It’s about a 5-hour journey from Bangalore to the Nilgiri Biosphere reserve. We depart at 7:30 AM to ensure we arrive in time for check-in and lunch at our accommodation. The scenic drive through lush countryside and charming villages offers a wonderful glimpse into the region’s vegetation, culture, and local way of life.

At 3:30 PM, we embark on a three-hour jungle safari. The UNESCO Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is one of the largest protected forests in India. This region boasts the largest population of Asiatic elephants in the world and is home to the second-largest tiger population in the country. Unlike the open grasslands of the African savannah, the Indian jungles are densely wooded, with tall trees surrounded by grasses and lower-lying vegetation. Wildlife can be incredibly close—sometimes just 50 feet away—but can remain unseen unless a trained naturalist points it out. To enhance your experience, we do not use buses for safaris. Instead, we explore the forest in smaller jeeps, allowing for a deeper and more intimate experience of the wilderness. In Bandipur, keep an eye out for leopards, dholes (wild dogs), elephants, tigers, gaurs (Indian bison), bears, sambar deer, various antelopes, and a wide array of birds.