24 independent reviews for Tiger watching vacation in India
Reviews for Tiger watching vacation in India
Andrew Norton review 8 Mar 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Seeing a tigress and her 5 cubs coming out of the jungle and having 15 minutes in their company - a ‘once in a lifetime experience’2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
This was our first time in India and for the first 3 days it was overwhelming. We would have benefitted from more downtime at the beginning and some little tips such as you are not met by your contact inside the airport, take more cash with you especially to the areas we visited and to be really clear in what is happening. However as we settled into the vacation the support and enthusiasm from the tour operator team was outstanding.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
We were so impressed by the work that is being undertaken in the Kanha National Park. Even though we had an outstanding guide with us from India Footprints, the Park also require every vehicle to have a local environmentalist from the local community. We met the new intake of Forest Rangers on their first day at Kanha and their passion was remarkable. We learnt about the way that the Park is being managed and we were so impressed.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
We came to India for an experience and the tour operator delivered beyond our expectations. We loved the balance of 6 days at Kanha and then the same time in Goa, bookended by overnights in Delhi. We were pleased that with the support of Neelesh and his team we were able to focus on what we wanted from our vacation, it was truly a tailored and individual experience.Claire Holland review 4 Mar 2020
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Seeing four tigers in the wild.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Pack some warm layers as it is cold early in the morning in an open top jeep.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
All our drivers, guides and hotel staff were local people. Internal flights and lots of travel by road had a negative impact but the hotels were small and trying to cut their environmental impact. KANHA National Park uses money from tourists to conserve the park and the tigers who live there.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Everything ran smoothly and was well organised. Hotels were of a good standard and had a lovely local feel to them. All our drivers, guides and hotel staff were a delight and went out of their way to make sure we had a great vacation.Rose Barling review 9 Feb 2020
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
It was all great! We went for the three T's Taj, Train and Tiger. We had a whistle stop tour of the golden triangle - Delhi,Jaipur and Agra and then 8 days with wildlife on two reserves. Our best view of a tiger - five minutes of it following us down a road with our truck reversing out of its way was a complete lifetime unforgettable wow moment. The Taj was even better than expected. The overnight train was an experience! Getting mugged for my oranges by monkeys on Agra Railway Station was memorable!2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
If you go in winter - we went in late Jan - take really warm clothes - its only warm for a few hours n the middle the day and we had packed mostly light things - we ended up wearing the jeans and down jackets/coats we had gone to the airport in! We were grateful for the hot water bottles provided in some of the lodges!3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes - locally run hotels, drivers, guides were all terrific4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Exceeded our expectations and made us want return. Have already recommended Responsible Travel and the services of the local agent you put us in touch with to friends. Thank you for a great vacationChristine Cooper review 13 Feb 2020
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Seeing a tiger in the wild was amazing2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Keep an open mind and be interested in everything (tigers are hard to find, but the other wildlife, including birds, are also great)3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, by contributing to tourism it provided employment for local people, and placed direct value on local wildlife which will hopefully ensure effective conservation.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
We had a really good time. The logistics were well handled, and we were well looked after. We would book with this company again in the future.Stephen Morris review 4 Nov 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Seeing tigers in the wild, especially the female with cubs2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Take cash as hotel doesn’t take cards. Also local ATM is not always working3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes to all, especially benefits to local people and reduced environmental impact4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Excellent all roundRoland Webster review 23 May 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Obviously seeing the tigers close up, but also spotting a sloth bear and wonderful birdlife2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Book well ahead to get the best access and mix of visitor permits to the National Parks. Also it can be chilly on the earlymorning game drives, so take a light fleece.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, on the whole. Lots of locals (though mainly men), are employed by the parks. But plastic water bottle use is a problem - be great if more sustainable water provision was possible.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Very enjoyable.Whitman Paxton review 25 Mar 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Probably the most memorable part of my trip was getting to see leopard and her cub. I was expecting the tiger to be the best, but it actually wasn't. Just seeing the leopard was rare enough, since I was told they're hard to find, but seeing one with a cub was simply amazing. And, unlike when I saw a tigress a couple days before, there was no mob of jeeps and tourists around. It was just a couple of jeeps, the leopards, and me. That helped make the moment so special. While taking pictures, I started quietly sobbing. Even afterwards, my emotions were really high with utter joy. To top it off, I got an amazing picture of the mother looking right at us.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
I would say to do your research. This was my first major international trip and I did a lot of research and had to put some faith in knowing that I was going to be taken care of. I'd recommend getting enough money exchanged for Rupees, since tips is a large part of how some people earn. I'd also recommend just to take it all in. After seeing the tigress early in my trip, I didn't see any cats afterwards (aside from the leopard). Tracking tigers is not an exact science, but while you wait, just take in the sounds and smells of the jungle. You may end up falling in love with it like I did. Also, booking sooner than later can mean you get permits to different parts of the park. Some ranges in the park have a higher density of tigers, leopards, and bears, so the likelihood of seeing these animals is greater. So the earlier you book, the better your permits will be.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
I do believe so.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
I absolutely loved my time at Kanha National Park. I was very sad to leave both Kanha and the Courtyard House, but it just means I need to go back again!Vivien Benson review 29 Apr 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Seeing tigers and other wildlife.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
I would find out in advance which parts of the park your jeep safari is visiting. There are 4 zones and it unclear which areas you are visiting. We kept going to the same areas even though we had 7 safaris. Also find out about wildlife guide. We paid extra for a guide when a park guide who joins all jeeps into the park would have been sufficient. I would also not recommend this trip for families. My children were not really targeted by the guide who didnt make it more informative fun or appealing for them. We did this ourselves. They seem more interested in adult tourists.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
I feel locals did benefit. The staff at the hotel were lovely but we never met Neelesh he was not based in Kanha. It is a hotel and not a homestay. Perhaps more could be done to avoid using single use plastics at the hotel...water bottles for trips out to the park.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
The park was amazing, hotel lovely. Staff at hotel very welcoming. Rooms beautifully decorated and a refreshing pool. Food delicious.Colin Bingle review 25 Dec 2018
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Finally seeing a tiger on the third day of safaris.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Be prepared for long (slow) transfers to destinations. Expect to travel at 30 miles per hour maximum. Be prepared for quite remarkably bad driving but rest assured that Indians have great spatial awareness and are unlikely to actually crash in to you!3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
It was clear that our vacation made a significant contribution to the local economy. The lodge appeared to employ around 20 people and many of these were clearly local. Admission the park involved multiple people and these would be contributing to the the local economy. The roads around the park were better than many we encountered on our travels suggesting that some of the money generated from tourism was being spent locally.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
It was excellent. Very well organised, with all details looked after and a very high standard of accommodation. It was very reasonably priced - we got a lot of vacation for our money.Brian Hargreaves review 15 Dec 2018
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Closeup sightings of wild tigers.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Take gloves, hats, scarves, jumpers, coats, etc in preparation for cold, dusty early morning jeep excursions often starting out at 5:15am. Don't arrange too much time in Delhi. Hire a porter at the railway station to get you and your bags to the correct part of the enormously long train when it arrives.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
1. Yes, the tour relied completely on the use of local people. 2. Yes, in so far as the train journey rather than a plane for the longest transfer and the use of rickshaw for Koleadeo minimised environmental impact. However every vacation involving planes, cars, trains and jeeps have unavoidable impact particularly in terms of pollution. 3. Yes, following all the rules of limited access to conservation areas and making payments for entry which presumably support the work of the protection agencies.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Excellent! The operator organised a high quality, secure, efficient tour. Everything worked smoothly. Guides, drivers etc were punctual, reliable and courteous. Accommodation was of very good quality, and the food in the hotels was of a high, safe standard.Kel Darnell review 5 Dec 2018
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The process of tracking the tigers was fascinating and when one jumped out in the road in front of our vehicle and just strolled away it was magical. The Taj Mahal was also truly amazing.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
We saw tigers (!) but were told it's easier to spot them in Kanha NP when the leaves are off the trees, so go in the spring (February, March, April) if you can. We were also told there are frequent sightings in the summer but it's too hot for most people by May. We visited in November and the weather was lovely during the day but it can be COLD early in the morning. You'll be riding in an open car, so pack an extra layer of clothes and a bandana or scarf to cover your face (for cold temps and dust). Leave your tripod at home. You can't get out of the car and there isn't enough room to use one inside. A monopod may be helpful when the car stops.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
It was very clear that tourism in Kanha NP is improving the lives of the local people. We spoke to many people who are employed directly by the park and many others who are employed by the Courtyard House and other tourist lodges and all are very pleased to have that regular employment and income. There are many concrete homes, everybody has power, cell phones, and toilets, and all the kids are in school. The tigers and other rare animals (the blackbuck antelope and the wild dogs in particular) are thriving in the park thanks to it's stewardship, all made possible by tourism. We felt good about this trip!4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
This was just a fantastic trip. Neelesh was great to work with and really helped us tailor the trip to suit our timing and interests. The Courtyard House lodge is very comfortable, the food is great, the service was impeccable, the guides were very skilled, and everybody treated us like royalty. We would highly recommend this trip to anybody who wants to see tigers in the wild! (And don't miss the chance to see the Taj Mahal in Agra, that was fabulous, too.)Margaret and Georges Norah review 7 Apr 2018
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The most exciting part of the vacation was seeing the tigers in Kanha National Park. We were lucky enough to see a tiger kill only 20m from our jeep which is very rare to see so the most memorable part. Our guide works virtually everyday in the park and said he hadn't seen one for 20 years so we felt very privileged to witness something most people in a life time never see. Apart from Tigers we saw 80 different species of birds mostly all brightly coloured and many different mammals. We also visited Delhi, Jaipur and Agra and of course the most memorable part of this was the visit to the Taj Mahal. The weather was hot and sunny, The sky a brilliant blue and the sun in the right place for some lovely photos.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Don't be afraid to book through a local agent. Read reviews about where you want to go, ask the operator as many questions as you can to make sure the vacation is for you. Neelesh is very flexible with all arrangements and whatever you want he will arrange it for you. If it is your first visit to India - it was ours, It's well worth getting Neelesh to book some time in Delhi, Jaipur and Agra which will give you an insight into an India very different to the national parks. He organises hotel, driver and guide - all private. We booked almost a year in advance and spent 14 nights in India. The highlight was Kanha National Park. Booking early particularly for Kanha is important as the Courtyard House where you stay in Kanha has only 5 beautifully appointed rooms. Also permits for the park must be purchased in advance. There are 4 areas open to the public for safaris and some areas are better for wildlife than others. The areas are requested and allocated when the permit is booked and only a certain number are issued for the morning and afternoon visits. Credit cards are not accepted at the Courtyard due to no internet, but payment is accepted in Rupees or foreign currency. There is an ATM in a Mocha on the way to the park, but it doesn't always have cash as our guide found out - it did have the next day. A word about safaris. They are wonderful - however be prepared to get up to start at 5.15 in the morning, to return at 11.30 for lunch then out again at 14.15 coming back at 18.45. There is little time to catch your breath in between, but it was worth it for 14 tiger sightings including a tigress and her 4 cubs, a once in a lifetime experience of a kill 20m from our jeep and seeing the oldest tiger in the reserve. We arrived back home in France tired but ecstatic after our 6 days and 12 safaris!! We stayed 8 nights which gave us 6 full days. It is very dry so very dusty. We were there the last two weeks of March. Going out on safari in the morning it was cold so wrap up, basically because you are in an open jeep with no shelter. The Courtyard lends you a blanket which is very helpful. By breakfast time in the park it is very warm and sunny. The days were hot reaching 40C some days, but pleasantly cool for sleeping with just a fan (we didn't need the A/C at night). Due to flight timings we had our last night in Delhi. The small hotel tat we stayed in is between 30 -45 minutes drive from the airport depending on traffic, so perhaps for the last night if you get back from Kanha late (we got in at 19.30) it might be an idea to book a hotel at the airport for the last night to avoid the trip into town and back again.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Definitely!! We stayed at the Courtyard House which is about 15 minutes drive from Kanha Tiger reserve. The Courtyard is situated in a tiny village called Patpara. There is a small tribal school which has been in operation since 2004. The Courtyard is supporting the school (primary and middle only) and are improving the school for the children. Recently a fence has been built around the school area to keep out the cows and other animals which pollute the school grounds so the area is much cleaner and healthier for the children. Next trees will be planted in the rainy season and the children will be given the responsibility of looking after them. The classrooms have been repainted so they are very clean and bright. New, brightly coloured floor carpets have been purchased to replace the hessian sack matting the children were sitting on to have their lessons. The Courtyard itself has 32 solar panels which are used to generate electricity with excess being sold back to the grid. All the staff are from the Kanha area which really benefits the community.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
This was the first vacation we have booked through a third party. Normally we are DIY people but we felt that this time to get the best out of our two weeks we should get a little help for our first visit to India! From our first email to Neelesh via RT to finally booking he was fantastic. Emails were answered by return - very important. We booked 2 weeks. We had two nights in Delhi and Jaipur with an afternoon in Agra. Then overnight train to Jabalpur from where we travelled to the Courtyard House for 8 nights on the outskirts of Kanha National Park. Everything went like clockwork from being met at Delhi airport to being seen off there on our last morning. We had a driver and guide throughout who were excellent. We were so happy with all the arrangements from the accommodation, transport , drivers and guides to seeing the wonderful nature that Kanha has.Kevin Mulcahy review 18 Mar 2018
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Seeing three tigers on two separate sightings. Unforgettable!2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Book option 2. The internal flight cuts out a lot of the traveling by road, and add the trip to Agra if you can.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Absolutely. The guides in the parks and the drivers all benefited.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
An amazing experience - wouldn't hesitate to recommend to anyone!Andreas Crameri review 23 Apr 2018
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Khana National Park and the tiger sighting where fantastic. Also the courtyard house and the staff absolutely brilliant.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
make sure that the guides don't push you towards the shops. specially in Agrar to some point in Jaipur as well.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
The safari definitely.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Unforgettable the tiger reserve was fantastic the hotel through out the trip where good the Courtyard House was above expectations.Alix Boyd review 7 Nov 2018
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
I chose this vacation to see tigers - and we saw 22. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Its not great for single people, the 'groups' are very small - mine was me and 2 others - a couple apparently on honeymoon3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
I hope so, I didn't see any evidence4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
8/10Read the operator's response here:
Greetings
We appreciate your feedback.
Reference your feedback we are happy that you were able to see tigers.
It's a tailor made tour and we don't do small or big groups and it was on your request we accommodated with two other guests.
Accommodation at Kanha where you were staying is a TOFT Quality certified lodge and 98% percent of the staff is all locally employed. Secondly the lodge also support local school in a big way. All park safari drivers & guides were locals. We look forward to have you here again.
Thanks Neelesh
Amanda Diggins review 29 Jun 2017
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The first wild tiger we saw, just peeping through the bamboo2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Get some local currency in Dehli, there is no currency change locally3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
yes, we hope that the fees stayed in the local economy. there were no big companies involved4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
excellent, highly recommendChristine Chapman review 19 Apr 2017
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
There are so many it's hard to choose - seeing 20 different tigers! 3 leopards and the whole array of wildlife and bird life in the different parks; the tranquillity and beauty of the Chambal River trip. The excellent organisation of the whole trip. We spent 3 weeks in India visiting Ranthambhore, Chambal, Bharatpur, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Kanha and Tadoba.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Don't be put off by booking directly with an unknown company in India. We are experienced travelers who usually travel DIY, so this was a new experience for us. The whole trip was excellent, hotels generally exceeded our expectations, food was great ( I can't eat spicy food and every hotel we stayed in went out of their way to provide flavoursome but not spicy hot food , served to our table - even when there was an extensive buffet available) We travelled in March/April and early morning safaris were cold enough to need a blanket (provided by the hotel) at the start and be sunburn hot by the end. We took mosquito spray but only needed to use it a couple of times. The tummy upset pills came home totally unneeded Take lots of zip lock bags for cameras, binoculars etc. as the dust is thick in the air and gets everywhere when on safaris. Be prepared for rough, bumpy tracks in the parks and open jeeps with limited suspension Buy a dust scarf/gaiter - available at the road side stalls near many of the park gates (100 rupees+-) Even though temperatures are high in April(40* some days) take thin long sleeved tops to avoid sunburn - jeeps are open and safaris are 3-4 hours. The heat is dry - so not as unbearable as you would imagine - and all hotel rooms had fans and AC. You can buy bird guides for half the price of the UK version in airports/local book shops/some park gates. Travel by overnight train is not a luxury experience, we had a 1st class compartment for 2, it was basic, and the beds were very hard, the door was lockable, but the scenery was great and it saved time on a very long road journey, food was available but we took a packed meal from the hotel.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
We stayed in mid-range hotels and all the people we met working in these hotels seemed to be very local (although a couple of the hotel naturalists came from slightly further afield - but still Indian). The park guides and drivers all seemed to be from villages and communities around the edges of the parks, which not only provides an income in these remote rural areas, but also promotes the value of wildlife and contributed to conservation.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
I really couldn't fault this vacation, it exceeded all our expectations. Neelesh listened to what we wanted and put together a really good package. We made a few adjustments as time went on and he was always very quick to respond to our questions. We were met at Delhi airport, and at each step of the way by a representative with a board and assisted to a very clean, spacious and comfortable AC car. Drivers were good and careful and there was plenty of room for our luggage. We stayed at mid-range hotels and they were all much better than we had expected (especially from some of the trip adviser reviews) service was without fault, food was great, everything was punctual and on time, and staff were always concerned for our comfort and enjoyment at their resort. The wildlife was amazing, 20 different tigers in 5 different parks, over 100 mostly new bird species in Bharatpur NP in 2 days- thanks to our amazing bird guide. We would definitely recommend this trip to anyone wanting to see wildlife in India, and would use this company again.Andrew Reeve review 19 Feb 2017
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Spotting Tigers and the hospitality of the wonderful staff at the Courtyard house.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Book ASAP the courtyard house before its sold out.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes it generated work for local people and the National Park ensures that wildlife and the environment is protected.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Excellent absolutely fantastic.Katherine Robins review 25 Feb 2017
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
We got to see tigers. In fact we had 3 excellent sightings that were so exciting & beyond our expectations. The stay at Kahna was also memorable. It's run more like a homestay in a lovely house (large rooms & a swimming pool) with the naturist host which all added to a positive experience & a chance to learn more about India too.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Tiger spotting is not like an African safari as tigers live in dense forests so you have to have a good guide & good luck.If you go once or twice you may well not get to see them. Out of 10 drives we saw 5 tigers & were considered very lucky. Be prepared for early mornings (5.45 am) & tiger drives of 7 hours a day. But it is worth it.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes. It felt like the tiger reserve is genuinely helping the tigers & is being well managed. The income that is raised by the permits & drives goes back into the reserve. The accommodation provides work for local people & all contributes to conservation.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
This was an excellently run trip & of a high standard. My only comment would be that the e mail I received before we started was a bit sparse so we were unsure how it would work out beforehand. I rate it highly but you have to trust it will all work smoothly.Lorinda Semeniuk review 26 Apr 2016
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Seeing a tiger in the wild was simply amazing, but another heartstopping experience happened a few days later. While having an outdoor supper at the hotel (in a remote area surrounded by small farms), a tiger nearby started calling. It sounded so close and the area was so dark. Simply amazing to be that close to wild tigers.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
I would recommend bringing good binoculars. I had a pair, but a stronger pair would have been a bit asset. Also, don't plan on having time to do much exercise. The days are long, and when you're in the jeep in the park you can't get out, so you are sitting for much of each day. When jeeps are booked for you, you will have a driver, a guide from your hotel/resort, and also a guide from the park. I would have found this useful to know in advance in terms of planning tips. Finally, many websites warn about mosquitos, however during my stay (8 to 14 April) there were almost no bugs of any kind (thankfully).3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
My vacation was definitely of benefit to local people. All of the people I interacted with were local, from the area, and safari/tourism is their main source of income. With that being said, they were not pushy at all, just very friendly and open. The area that I was in seemed very supportive to tiger conservation. The jeeps must stay on the paths, there are no radios between jeeps (so sightings are not generally overrun with jeeps), only 20% of the park is open for tourism, and the number of jeeps allowed in the park each day is limited. All of these things made for an exclusive experience, and helped me to feel good about how the animals were being treated in their forest home.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
My vacation was amazing. Neelesh was incredibly responsive during all stages of my trip planning. On arrival everything was taken care of, from airport pick-up to drop off, and everything in between. He even arranged a trip to Agra with a guide for me. The hotel was beautiful, with incredible food and a gorgeous pool to relax in during the afternoons. The safari was the highlight, and every part of my stay was incredible.TINA JOHNSON review 4 Feb 2016
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Seeing tigers!! Heart-stopping!2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Tiger are much more likely to be seen in the summer i.e. March and April, when the waterholes have shrunk or disappeared and the tigers are obliged to show themselves more often because of thirst. We have been to 3 different tiger reserves, in November and January, and each time we did 6 safaris before we saw a tiger. So many people who only plan one or two safaris at these times are terribly disappointed, whereas in the summer you are much more likely to have success, so I'm told. After that my main advice would be to discuss your needs with Neelesh, who runs this company with great care and devotion. He operates in several tiger reserves and owns Courtyard House at Kanha, which is heaven on earth, and he took real care to fix us a truly brilliant experience.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Absolutely. Courtyard House is run with kindness as its focus, for guests and staff. Responsible tiger tourism will help safeguard these magnificent creatures and save them from poachers. Also the resident naturalist Uday taught us so much about the natural world.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Just fantastic. However, next time we will programme in one or two days with only one safari instead of two, which will give us time to relax by the lovely pool at Courtyard House and recover from the full-on tiger-watching. It's a wonderful, beautiful experience, even if you don't see tiger, but it's also exhausting!Julia Gallagher review 4 Jun 2014
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Seeing tigers! Other wildlife was also amazing..2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
We would advise that travelers ensure that they book a jeep safari at Ranthambhor and not the 20 seater canters. We were advised that we would be able to change our booking for at least one of our 12 safaris for a jeep when we got there but we were informed by the hotel/reserve that the jeeps are booked out many months in advance. The jeeps are more expensive but if you want to see a tiger they give you the best chance. Although we saw a tiger at Ranthambhor from a canter we were extremely fortunate since the canters are too noisy full of very excited local people! Budget for tips. However, if you are on a canter don't feel that tipping is a necessity unless the guide has earned it. We tipped on every trip because we had been advised to in guide books but this is more appropriate if in private jeeps rather than canters. We often tipped the guide when he didn't even speak in english!3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Local people - yes due to booking through a local company and through tipping guides/drivers. We felt that we had supported conservation of the tiger by bringing funds into the park although we were not made aware of what actual conservation action is being carried out on the reserve.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
It was a trip of a lifetime and to experience tigers at such close hand was an experience we will never forget. India is exhausting but the wildlife of the parks was amazing. Although we are pleased to have booked through a local company the general lack of english language by the drivers was an issue especially when problems occurred (incorrect class of train tickets booked). Our travel representative was rather loof which didn't help! However, the trip went according to schedule over-all and it was amazing!Lucie McKenzie review 25 Apr 2014
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Seeing tigers in the wild - just a glimpse in Pench national park but several great sightings in Kanha park.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Be prepared to get up early - 5am most days, but it's worth it. You need a warm jacket as it's quite cold early mornings, but gets very hot on afternoon drives, you need to be covered up as you are in open jeeps. The Courtyard Hotel at Kanha was very good, just 5 lovely rooms, great food and an excellent guide.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Guides and other staff seemed very aware of conservation and environmental issues. Seemed to have good relations with local community.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Excellent, well organised, all arrangements went smoothly and we had a great time.Christine Smith review 24 Nov 2014
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The two most exciting aspects of my Tiger Tour package at Kanha National Park were; viewing a large male tiger for over half an hour in the wilderness, and the tremendously lucky spotting of a pack of wild dogs (my guide mentioned that the dogs had not been seen at all last year). Additionally I added about a gazillion birds to my life list and spotted almost every mammal for which the park is famous. My guide Uday Patel is a fabulous naturalist and tracker, he just really made the trip! He shared not only animal lore but discussed many, many aspects of Indian cultures, traditions and society.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Both the tour company and the wonderful boutique hotel are owned by the same person. Though I had booked my six day tour in mid June and had been assured that my lodging would be at a certain boutique hotel, and was notified after my deposit was received that I was fully booked and confirmed, just several weeks before I was scheduled to fly to India to begin a month-long journey, I was notified by Neelesh, owner of both the tour company and lodge, that there was a problem with my second night scheduled at the hotel due to another group who “extended their stay in Kanha” and I was advised that I would have to “shift” for that night to a different lodge. At that point I was thinking ‘so what am I, chopped liver?!’ and thinking that this was a bit of bait and switch. Had I received this notice earlier I would have cancelled the entire tour and re-booked elsewhere, but it was so close to the time of my departure for India that I did not think anything else would still available, didn’t have a lot of time left to check around and also suspected that I would not get my trip deposit back. So swallowing hard, I figured ‘well it’s only one of my four planned weeks in India, so if it turns out badly at least it will not wreck my entire trip’. In the end, although I was “shifted” to another hotel, a cheaper , 3-star establishment as opposed to the more expensive 5-star original, for the second night of my stay with no reduction in my overall tour cost, after that inconvenience my stay at the boutique hotel was delightful. Other than the booking problem at the first hotel, I did feel quite well taken care of. Pre-trip, all of my emails were answered promptly. Neelesh gave me very good advice in suggesting that I limit my safari to just Kanha to maximize my chances of seeing tigers rather than trying to safari in two parks, that advise was spot on! He also made the arrangements for my overnight train ride from Varanasi to Jabalpur where I was picked up by my guide and driven to Kanha, that reservation in itself was a godsend since it seemed almost impossible to figure out how to book a train by myself (even my travel agent did not want to touch that one!) I was also very relieved when my guide met me at the door of my train carriage upon arrival in Jabalpur and very thankful that he led me back to my booked berth for my return trip to Delhi (train stations are really big and confusing.) Staying at Courtyard House was living in the lap of luxury. The staff were incredibly attentive, the rooms are attractive and very spacious, and the hotel itself seemingly based upon Vaastu Shstra principles is beautifully designed and struck me as a modified Manduva Logili type of courtyard house built to be suitable for extended family. Indeed in staying at Courtyard House I felt as if I were the guest of an aristocratic family. I loved having meals in various locales on the property; lunch poolside overlooking the beautiful infinity pool that merged into the wilderness, a breakfast on the second floor balcony overlooking the buffer zone, and dinners on the terrace or in the beautiful formal dining room among the other lodge guests. The meals by the way were simply outstanding! The biggest tip for scheduling a trip to Kanha National Park is that according to my guide, the best time for tiger spotting is late January and early February since at that time the foliage is less thick, the water holes are drying up and prey animals are congregating in greater numbers around the remaining water making easier to locate the tigers. It was also very helpful to be given a variety of methods for paying the trip balance other than wiring money directly to an account of a person and business that I did not really know. After asking, Neelesh gave me the options of paying the balance in U.S. cash upon arrival, or with travelers checks, or by PayPal if I was willing to add the amount PayPal would charge him to process it (about $87 additional.)3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
This vacation benefited local people in that the jeep (gypsy) driver was a local, as were the hotel staff and the mandatory park guides assigned to your gypsy each time you enter the park. As far as environmental impacts, I assume that all of the food served in the hotel is locally sourced and the hotel itself is quite small and blends beautifully into the environment. One thing I would urge Courtyard House to do is to install a water filtration system somewhere in the house instead of continuously handing out plastic bottles of water, especially since I doubt that the area has any way to recycle those plastic bottles. And last but not least, bringing tourist dollars into a National Park where tigers and other animals are protected is always a good thing.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
It’s a bit hard for me to rate this vacation; on one hand this experience was way more than I had expected, and my ultimate desire of spending as much time as possible exploring Kanha National Park was fully met and tremendously augmented by Uday Patel, the hotel’s wonderful naturalist guide, but on the other hand it was quite disconcerting to be bumped for a night after receiving a confirmed reservation and abandoned in another establishment for my second night. Honoring a confirmed reservation is just such a basic expectation for both the hotel and tour businesses, that I remain a bit surprised. I have travelled on six continents and never had this type of problem before. For this reason and this reason alone, I would actually hesitate to recommend this trip to a friend and probably will go with a different company myself when I return for another adventure in India.Read the operator's response here:
Dear Christine
First of all thanks for the wonderful honest review about your stay. Secondly please accept our gratitude for being generous, we know the shifting caused you anguish but believe us, you continued to be our honored guest all the time while you stayed at Kanha. You gratefully accommodated us during extraordinaire circumstance for which we are extremely grateful. Please except our apologies for any inconvenience caused.
The house has a limited accommodation and we wish to keep it that way for positive guest experience. Our guests are never chopped liver but sometimes we are bound by circumstances and look forward to guest for support for which we are extremely grateful to you and thank you wholeheartedly.
We do not go against guest wishes especially in case of confirmed bookings - you can be assured of that.
I hope you continue to enjoy our hospitality. The whole staff and our naturalist guide Uday await you. We welcome you back wholeheartedly for more tiger safaris and birding at Kanha National Park.
We once again regret for the inconvenience caused.
Thanking you sincerely
Neelesh Agrawal
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