Elephant Safari I

Route
The Corbett Hideaway-Durgadevi-Lohachaur-Kanda-Halduparao

DAY 01: Delhi/Corbett: 260 Kms / Five & Half Hours by Road

Arrival and Check-In at the The Corbett Hideaway or The River View Retreat. After a welcome drink and a short briefing on your stay at different lodges. Lunch is served. Lunch is served. Afternoon is for jungle trekking. In the evening we present a Folk Show. Orientation talk and a Question & Answer session on your tour, followed by a Slide show on the Flora & Fauna of the area you will visit during your Elephant Safari.

Overnight stay at The Corbett Hideaway or The River View Retreat

DAY 02: Corbett National Park

0600 Hr: Wake up call / Tea. : After breakfast we depart by Jeep to start our Elephant Safari and trek. The Himalayan foothills are one of the natural wonders of the earth, with lush Sub Tropical forests and the bountiful Flora & Avifauna; this is a tribute to the nature lover and the photographer of the wild. You can change seats with the Mahout and get the feel of driving an Elephant. One can also try and catch the "Mighty Mahseer" - the famous fresh water fighting fish, on the Ramganga River. Fishing is allowed only on a "catch and release" system. Equipment, tackle and expertise will be provided (on advance notice).

Afternoon a hot lunch served on the banks of the Ramganga river, we continue the Elephant Safari. The experience of just being on an Elephant - a silent bulldozer who has unmatched cross-country abilities - is unexplainable in words. We arrive at Lohachaur Forest House for a refreshing cup of tea after leisurely riding our magnificent companion. It is built in characteristic British bungalow style, in the year 1899. After a Wash & rest - we discuss the next day’s program over a sumptuous dinner.

Overnight Stay at Lohachaur Forest House or Camp

DAY 03: Corbett National Park

0600 Hr: Wake up call/Tea. After breakfast we start a full day on Elephant back - always learning the mysteries of this wonderful animal. The Bird life in this lower altitude wilderness is rich. Every flower truly enjoys the air that it breathes. The morning sun sets the hills on fire in their rich vibrant hues. The rough rocky terrain and the land formations are unbelievable. After giving our Elephant a nice scrub and bath in the Mandal River enjoy the expertise of our chef, who prepares your hot lunch. We commence our Elephant Safari, meandering along the Mandal River, observing the terraced farms, and being followed by curious children, women and villagers, many of whom may be seeing an Elephant for the first time. Here one has the opportunity to study the culture of Kumaon and you can also interact with the villagers, who are very simple and humble. In the late afternoon we leave our Elephant and continue by 4WD Jeep to Kanda FRH, built in characteristic British bungalow style, for an overnight stay in the wilderness.

Kanda is the highest point of the Park, situated at an altitude of 1020 m, the view of the Ramganga valley and the grassland areas of Dhikala are mesmerizing. It was in this area that Jim Corbett shot the Kanda man-eater. After a wash and brief rest join the Naturalist for discussion and Dinner.

O/N Stay at Kanda Forest Rest House or Camp

DAY 04: Corbett National Park

Early morning game drive into the national park with a packed breakfast. Explore the grassland and some excellent Sal forests on the drive to Dhikala. Lunch at Dhikala and evening game drive back to Kanda.Stay at Kanda.

DAY 05: Corbett National Park

Early morning breakfast and depart by jeeps to the Vatanvasa Gate, where we meet the elephants with their mahouts. Once on the elephants we carry on downstream along the Palain River. You visit sonanadi (river of gold) sanctuary today. A heaven for wildlife, this sanctuary has recently been included in the Corbett tiger reserve because of abundance of game. On the morning safari, your elephant follows the old bridle path used by British officers who traveled on horses, (their ladies followed in palanquins carried by camp followers) through the palain river valley to mondiapani. After lunch your safari continues through the most beautiful part of your trip. Because of the bamboo forests here, one can expect the wild elephants in this path. This sanctuary has the largest concentration of elephants. Herds of elephants gather here to satisfy their enormous appetite by feeding on the tender green bamboo. The palain river is perennial and provides essential water for elephants.

Your camp here is on the bank of the river. There is a "Machan" (water tower) from where you can safely view the game coming to drink and bathe in the river. Stay at the Halduparao.

DAY 06: Corbett National Park

You sleep late today!). and after a leisurely breakfast, bid good-bye to your elephant and the mahout. Your jeep will take you back through another part of the Corbett tiger reserve. Overnight at The Corbett Hideaway or The River View Retreat

DAY 07: Corbett – Delhi

After a comfortable nights rest, enjoy a sumptuous breakfast and depart for onward destination