KABINI - HOME TO BAGHEERA

Join our experts on a 2N 3D Jungle Book Experience at Kiplingesque Kabini

HIGHLIGHTS

Highlights

BLACK PANTHER
HIGH PROBABILITY OF TIGER SIGHTING
HIGH LEOPARD NUMBERS
270 BIRD SPECIES
PHOTOGRAHERS PARADISE
4 JEEP SAFARIS
BOAT SAFARIS OR CORACLE RIDES (OPTIONAL)
EX BANGALORE OR MYSORE
AIRPORT TRANSFERS IN AC VEHICLES
2N STAY IN VICTORIAN JUNGLE LODGE
ALL MEALS DURING TRAVEL
ACCESS TO BIRD LIST OF THE REGION
NATURALIST / GUIDE

Track, spot and enjoy the exploits, games and poses of the elusive Black Panther

A good number of cubs add to the large tiger population

The park is home to 100 leopards as per the recent count, along with several other carnivore species and several deer species

The forest and the backwaters makes the park a wonderful birding site

Enjoy the lush forest landscapes including the large backwaters of Kabini

Both the zones have something unique to offer, with Zone B offering the view of the backwaters

Explore wilderness not just from jeeps but also boats and coracles – a unique experience on it’s own

Located by the banks of the River Kabini, the 54-acre property spells idyllic charms and is a former hunting lodge been converted to an eco-resort

While full day excursions may sound hectic, be assured that Wild Wild Wanderer makes this a comfort and fun trip for you

Guided tour by top Indian birder & wildlife expert to explore endemic and endangered wildlife

Introduction to the jungle, science of animal tracking and conservation & birding

Exciting games for children to understand wildlife

Personal on ground travel assistance with no interim travel agents -An end to end facilitated trip

Overview

“A child is learning, in Nature’s special way. He is beginning to see all the beauty in this world today. His eyes are gleaming at every sight and sound. With his Innocent heart, he feels that love is all around. Take good care of nature friends and it’ll take good care of you and we can all live together and we can live all together as one as in the jungle book.”
– Modified from Jungle Book Ending OST

What a beautiful message that is and today it has become the one of the core mottoes of Wild Wild Wanderer.

In India, most of us will never forget the opening OST of the same Jungle book series in Hindi. “Jungle jungle baat chali hai, pata chala hai…” which remains a earworm even after decades.

Although, the story is rumoured to have taken place in Madhya Pradesh in India, the amazing world of Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book literally came to life on one such trip to Kabini.

So come with us and get transported into the world of children stories. Meet some of Mowgli’s friends and companions

Black Panther: Bagheera, Mowgli’s main teacher of the Laws of the Jungle, and his closest friend.
Sloth Bear: Baloo, one of Mowgli’s friends and teachers who is very enthusiastic and has a gentler approach to lessons.
Indian Rock Python: Kaa, a very wise yet short-tempered friend.
Indian Wolf: The Wolf pack Mowgli grew up with- Akela (chief), Alexander (adoptive father), Luri (adoptive mother), Akru & Sura (adoptive brothers) and Lala (has a crush on Mowgli)
Indian grey mongoose: Rikki-Tikki-Tavi
Indian Elephant: Hathi, servings as the ruler of the whole forest
Brahminy kite: Chil, who served as the messenger for Akela’s pack and Hathi.
Indian peacock: Mao

Not just Mowgli’s friends, you will also find the antagonists

Bengal tiger: Shere Khan – Cruel and cunning, rebellious and menacing, often violating Laws of the Jungle including eating humans, eating the human’s cattle, and over-hunting.
Golden jackal: Tabaqui, Shere Khan’s sidekick who never seems to get anything right. He’s idle, greedy, incompetent, conniving, dim-witted, dastardly and chatty. A Bonnet macaque: Louis, the leader of the other monkeys and the principal lackey/tipster to Shere Khan. They also work for the tiger.
Dholes: Marauding red dogs who live in the jungle.

Although, Kabini is abundant in wildlife and tiger, leopard, elephant and dhole sightings are often a certainty, planning best safaris in Kabini can confusing and expensive leaving you with unsatisfactory experiences. How to book safaris, where do we stay, where are the forest gates, do we book jeep safaris or boat or cantor safaris, which zone do we book for ? We take care of all these and more for you.

All you need to do is pack your caps and binoculars and join us for the Jungle Book adventure !

DON’T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO SEE AND PHOTOGRAPH AT KABINI

KIPLINGESQUE KABINI

Situated on the banks of River Kabini, Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary Spread over 55 acres, and is a part of the Nagarhole National Park or Rajiv Gandhi Tiger Reserve. The Park used to be a Private hunting lodge of the former rulers of the Kingdom of Mysore of the Wodeyar Dynasty. It was also a popular shikar spot for the British Viceroys and Indian Royalty. It was set up in 1955 as a Wildlife sanctuary and later in the year 1988, only to be later upgraded to a National Park and in the year 1999 the park was declared as Tiger Reserve.

Situated on the banks of River Kabini, Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary Spread over 55 acres, and is a part of the Nagarhole National Park or Rajiv Gandhi Tiger Reserve. The Park used to be a Private hunting lodge of the former rulers of the Kingdom of Mysore of the Wodeyar Dynasty. It was also a popular shikar spot for the British Viceroys and Indian Royalty. It was set up in 1955 as a Wildlife sanctuary and later in the year 1988, only to be later upgraded to a National Park and in the year 1999 the park was declared as Tiger Reserve.

Get transported to heaven on earth with just a 5 hour drive from the city of Bangalore or 2 hour-drive from Mysore. A trip to Kabini is an absolutely rejuvenating experience. The magic of the lush green forests unfolds as soon as you step in. Words fall short and pictures fail to do justice to the enchanting forest. It is nature at its best !

The once in a lifetime opportunity: Black Panthers are extremely rare. Do not miss this opportunity to spot the elusive and mystical Black Panther in the wild. A black panther is in fact the melanistic colour variant of the Indian Leopard caused by excess black pigmentation called melanism, caused by a recessive allele. The typical spotted markings are present but hidden due to the excess black pigments, which is called “”ghost rosettes””. Melanism provides selective camouflage advantage in regions of dense forest, where light levels are lower.

Picture by Mithun

This is also the only park that allows you to explore on foot, in a coracle, in a boat, a gypsy or a cantor. Choice is yours ! Take a coracle ride and watch the Matriarch with her herd while they bathe at the edge of the backwaters !

THE VARYING LANDSCAPES

The journey begins with the quaint village homes and rustic markets. The lust green farms follow. They are spread across flatlands beside waterbodies or even on hillocks. Occasionally farms appear white and orange because of tuberose and marigold cultivations. The banana and palms are sure to steal your heart !

Dramatic as the entrance may have been, the forest is even more dramatic. Even the air feels green. The gypsy path is lined with tall trees with woodpeckers pecking on them and the long gorgeous, tails of peacocks dangling from the branches overhead. The path tunnels into the mists of early morning. The green is spangled with white of congress grass or orange, pinks and reds of lantanas.

But the best is yet to come…

Remember the scene from the iconic movie – Jurassic park, when the visitors (scientists and lawyer) see the grasslands and waterbody teeming with dinosaurs for this first time ? The very same feeling, except in this case it is teeming with wildlife of Cenozoic era, our era. The jungle paths suddenly end and the canopy and trees disappear from your surroundings. All you see is the vast grassland surrounding the backwaters of River Kabini and the dense jungle surrounding the grassland as far as eyes can see. You are only surrounded by hundreds of spotted deer, samabr deer, wild boar. Oh but look ! there amidst the deer a solitary king vulture sits ! And there- a large herd of elephants with a day old baby following it’s mother ! Like all this was not already breath taking, a pack of dhole are on the hunt !

This view can also be experienced from the backwater side by boat safari or coracle rides.

THE UNIQUE WILDLIFE EXPERIENCE

Spread over 55 acres of Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary is home to carnivores like the Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, dhole, sloth bear and the striped hyena. They prey on the large populations herbivores are chital, sambar deer, barking deer, gaur and wild boar. The park, having large waterbodies is home to a healthy population of elephants.

Other mammals that are found in the park are grey langur, bonnet macaque, jungle cat, leopard cat, slender loris, small Indian civet and Asian palm civet, Indian brown mongoose and stripe-necked mongoose. On rare occasions you will be able to sight the European otter, Indian giant flying squirrel, Indian giant squirrel, porcupine, golden jackal, and Indian pangolin.

Over 250 species of birds are found at Nagarhole National Park. Besides the enormous variety of woodland birds, there are large congregations of waterfowl in the Kabini river. Birds range from blue-bearded bee-eater, scarlet minivet and Malabar whistling thrush to the more common ospreys, herons and ducks.[citation needed]

Over 270 species of birds have been recorded in the park, including endemic include species such as the blue-winged parakeet, Malabar grey hornbill and the white-bellied treepie. Largest of the woodpeckers, the white-bellied woodpecker is found here. Not to mention the elusive spot-bellied eagle owl. Kabini backwaters is home to a large population of waterfowls.

Reptiles commonly found here are Indian Rock Python, mugger , common vine snake, common wolf, rat snake, bamboo pit viper, Russell’s viper, common krait , Indian monitor lizard and the common toad.

Itinerary

DAY 1 : ARRIVAL AT BANGALORE OR MYSORE AND TRANSFER TO KABINI

Arrive early morning at Bangalore or Mysore. Our on ground assistants will pick you up. The journey to Kabini should take approximately 5 hours from Bangalore and 2 hours from Mysore. The aim will be to reach the lodge before 1: 00 PM, just in time to freashen up, have lunch and head out for the evening jeep safari.

Halt for breakfast will be enroute.

Track, chase, spot and enjot the amazing wildlife that this beautiful jungle has to offer. Keep an eye out for the Black Panther!

Be back to resort in the evening. Share experiences. Take a walk on the 54-acre property located by the banks of the River Kabini. Or head to the Viceroy Bar to enjoy the charms of yeaster years.

Dine and rest. A very early morning awaits you.

DAY 2 : POWER-PACKED DAY WITH 2 SAFARIS & OPTIONAL BOAT SAFARIS, NATURE WALKS OR CORACLE RIDES

Today we will undertake 1 morning safari, 1 evening safari.

Leave for your 2nd safari by 5:30 AM. Morning tea will be provided. Enjoy the misty morning of the jungle and all the morning activities of the animals and birds.

Head back to the resort post the morning safari for breakfast. The time between the morning and evening safaris can be utilised for leisure or baost rides, coracle rides, nature walks etc.

After lunch head for the evening safari.

Arrive at the resort have dinner and rest after the long day.

DAY 3 : LAST SAFARI AND HEADING BACK TO BANGALORE OR MYSORE

Come back from your morning safari, pack your bags and post breakfast, leave for Nagpur with amazing memories of your wild adventure.

YOUR STAY

Enjoy the hospitality of one of the best jungle lodges of the region. It is a promise of all possible comfort and care while staying in the heart of the forest.

Inclusions

Transfers by AC vehicles

2N Stay in a Eco Resort

All meals during the period of journey

4 Gypsy Safaris (ticket, gypsy and guide cost included)

All forest charges

Wildlife expert charges

On ground travel assistance

Exclusions

Travel to Bangalore or Mysore

Additional activities like boating, coracle rides, alcohol at bar, extra food, beverages etc.

Any item of personal nature like tips, laundry, telephone calls and other personal expenses.

Expenses caused by factors beyond our control like storms, flight/safari cancellations, political disturbances, etc.

F.A.Q.

Does the package include my flight tickets ?

No. This is a budget trip and is ex Bangalore or Mysore. You will have to reach Bangalore/Mysore at the time stipulated by us.

Is the trip child friendly ?

Yes absolutely. We love having kids on our safaris. We gamify everything for them and teach them how to use binoculars, identify birds and animals and also about importance of conservation.

Will we also be seeing birds ?

Yes. Kabini has over 270 species of birds. We will try to spot and identify as many as possible.