Jhalana Leopard Reserve is India’s first leopard reserve, founded in 2017. The reserve is located on the outskirts of Jaipur on a hilly landscape, marked by the mountain range surrounding the park. It is estimated that there are more than 40 leopards in the reserve since it opened its doors to visitors in 2016. Other animals found here include spotted hyena, jungle cat, fennec fox, and many different species of deer. The chance of seeing leopards in Jhalana is very high.

Bandhavgarh National Park is located in the undulating hills of Madhya Pradesh and is one of the most popular national parks in India. The area has been a national park since 1968. With a varied landscape, Bandhavgarh is one of the best places to get to see the majestic tiger. In addition to the tiger, you will find a large and varied fauna with, among others, the sloth bear, leopard, Indian bison, macaques and langurs, axis deer, jungle cats and more. Among the reptiles we can mention cobra, krait, python, turtles and lizards. The park also has a rich bird life with over 250 different species.

IF YOU WANT TO ARRIVE THE DAY EARLY

Arrival in Delhi during the day. Transfer to and check-in at The Five-Star Pride Plaza Hotel Aerocity. In the afternoon, a city tour of Delhi is organized. During the tour you will discover New Delhi with India Gate, the parliament building and the presidential palace as well as Old Delhi. In Old Delhi, we will explore the bustling market area of Chandni Chowk from a rickshaw (bicycle taxi) and the small, crowded alleys where you will feel as if you’re driving straight through a busy shop.  We take a walk through the bustling spice market. This is a city tour, and the photo opportunities are endless.

Prices for this additional day can be found further down in the prices section and can be booked in connection with booking your flight.

In the morning Tom Svensson and a host from Zoom Photo Expeditions will meet you at Delhi International Airport. From the airport, a transfer of about 5 hours awaits us before reaching Jaipur, also called The Pink City. Once we arrive, we will check into the first-class Ramada by Wyndham Hotel for a late lunch before it’s time for the first safari of the trip. On the outskirts of Jaipur is the Jhalana Leopard Safari Reserve. Jalhana is unique in that the leopards are the apex predators, which makes them easier to spot and you can see them more often than anywhere else in India.

Our anticipation and excitement at its highest, we drive into the park in our open jeeps and although we are not far from the crowds of the city, it feels like entering a completely different world. Suddenly we are surrounded by nature’s smells, sounds and lots of photo opportunities. The first safari is always so exciting, and it feels like new motifs are waiting around every bend.

Back at the hotel we share a welcome dinner and talk about everything from our first safari to the photo adventure that lies ahead (L, D)

DAY 2-3, (APRIL 15-16) – SAFARI IN JHALANA LEOPARD RESERVE
During the days we explore the surroundings of Jhalana and do safaris both in the morning and evening, the times of day when the animals are most active. The landscape is hilly and Aravali Hills, India’s oldest mountain range, surrounds it. Jhalana is India’s first leopard sanctuary, and an estimated 40 leopards live in the park. In addition to leopards, there are populations of spotted hyena, jungle cat and fennec fox, as well as various kinds of deer. Tom, who will move between the jeeps, will share his knowledge about both photography and the nature we explore together.

When we are not out on safari, we explore Jaipur, the Pink City, known for its pink buildings, the local market and Amber Fort, on the outskirts of Jaipur. The fort began construction by Maharaja Man Singh in 1592 and was the capital of Kachhawaha until Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1727 decided to move his city to what came to be present-day Jaipur. The fort is located on a hill surrounded by walls and a lake which provides a nice setting for photography. (B, L, D)

 DAY 4, (APRIL 17) – JHALANA TO BANDHAVGARH
After an early breakfast, we head towards Delhi airport for a flight to Jabalpur. Once we land, we face a drive of about four hours before arriving at Bandhavgarh National Park where we check in at the first-class Syna Tiger Resort. This is where we will stay in the days to come. After check-in, we meet up, with our computers, to work through the images from the first part of the trip. Tom will give us tips and advice on how to further improve the pictures in Lightroom. After a delicious dinner, we go to bed to the sounds of the jungle that surrounds us. (B, L, D)

DAY 5-7, (APRIL 18 – 20) – SAFARI IN BANDHAVGARH
In the fresh morning air we drive through the gate to Bandhavgarh National Park, India’s most tiger-dense national park. Together with Tom and our knowledgeable drivers, we look for fresh paw prints on the road and other tracks that bring us closer to our first encounter with the tigers of Bandhavgarh. There are motifs to capture wherever you turn your camera lens. We might make a stop to photograph a flock of langurs jumping from branch to branch, making the foliage shake. Our action-packed photo shoot may be suddenly interrupted by a warning sound that drowns out the jungle’s roar and chirping of birds. Then we start our jeep and follow the warning sound that’s slowly moving between the trees. It may be the call of a sambar deer and it most likely means a tiger is moving around nearby. After a moment of searching, we stop and wait with excitement. With some luck on our side, we might be able to catch sight of a female tiger coming out onto the road in front of us after only a few minutes. Past travel encounters tell us how the female tiger looks around before slowly starting to walk straight towards the jeeps, a photo moment no photographer ever would forget.

In the afternoons we do our second safari of the day and together with Tom we develop our photography skills, but also our knowledge of the, in many ways, endangered ecosystem we have come to. For those of you with an interest in birds, our local guide Rachit will share his knowledge of the rich bird life in the park. As we watch the sun go down, we leave the park and return to the lodge where dinner, image processing and editing, and image analysis of the day’s photos await us. After a few amazing days in Bandhavgarh, Tom will take the time during the last night to designate the Image of the trip that will automatically advance to the final of our Image of the year 2024 competition. (B, L. D)

DAY 8, (APRIL 21) – RETURN JOURNEY
After a final safari in the world of the Jungle Book, we head to the airport in Jabalpur for a flight to Delhi. When we land, it’s time for a last dinner together before we our individual flights back home (B, L, D)

Tom Svensson is a world known conservation photographer. Toms major driving force in life is conservation, and he travels regularly around the world to document endangered species, anti-poaching and illegal trading of animals. His skill as a photographer is to take pictures that touch people and makes a difference, here is seen as one of the best in the world. Tom is the only Swede elected into the IEPA, the International Environment Photographers Association. He is also a global Manfrotto ambassador and he is also in the Canon Nordic photographers program.

Read more about Tom here

You should not arrive in Delhi later than 07:00 on April 14 and you should plan your return trip no earlier than 22:00 on April 21. 

If you would like our assistance with finding and booking flights, please indicate this when making your booking on the booking page, contact us by phone +46-470-466 40 or email us at info@zoomfotoresor.se