling grow! A truly wonderful experience and to be strongly recommended.

M. & J.W. North Yorkshire

Stunning comfortable accommodation in all 3 reserves with tasty locally sourced meals. Well organised and excellent tour leaders Durgesh Singh and Anand Sinha who were calm, efficient and very fair with well planned rotas giving opportunities for everyone to see the animals and birds they wanted to. There was a wide range of wildlife with Tigers being the main focus initially but the variety of animals led us to see leopards, Sloth bears and many more with colourful birds, flowers, insects and trees providing a wider knowledge of the 3 varied reserves. Stories and intimate knowledge and memories from our guides created a real feeling of involvement in the spotting and tracking process. My husband and I and our friends had excellent photo opportunities better than ever expected with Tigers sighted within the first hour of our first day and then walking so close by. Breathtaking. We have so many amazing photos and memories. Thank you very much Naturetrek.

A.S. Lancashire

Tiger Direct was a wonderful holiday experience. The accommodation was superb, we stayed in 3 lodges. The rooms were all lovely and the food and service at each of them was exceptional. All the staff were very efficient and very friendly and approachable. The local guides & drivers were excellent, they were determined to find us the wildlife we wanted to see. The Naturetrek leaders were both lovely.....friendly, professional, knowledgeable and caring. Everything ran like clockwork. We were lucky enough to see 5 tigers, sloth bears, wild dogs, giant squirrels, hundreds of bird species and almost everything we had hoped (but never expected) to see! ...One of the best organised holidays I have ever had!

T.L. London

The whole trip was very well organised and planned, concentrating on the wildlife parks with minimal travelling in between. All the lodges were lovely with friendly, helpful staff and we were lucky to be travelling in a group of super people who quickly all became friends. The tour guides organised everything superbly and were always on hand to help if needed, the wildlife sightings we had were excellent and all the guides, spotters and drivers were excellent at their job, it all seemed to go so quickly and we look forward to a return trip.

S.T. Suffolk

The organisation was really good and the places we stayed were fabulous. The whole trip was just stunning. This was our first trip with Naturetrek and we will definitely be back.

The holiday was great fun and we were lucky in having wonderful views of tigers and wild dogs (dhole). The Jungle Lodge in Kanha got everyone's vote as their favourite place. Our main tour guides, Himanshu and Yusuf, were great and very knowledgeable, as were all the lodge guides that came with us in Kanha.

H.T. Hampshire

Many congratulations on providing such a wonderful holiday... And so many tigers!

P.H. London

The leader made everything run without a hitch. Excellent touch to sort out all the tips on a kitty basis. I left a jacket in one of the remote lodges, and it was returned to me safe and sound on our return to Nagpur. Impossible to find a fault with any aspect of the trip. In particular our wives' private extension to Delhi and Agra was a huge success.

Anon.

The leader made everything run without a hitch. Excellent touch to sort out all the tips on a kitty basis. I left a jacket in one of the remote lodges, and it was returned to me safe and sound on our return to Nagpur. Impossible to find a fault with any aspect of the trip. In particular our wives' private extension to Delhi and Agra was a huge success.

A.Y. Kent

Mix of 3 reserves was great, the guides, Himanshu and Dilip, worked very hard and did a great job, chance to look for other wildlife, chance to look for other wildlife other than Tigers was appreciated and of course the Tiger viewings, especially from elephant back, were brilliant.

O.H. Conwy

Harish, our tour leader was excellent in all respects. The Tadoba and Satpura extensions were also excellent. We were in particular impressed with how the staff looked after guests at both these locations as well as accommodation and food.

J.H. Buckinghamshire

We had a brilliant time – Tadoba was exceptional, you perhaps under sell the lodge – we were very impressed by its practicality, space, comfort, food and the attitude of the staff. Kanha Lodge was stunning in every way.

Mr & Mrs F. West Yorkshire

We were very impressed by both tour guides (Indrajit and Yusuf). They were efficient, knowledgeable, attentive, kind and good humoured - nothing seemed to be too much trouble for them. The accommodation at all four lodges was of the highest quality and the service and food was superb.

J.B. Hertfordshire

All the accommodation was good, but the lodge at Kanha was outstanding. It wasn't that it was particularly luxurious, though it was comfortable enough, but it was more the overall feel of the place that impressed. Well run, really friendly, and a wonderful place to relax between jeep rides.

T.F. Oxfordshire

All four parks were delightful; varied landscapes and target species. The lodges were equally charming and set in lovely surroundings; staff were attentive and helpful; food was excellent.

L.F. London

The holiday was based only on Tigers so having 10 sightings of 9 individuals was amazing

G.R. Essex

A superb holiday; food, accommodation, experience and of course the wildlife sightings were fantastic. Great Tiger, Leopard, Wild Dog and Slot Bear sightings and fantastic birds. The parks were a delight to be in. Transfer from and to each venue was smooth and hassle free. Food was excellent, particularly Tadoba and Kanha. Accommodation was great, particularly Kanha (a beautiful place), and the service was great. Nick's attention to detail and general support was first class and his knowledge was outstanding, not just the wildlife, but his knowledge of India was immense. Park guides were generally great, and Vinod in Kanha was outstanding. His knowledge, communication skills and personality were brilliant. He enhanced every drive we had with him. Being in the Indian jungle and listening and reacting to the sounds and calls was a fantastic experience. We were particularly lucky to have the same interests and sense of humour in the group that were in our jeep so very pleased we were able to stay together for the whole tour. Sudeep on the final day also arranged for us to visit 3 temples in Tadoba which was excellent and made a perfect end to the trip. He was very attentive and knowledgeable, and went out of this way to accommodate us. Overall first class experience.

D.W. Bedfordshire

We were just so lucky to see so many Tigers! Also all the other mammals especially the Wild Dogs - again lucky to be in the right place at the right time. And not forgetting my favourite bird - the Indian Roller.

J.S. Oxfordshire

We felt that the holiday – our first with Naturetrek – was excellent value for money, and we would not hesitate to travel with Naturetrek again. We were made to feel very welcome in all three of the lodges that we stayed at (especially Kanha which we thought was delightful). We must also pay tribute to our guides Indrajit and Yusuf, whose knowledge and enthusiasm were inspirational.

C.F. Middlesex