Tel. +44 (0)1273 600030 (UK)
Unlike most other wildlife or Tiger tours in India, this holiday’s sole focus is on one reserve, thereby both minimising your travelling (and associated environmental damage) and travel-stress, whilst maximising your chances of encountering Tigers and other wildlife. Indeed, with the exception of our game drives and railway transfers, our travels within India consist of just two train journeys. The comfortable lodge that we use throughout our stay in Bandhavgarh, constructed with both local labour and materials, is privately owned and staffed by local villagers; its meals are based on fresh locally purchased produce.
Our small groups (of between 6 and 16), escorted throughout by an expert British wildlife photographer, are assisted by both local guides and drivers, many of whom have received training, encouragement and equipment from us (notably guidebooks and binoculars). Inevitably, your visit to an Indian wildlife reserve brings valued income and employment to impoverished rural communities, and encourages both local people and their governments to value and protect one of the world’s richest wildlife heritages. Should you wish, we will be pleased to facilitate a visit to the local senior school at Tala and, if you would like to assist the school in any way, you may do this through the London-based charity, Friends of Conservation, who are co-ordinating funds for the renovation and improvement of the school buildings, as well as for the supply of books and other teaching equipment.
As a company we have achieved AITO’s top level, 3-star Responsible Tourism accreditation and we have always tried to operate our holidays in an environmentally responsible manner, striving to contribute to wildlife conservation and habitat preservation at all times.
Our policy includes:
- To focus, particularly, on visiting areas which do not benefit from the rewards of mass market tourism.
- To minimise environmental damage by exploring in small groups and, as much as possible, on foot.
- To use, wherever possible, local guides.
- To involve local communities and to ensure that they receive a fair share of the benefits of wildlife tourism.
- To use, wherever possible, small, locally owned accommodations & specialist local agents/ground operators.
- To purchase, where possible, local produce.
- To develop and commit to long-term plans to visit rural areas and support the local communities.
- To contribute financially to projects local to the areas that we visit (ie. schools, hospitals, etc.)
- To educate the local people on the importance and long-term benefits of wildlife tourism.
- To keep our clients well-informed on aspects of wildlife management and conservation.
- To work with British and overseas conservation organisations to develop new wildlife tourism destinations.
- To run our UK office in as energy-efficient a manner as possible.
We also encourage our clients to offset their carbon dioxide emissions.
We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!
