India Nov (2020 - postponed) (2021 - postponed again) 2022: First time (for Alex), mostly birding (for all)

[xelas]

I know all that was just a huge beginner's luck which will probably never again happen. Tadoba showed us its best face. There was enough mammals diversity to fill up each game drive.

 

Hanuman Langur (Northern Plains Langur)

 

Gaur

 

Wild Pig

 

Sloth Bear

 

Chausingha (Four-horned Antelope)

 

Indian Muntjac (Barking Deer)

 

Ruddy Mongoose

 

Southern Rock Agama

 

Birding was also very good with many species we have not seen previously in Goa and Karnataka.

 

Shikra

 

White-eyed Buzzard

 

Common Hawk-Cuckoo

 

Jungle Owlet

 

Red-naped Ibis

 

While nature was really nice, and tiger sightings were abundant, the real jackpot of these five days / 10 game drives was our guide/naturalist Jeswin. We "clicked" quickly, he understood us and our approach to the wildlife, and even more, he shares it! I think he was relieved that we were not yet another "tiger only" guests but have showed same or more interest in every nature aspect of Tadoba. He could be a true naturalist not only a nature guide. I dare to say that he enjoyed it as much as we did. There is one bad news for future visitors to Svasara Jungle Lodge; Jeswin is moving up north. As he told us, he will become a manager of Vanghat - The Wildlife Lodge in Corbett NP. We will put this destination on our India short list! All the best, Jeswin, both in your future private life (congratulations!) and your business life. 

 

Jeswin and Alex

 

Edited December 29, 2022 by xelas

[xelas]

A belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2023 to all Safaritalkers! 

 

[TonyQ]

Wonderful sightings @xelasA very good selection of birds and mammals and beautiful photos 

[xelas]

Thank You, @TonyQ! I thought tigers are overrated vs. lions ... but they are not.

[michael-ibk]

Wow, what a great Tiger sighting at the end. Beautiful photos. As you say, Tadoba really was super-kind to you. A great trip! Martin, sorry to hear it did not quite work out for you!

[pedro maia]

Incredible those tiger sightings, I’m very envious Alex, but I’m also very glad for you abd Zvezda.

[xelas]

Thank you both, Michael and Pedro, for reading through this TR. Funny thing is the more we try to get away from tigers the more they were coming our way . If only that would be a case with leopards in Africa .

 

[Soukous]

15 hours ago, xelas said:

There is one bad news for future visitors to Svasara Jungle Lodge; Jeswin is moving up north. As he told us, he will become a manager of Vanghat - The Wildlife Lodge in Corbett NP. We will put this destination on our India short list!

 

No deal signed yet. Apparently Vanghat has 2 suitors and is negotiating for the best deal

[Soukous]

well done @xelasexcellent TR

[Zim Girl]

Fantastic tiger sighting at the end there for you, Alex.

Enjoyed reading this report a lot, thanks @xelas and @Soukous.

[Soukous]

5 hours ago, xelas said:

Funny thing is the more we try to get away from tigers the more they were coming our way

 

Easy for you to say 

[Kitsafari]

Stunning stunning Nilgai. 

and of course, gorgeous tigers. 

 

You and Zvezda have been blessed with varied mammal sightings. our guide was so 110% tiger-focused we didn't get many chances to see other mammals but were so very happy with the sloth bear, gaur and dhole sightings. 

 

thanks @xelas Zvezda @Soukous for sharing your trials and triumphs in this TR. 

[Galana]

7 hours ago, xelas said:

Funny thing is the more we try to get away from tigers the more they were coming our way

You will know that I totally agree with this concept. One can try TOO hard. Just go with the flow and see what Mother Nature can provide for you. Works with birds too.

Thanks for a very nice escorted tour through that part of India.

[janzin]

Wonderful report and you did amazingly well with the tigers even though you were so "nonchalant" about seeing them  

 

[Zubbie15]

Despite a lot of challenges, you ended up having a really successful trip. Thanks for sharing @xelasand @Soukous I enjoyed following along! 

[Toxic]

Also would like to echo the rest of the troops and say thank you @xelasand @Soukousfor a very entertaining and educating TR! Happy new year to you all 

 

[xelas]

@Zim Girl, @Kitsafari, @Galana, @janzin, @Zubbie15 , @Toxic - thank you all for reading through our TR. 

 

 

 

[Peter Connan]

Thank you Alex and Martin for another wonderful trip report!

[vikramghanekar]

Lovely trip report!

Quite incredible to spend a week birding in Goa. A destination more known for its beaches and beer than birds!

Looks like you had great week in Tadoba too! I had visited Tadoba more than 10 years back and had stayed at Svasara when it had just opened its doors. The overcrowding was not this bad but has become a circus in last few years. The guides and drivers are so tiger centric that they have very little interest in any other animal. I always do exactly what you did and make it clear that I am not after tigers especially when there are 10 other cars in the sighting. It is possible to get away from the crowds and still have some quality sightings as you did in your last safari.

The behaviour of most visitors is appalling to say the least but there is just no way control this. You may not be aware but in all tiger reserves across the country, only 20% of the park is open for tourism. This is due to concept of letting rest of the area "undisturbed." The concept may appear logical but it results in tremendous overcrowding in a small area (as it is Indian parks are very small as compared to African Parks). This leaves the remaining "undisturbed" 80%, poorly patrolled and open for poachers than tourists. This defeats the whole purpose of having a protected area. Many people would contest this statement. But when in a popular park like Ranthambhore, 80% of the total tiger population is found in tourism area while rest of the 80% of the park (non tourism area) holds only 20% of the tiger population, question needs to be raised about this policy. 

Cheers

Vikram

 

[xelas]

@vikramghanekar thank you for adding your comments. It was our first visit but not the last one. As there are (I hope so) many areas of nature beauty to be found and enjoyed without excessive crowds in India.

As for birding in and around Goa, it surely beats the "beaching", at least for the beaches we have seen. Not to mention the lasck of cold beer in other states.

[vikramghanekar]

Lack of cold beer in Tadoba is an anomaly.

The district Chandrapur where Tadoba is located has "no alcohol" policy. Like may government policies, it makes no sense when in all surrounding districts including Nagpur, alcohol is freely available. Rest of the state of Maharashtra does not have prohibition, in fact it probably has more alcohol factories than any other state.  Gujarat and Bihar are two more states with prohibition. 

Goa's beaches vary from very clean to horrible. Unfortunately you experienced the horrible part.

 

 

[xelas]

14 hours ago, vikramghanekar said:

Goa's beaches vary from very clean to horrible.

Luckily we were not there for beaches. But if returning for beaches, which one would you recommend?

[Atravelynn]

On 12/29/2022 at 4:00 AM, Soukous said:

 

I did not complain. 

I cannot state absolutely that he was a bad guide, just that he was not the guide for me. I am sure other guests would have found him fine.

I think he found the situation - and me - difficult. I had laid down some ground rules before we started our first game drive and this clearly made him nervous. He obviously wanted to please but the 'find tiger' mentality was so ingrained in him that every time we heard of a tiger sighting he asked if I wanted to join the circus. 

He also found it difficult having to coordinate with another guide who he clearly considered junior to him - even though we all could see that the other guide was better.

 

Just one of those things I put down to experience.

You have a good attitude, likely borne of many travels. Sorry about the tummy troubles as well.   Overall many great birds and some tigers.  Did you all get to see the pair of tigers or was that just @xelas?

 

Edited April 13, 2023 by Atravelynn

[Soukous]

3 hours ago, Atravelynn said:

Did you all get to see the pair of tigers

 

Tigers? what is a tiger 

[Atravelynn]

15 hours ago, Soukous said:

 

Tigers? what is a tiger 

Got it!  Oh well it was on to Chad & Zakouma for you.

Edited April 13, 2023 by Atravelynn