LEOPARDS AND SHEPHERDS
Feb. 25th – Mar. 5th, 2025
Wildlife and culture unite in this immersive India experience! Whether you are continuing your journey from the Tiger Safari previous to this trip, or embarking on a fresh tour, prepare to be dazzled by opulent cityscapes and rural life amongst Leopards.
We’ll begin in the beautiful city of Udaipur the Venice of the East and a jewel in the crown of Rajasthan! Nestled amidst the Aravalli Hills, Udaipur is a city of enchanting lakes, majestic palaces, and vibrant culture. As we embark on this journey through its winding streets and opulent landmarks, prepare to be mesmerized by its rich history, architectural marvels, and the warmth of its people. We’ll have a full day to indulge in street, portrait, and architectural photography before moving on to Jawai-Bera.
Jawai-Bera is a small hamlet in the heart of Rajasthan and is a prominent habitat for leopards. In the recent years this place has gained popularity as an ideal habitat for leopard sightings in India. The granite hills of Jawai are a part of the Arravali mountain range that was formed millions of years ago. It is believed to be the oldest range of Fold Mountains in India. The natural history of the Aravalli Range dates back to times when the Indian Plate was separated from the Eurasian Plate by an ocean.
For hundreds of years the granite hills in the area have been a prime habitat for leopards. The leopards here live in perfect harmony with the nomadic Rabari tribe thus making Jawai one of the world’s most fascinating stories of peaceful human- leopard co-existence.
Jawai River flows through this otherwise arid landscape; the Jawai Dam is the largest source of fresh water in the area. The large reservoir covers several acres of this landscape and from atop one of the many hills one can witness some of the best sunrises, sunsets and even a moonrise.
Apart from leopards, you can also spot the rare rusty-spotted cat, striped hyena, sloth bear, desert cat, and chinkaras in this landscape.
The native people of Jawai are tribals called the Rabari who rear cattle and engage in farming for their living. It is not that technology hasn’t reached them or they are incapable of moving to some big town. They are people who have embraced this lifestyle and enjoy being close to their lands. They still cook their food in earthen hearths and have an amazing sense of hospitality. There will be opportunity to photograph the people of the Rabari Tribe.
About your leader….
Anuradha (Anu), is an erstwhile IT-marketing professional, who has work for renowned IT companies like NIIT and MIcrosoft. She gave up, as the lure of being out in the wilderness paled in comparison to a high flying corporate career. Quitting her job gave her greater flexibility to pursue photography fulltime and over the years, she has travelled extensively across various wilderness domains, documenting natural history moments.
Anu has been a Canon brand ambassador,in the past, championing women in the field of photography. She has delivered several training sessions for canon as well as several prestigious institutions. She also conducts wildlife tours in Indian and several other Asian & African destinations.
Anu contributes her photographic and written works to photography and nature magazines, books and online platforms. She has authored the recently published Official Coffee Table book of Corbett National Park, India’s and Asia’s 1st National Park, a place she considers to be her second home. While she loves to travel and shoot for its simple pleasure and for the joy of being in the moment, awards and accolades have not eluded her, she has been honoured by Sanctuary Asia, International Nature Namur, Golden Orchid International, National Biodiversity Authority Photography Awards, Network for Certification and Conservation of Forests, PEFC International, UNESCO to name a few.
6 participants
$5,200
$2,050 single supplement
Payment schedule: November
If you wish to have a roommate we will make every effort to pair you with one, however if we are unable to find a roommate, the single supplement will apply.
Feb. 25th – Mar. 5th, 2025
Day 1 – 25th Feb – Group arrives from Bandhavgarh / elsewhere and overnight stay at New Delhi
Day 2– 26th Feb – We take the earliest available flight to Udaipur, upon arrival drive to our hotel, check and relax, you have the rest of the day free to yourself. It would be good to rest up for those joining in after the Tigers and Temples tour and also for those who would have arrived in country just a day prior.
Day 3 – 27th Feb – ready your wide-angle lenses and put on your walking shoes. Today we would be visiting the many palaces, lakes, forts and markets in and around the city of Udaipur. You will have ample opportunities to do street, portrait and architecture photography and indulge in some shopping.
Day 4– 28th Feb- after an early breakfast we check out and our transport vehicles will be waiting to take us to Bera. The drive from the city takes 4 hours; we will be driving through some beautiful landscapes and rural villages. On arrival we shall have lunch or tea and sandwiches depending on the time of day. For those who would be feeling up for adventure we shall go on an evening safari.
Day 5-8 -1st to 4th March – There would be morning and evening game drives, where our naturalists would go in search for leopards on the several rock faces and hills in the area. A major portion of the day will be for leisure and relaxation as the daytime temperatures can get quite hot and all wildlife activity come to a halt as the animals take shelter in caves. We shall also have the opportunity to photograph the local tribes’ men and women. Their colourful attire, tattoos, jewellery and headgear giving you the opportunity to create some beautiful portraits.
There are no specific safari tracks and since the leopards reside in the several caves and crevices in the hills, your safari vehicle will be scaling these granite hills, which is quite an exciting experience!
Day 9 – 5th March – Post breakfast we head back to Udaipur for our flight back to New Delhi. For those taking their flights back home will be dropped off at the international terminal.
- For those who have an onward flight the next day can request for hotel accommodation for the night at an extra charge.
Feb. 25th – Mar. 5th, 2025
Leopards and Shepherds
Deposit
Feb. 25th – Mar. 5th, 2025
All payments are non-refundable unless a tour is cancelled due to under-enrollment, in which case you will receive a full refund of your initial deposit, or you may transfer your deposit to a future tour.
There will be no refunds if you need to cancel your trip for any reason.
In the event we need to cancel a tour due to natural disaster, pandemic, labor strikes, or any other situation that is beyond our control, there will be no refunds.
We strongly recommend purchasing trip insurance as soon as you book your trip, in most cases this will be your only recourse for a refund. Trip insurance that includes medical evacuation is required for all international tours.
One night accommodation on double sharing at New Delhi on arrival– Acco and Breakfast only
Two nights accommodation on double sharing at Udaipur – Acco and Breakfast only
Five nights accommodation on double sharing at Jawai-Bera all meals included.
Flights to Udaipur from New Delhi and back
Road transfers
9 Safaris and opportunity for portrait photography
Expert guiding
Meals on day 1 March at Delhi
Meals at Udaipur other than breakfast
Any personal expenses like shopping, beverages etc
Tips and gratuities
Seat upgrades on flights
Single occupancy charges
Accommodation on day 9 at Delhi
Excess baggage charges on flights – check in limit is 15kgs and cabin limit is 7 kgs
Easy. There will be some walking in Udaipur. In Jawai-Bera we will be in safari vehicles, with some walking throughout the village.