TIGERS OF INDIA

Photograph majestic big cats, as Bengal Tigers and Leopards roam free in the heart of Ranthambore National Park and Jawai’s Leopard Hills on this incredible safari tour

APRIL 3 - 16, 2025 *** SOLD OUT ***

Imagine being on our morning game drive, a little groggy but waking up in the crisp morning air. Things are quiet other than the rumble of the jeep engine. Not long into the ride our driver sees movement up ahead and cuts the engine as we wait and see what it was. Now, sitting in silence the excitement builds as we continue to wait. Nothing happens and still we wait. Soon the engine comes on and our drive continues slowly creeping up the road a bit further before stopping again. “They’re here” says the voice in the driver’s seat. You ready your camera and hope to get a glimpse. Then out of a thicket emerges a 500 lb adult male Bengal Tiger walking right into the middle of the road. Everyone in the jeep gasps a happy deep breath at the sight of this majestic cat before a flurry of camera clicks fills the air. And then a pause and silence again as we observe and enjoy one of the most impressive endangered animals on earth. Now we are all wide awake!

Ranthambore National Park was once the private hunting grounds of the former Maharaja of Jaipur. The Royals held large hunting parties for their guests and for visiting British Generals and officers. In the 1960s, Queen Elizabeth II was in Ranthambore for a winter shoot. The park gets its name from the 1000-year-old fort complex perched atop a hill adjoining the park. Several smaller monuments, temples, mosques, and village walls belonging to the complex dot the park’s landscape.

Today the park is a conservation area and protected habitat with a population of 86 tigers in 2022. The population is growing well, 45% in the last 8 years, and has never been higher since the reserve was established in 1973. Besides tigers other animals in the park include leopards, caracals, jungle cats, sloth bears, jackals, hyenas, crocodiles, and monitor lizards to name a few species. Ranthambore’s famous lakes are sought after for amazing encounters with Tigers while on safari and have been the set and backdrop to several documentaries produced by BBC and National Geographic.

Beyond Ranthambore, we will also be traveling to the Leopard Hills in Jawai. Home to an extraordinary undulated landscape that is dominated by rocky outcroppings and boulders. The many caves in this arid landscape are a perfect dwelling for leopards. Jawai is one of India’s best kept secrets and no trip is complete without seeing this area infamously called the Leopard’s Lair.

On this 13 day Photo Safari we will be in the good hands of our local expert wildlife guides and all lodging, transportation, meals and game drives are included. Lodging will be the best available accomodations in three and four star hotels with single occupancy rooms for everyone. All throughout you will be provided with expert instruction on how best to capture the amazing wildlife in interesting compositions. The goal of the workshop is to give you the ability to explore, learn, and fine tune those photography skills both in the field as well in post processing development to bring your images to life. Helping clients create a portfolio of images they are excited and proud of is priority number one on all of our workshops (along with having a good time).

INSTRUCTOR: CHRIS BYRNE              

GROUP SIZE: 6 PARTICIPANTS

COST: $8550

INCLUDED: All Transportation, Meals and Lodging (Single Person Occupancy Room)

DEPOSIT: A 33% deposit is required to secure a spot. A second 33% payment is due by August 1, 2024, with the final balance due January 1, 2025.

This workshop is currently Sold Out. Please click here to be added to the waitlist.

ITINERARY

The workshop will begin on April 3, 2025 and this day will be set aside for arrivals into India. Guests will be received and transferred to a hotel near the airport in Delhi. On April 5 the tour departs Delhi in the morning as we fly out to Udaipur and travel to Jawai and the Leopard Hills. After checking in and having a good lunch we are set for our first game drive to look for leopards. We will spend the next several days with leopard as our main objective on our morning and evening safari drives each day into the Leopard Hills. On April 9, after our morning safari in the hills, we will depart and proceed on to Ranthambore where we will be for the next five days. In Ranthambore it’s Bengal Tigers that are the show and our drives each day will be determined by which sector the big cats are in at that time. After our five days in this incredible park, we will drive back to Jaipur for our domestic flight back to Delhi. We will finish out the trip by visiting the incredible Taj Mahal, a must do when coming to this part of the world. The tour will conclude on April 16, 2025.

Note: this itinerary is subject to change, please do not secure plane tickets until we have confirmed all details and notified you with final plans (estimated timeline for this in mid 2024).

INCLUDED: Domestic Airfare from Delhi to Udaipur and Jaipur to Delhi, airport transfers, park fees, all transportation, hotels, and meals.

EXCLUDED: International Airfare to Delhi, Indian Visa Fees, extra hotel nights beyond the tour dates, alcohol, laundry, tips and gratuities.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

A photography safari to remember! With our journeys to two distinct wildlife preserves of Jawai’s Leopard Hills and Ranthambore National Park, it’s the perfect pair to photograph the best wildlife in India. The rocky outcrops of Jawai are estimated to be older than 800 million years. The beautiful landscape of large boulders and rocks is a Mecca for a photographer looking to capture the elusive Leopard. The entire region is dotted with Marwari villages and large rocky hills. It isn’t uncommon to be on a safari watching a Marwari herdsman grazing his cattle while a pair of Leopards are courting on the hill behind.

Meanwhile the beautiful lakes, rolling hills, dhonk trees, and the slopes with the golden grass glades of Ranthambore create an atmosphere unlike any other. At the crack of dawn, the mist rises from the lakes and the sun rays piercing through it, simply surreal! An hour has passed, and the temperatures begin to soar, and so do the vultures. Large Sambar stags graze in the shallow waters of Malik Talao (Lake) while the peacock crows its cacophonic call. The walls of Thambhore stand tall in the background of Padam (Lake). And on the shore of Rajbagh (Lake), the unproclaimed King of the Lake strolls across forcing you to skip a beat. The striped emperor rests on the shores while the antlered heads of their prey stand away and cry their warning call. This is just an everyday affair here, and there is loads of action waiting to unfold right before you. Brave the journey to see and photograph the national animal of India in its natural world, the incredible Bengal Tiger.

CANCELLATION POLICY & TRAVEL INSURANCE - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

We reserve the right to cancel the workshop if minimum participants are not met or in the event of an emergency. In the event of emergency where Chris cannot personally attend, then a replacement guide will be the first option. If a cancellation does occur, participants may either use the fee towards a future workshop or receive a full refund (with restrictions, see below). Because of the nature of this trip with non-refundable advance deposits by specific dates and other potential issues Travel Insurance is required. Specifically reimbursement for “Cancellation for Any Reason.” Medical insurance will be up to the participant at the level they want. Two companies that we recommend are Ripcord and Squaremouth. We are not responsible for travel expenses incurred and therefore this is a necessity.

Tiger Safari permits are quite expensive and full non-refundable, non-transferrable and cannot be rescheduled. If a participant cancels after the permits are issued in August 2023, they will not receive a refund. A refund will only be granted if permits are still available at the time of cancellation and we are able to fill your space. This is the only condition that a refund can occur but it is not at all guaranteed. Again travel insurance is required for this tour.