With over 500 species of birds and endemic mammals such as the Nilgiri Tahr and the Nilgiri Langur, this journey is designed to see all 24 Western Ghats endemics as well as the majority of the 68 South Indian endemics. Some of India's top national parks and wildlife found in the southern part of the country. The Western Ghats, one of the 35 bio-diversity "hot zones" on earth due to its abundance of endemic species, are where the majority of these parks are found. We will go through the lowland forests of Thattekkad, the Periyar Tiger Reserve, the high altitude montane forests and grasslands of Munnar, Valparai and Ooty, the dry forests of Chinnar and Mudumalai National Park, and finally the town of birds the Ranganthittu, which is close to Mysore.
Key Species : -
BIRDS: Nilgiri Woodpigeon, Malabar Imperial Pigeon, Malabar Parakeet, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Malabar Flameback, Malabar Barbet, White-cheeked Barbet, Nilgiri Flowerpecker, Crimson-Backed Sunbird, Nilgiri Pipit, Malabar Lark, White-bellied Treepie, Grey-headed Bulbul, Flame-throated Bulbul, Rufous Babbler, Nilgiri Laughingthrush, Kerala Laughingthrush, Wynaad Laughingthrush, Vigors's Sunbird, White-bellied Blue Flycatcher, Black-and-orange Flycatcher, Nilgiri Flycatcher, White-bellied Blue Robin, Nilgiri Blue Robin, Nilgiri Thrush, Broad-tailed Grassbird, Malabar white-headed Starling, Malabar Woodshrike, Square-tailed Black Bulbul, Jerdon's Nightjar, Malabar Trogon, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Legge's hawk-eagle, Yellow-billed Babbler, Black-throated Munia, Sri Lanka Frogmouth, Indian Swiftlet, Painted bush-quail, Jungle Owlet, Spotted Owlet, Indian scops-Owl , Sri Lanka bay Owl, Indian eagle Owl, Spot-bellied eagle Owl, Brown fish Owl, Mottled wood Owl, Brown hawk-Owl, Indian Jungle Nightjar , Indian white-rumped Spinetail , Indian Grey Hornbill , Brown-headed Barbet , Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker , Black-rumped flameback , Indian pitta , Indian bushlark, Orange Minivet, Malabar Woodshrike, Blue-faced Malkoha, Indian Scimitar Babbler, Black Baza, Pied Kingfisher, Stork-billed Kingfisher, White-throated Kingfisher, Black-capped kingfisher, Mountain imperial pigeon, Oriental pied hornbill, Great hornbill, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Pallas's Fish Eagle, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Short-toed Snake Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, Indian Spotted Sagle, Greater Spotted Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Steppe Sagle, Bonelli's Eagle, Booted Eagle, Laggar Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, Asian Fairy Bluebird, Blue-winged Leafbird, Golden-fronted Leafbird, Brown Shrike, Black-naped Oriole, Black-hooded Oriole, Eurasian Blackbird, White-rumped Shama, Hill Myna, Paddyfield Warbler, Blyth's Reed Warbler, Clamorous Reed Warbler, Booted Warbler, Dusky Warbler, Tickell's leaf Warbler, Sulphur-bellied Warbler, Hume's Warbler, Greenish Warbler, Large-billed Leaf Warbler, Tytler's Leaf Warbler, Western Wrowned Warbler, Green-crowned Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Orphean Warbler, Common Tailorbird, Common Chiffchaff, Little Spiderhunter and many more.
MAMMALS: Royal Bengal Tiger, Sloth Bear, Indian Leopard, Lion-tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Thar, Nilgiri Langur, Tuftted Grey Langur , Asian Elephant, Bonnet Macaque, Malabar Gaint Squirrel, Three- stripped Palm Squirrel, Dusky Stripped Squirrel, Stripe- necked Mangoose, Comman Grey Mangoose, Porcupine, Indian Gaur, Sambar Deer, Wild Dog, Wild Boar, Barking Deer, Spotted Deer and more.
Arrive at Kochi International Airport and drive to Thattekkad (1 hour+). Evening birding near the camp area for Jerdon's Nightjars, Great eared Nightjars, Indian Scopes owls, and other species.
Overnight in Birds Murmur Camp or Similar. Meals: Dinner.
Birding around Thattekkad for lowland endemics and near endemics. We will leave the camp in the morning with a packed breakfast and drive to the Oorlanthani reserve - a good Semi-evergreen forest, 45 minuets a way from the birds murmur camp. Target Species will be the Malabar Grey Hornbill, Malabar Parakeet, Malabar Wood Shrike, White bellied Treepie, Small Sunbird, Grey Headed Bulbul, Orange Minivet, White bellied Blue Flycatcher, Flame Throated Bulbul, Nigiri Flower Pecker, Malabar Barbet, White Checked Barbet, Sri Lanka Frogmouth, and roosting Bay owl. Return to the Camp for Lunch. Birding in the afternoon and late evening near Murmur Camp and Cheekode Forest for Bay Owl, Brown Hawk Owl, Brown Fish Owl, and other species.
Overnight in Birds Murmur Camp or Similar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Morning with packed breakfast drive to areas where you can see Legge's Hawk Eagle, Rufose Babbler, Dark fronted Babbler and some of the remaining endemics and near endemics. Back to the camp by noon for lunch. Afternoon birding around the Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary, looking for Mottled Wood Owl and some of the remaining Sought species.
Overnight in Birds Murmur Camp or Similar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Drive to the Periyar Tiger Reserve - Thekkady in the morning (4 hrs Drive). A few quick birding stops along the way. Arrive in Thekkady around lunchtime and check into your hotel. Afternoon birding In the Reserve area.
The P. T. R. is located in the southern region of the Western Ghats, spread across an area of 777 square kilometres of forest land, and is home to a diverse collection of flora and fauna. The River Periyar, which originates deep within the reserve, gives its name to this spectacular stretch of greenery.
Overnight in Abad Green Forest Resort or Similar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Birding in the Periyar Tiger Reserve in the morning and afternoon for the Waynad Laughing Thrush, Black Baza, Forest Eagle Owl, Nilgiri Thrush, Little Spider Hunter, Rufous bellied hawk eagle and other Kea Species. The Periyar reserve is home to approximately 265 bird species, including migrant birds. Raptors, water birds, galliform birds, pigeons, wood peckers, darters, kingfishers, orioles, kites, cormorants, and passerines are among the birds, as is a large flock of the Great Pied and Malabar Hornbills.
Overnight in Abad Green Forest Resort or Similar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Morning with packed Breakfast drive to Body Ghat (2 hrs + drive) and to the Munnar. We will stop for Birding along the Ghat road looking for Yellow Throated Bulbul , Blue-faced Malkhoa and some dry land Species. Arrive in the Munnar around noon. Afternoon birding near hotel.
Munnar, one of Kerala's most beautiful hill stations, is home to a diverse range of exotic flora and fauna. A popular tourist destination at a height of 1500 metres, is a paradise on Earth with plenty to offer in terms of exploring nature, wildlife, and wilderness. If you enjoy wildlife, then these wildlife spots in Munnar are a must-see. The Neelakurinji is an exotic flora found in the forests and grasslands here. This flower, which only blooms once every twelve years, will bloom again in 2030.
Overnight in Tea County Resort or Similar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Morning birding in Eravikulam National Park (closed in February and March) or similar Shola forest patches (Shola is the local name for patches of stunted tropical montane forest found in valleys among rolling grassland in South India's higher montane regions) searching for Kerala Laughing Thrush, Nilgiri Pipit, White-bellied Blue Robin, Nilgiri Flycatcher, Malabar Whistling Thrush, and Squre-tailed Bulbul. Return to the hotel for lunch by noon. Afternoon birding in Pothamadu for Nilgiri wood pegion and other species.
Overnight in Tea County Resort or Similar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Drive to Valparai with packed breakfast via Chinnar wildlife sanctuary in the morning. We'll stop at Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary for a short walk to look for roosting Spot-Bellied Eagle Owl and Brown Fish Owl, later continuing to Valparai. A restaurant lunch will be on the way. Arrive in Valparai late in the afternoon and check into your hotel. If time allows, we will go out into the forest to look for our primary target, the Lion-tailed Macaque.
Overnight in the Stanmore Garden Bungalow Valparai or Similar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Morning walk through the forest in search of Lion-tailed Macaques and other unique flora and fauna of the Vaparai. After lunch, drive to Ooty (05 hrs). Arrive in Ooty in the evening and check into your hotel.
Overnight in Logan Camp Ooty or Similar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Ooty is mostly made up of Temperate Rainforests. It is also a part of the South Western Ghats montane rain forests ecoregion. Doddabetta is the highest peak (2,623 km or 1,630 mi) in the Nilgiris, located about 10 km (6.2 mi) from Ooty. It is located at the confluence of the Western Ghats, surrounded by dense Sholas. The pine forest between Ooty and Thalakunda is a small downhill region with neatly arranged pine trees. Wenlock Downs is a grassland area with gently undulating hills that is typical of the original Nilgiris bioscape.
Full day Birding in and around Ooty, including Carne Hill Forest Reserve, in search of the Nilgiri laughing thrush, Nilgiri Blue Robin, Black and Orange flycatcher, Nilgiri thrush, Spot-breasted Fantail, and painted Bush Quail.
Overnight in Logan Camp Ooty or Similar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Birding in the Ooty forest in the morning. Drive to Mudumalai National Park Masinagudi after lunch ( 3 hrs). Check into your hotel in Masinagudi in the late afternoon. Evening walk through the hotel grounds looking for owls and other nocturnal visitors.
Overnight in the Jungle Hut or Similar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Morning and afternoon Jeep safaris into Mudumalai National Park in search of the park's unique flora and fauna.
The Reserve contains tall grasses known as "Elephant Grass," giant bamboo, and valuable timber species such as Teak, Rosewood, and others. There are several endemic plant species. Among the animals that inhabit such a diverse habitat are the Tiger, Elephant, Indian Gaur, Panther, Sambar, Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Common Langur, Malabar Giant Squirrel, Wild Dog, Mangoose, Jungle Cat, and Hyena.
Mudumalai is home to eight percent of the bird species found in India. Rare birds such as the Malabar grey hornbill, Malabar pied hornbill, Malabar laughing thrush, Frog mouths, and a variety of woodpeckers are included.
Overnight in the Jungle Hut or Similar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Morning birding in Masinagudi, followed by a drive to Mysore ( 2hrs drive). Arrive in Mysore around lunchtime and check into your hotel. Afternoon birding in the grassland area outside of town, looking for Larks, Pipits, Indian Eagle Owls, and many other birds that visit grasslands.
Overnight in the Southern Star Mysore or Similar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Drive to Bangalore via Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary after breakfast. We will stop for birding at the Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary for birding about 3 hours.
Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, established in 1940 at the request of renowned ornithologist Dr. Salim Ali, is a birder's and nature lover's paradise. The sanctuary is 0.67 square kilometres in size and is located on the banks of the Kaveri River. Several species of resident birds prefer to nest in this bird paradise. Ranganathittu has been home to over 200 different bird species. Painted Storks, Kingfishers, Cormorants, Darters, Herons, River Terns, Egrets, Indian Roller, Blackheaded Ibis, Spoonbill, Great Stone-curlew or Great thick-knee, and Spot-billed Pelicans are the most commonly seen birds. Here we will go river boating to see the various bird species and catch a glimpse of the marsh crocodiles in the water. After visiting the Sanctuary continuing to the Bangalore airport. Arrive at the airport in the afternoon for a flight back to home.
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner. (TOUR END)
Bring your Torches, Mosquito Repellents, Shoes or Boots, Sunglass, Leach Socks, Winter Jackets, Binocular, Spotting-scope, Camera, Covid Vaccine certificate etc. Some of the hotels don’t serve Alcohol but it can be bought from town.
Contact us and inquire now for the best deal.
Feel free to ask any enquiry related to this tour, We'd love to hear from you!
Explore our related tour packages to make your journey more beautiful.
252-Rajendra Nagar, Opposite Main Gate of Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, India 321001
info@wildindiajourney.com
10:00 AM to 7:00 PM IST
