India Primate Tour

Full day exploring Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, with packed lunch.

Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary: 22 kms from the heart of Jorhat town, surrounded by tea plantations, the sanctuary is an isolated wildlife forest famed for its hoolock gibbon population. With an area of around 20 sq km, it is located on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River in Jorhat District, Assam. The sanctuary was established with the aim to protect the hoolock gibbon and is home to 40 species of mammals including capped langur, pig-tailed macaques, stump-tailed macaque, northern pig-tailed macaque, eastern Assamese macaque and rhesus macaque.

After a leisurely breakfast, we drive to Kaziranga (90 kms/2 hrs). On arrival check in to the hotel for 3 nights. Later in the afternoon we go on a jeep safari in Kaziranga National Park.

Kaziranga National Park: a World Heritage Site where more than 75% of the world’s total population of the great Indian one horned rhinoceros can be found, Kaziranga lies on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River and is one of the oldest parks in Assam. As well as rhinos, Asiatic water buffalos, elephants, Royal Bengal tigers, swamp deer, barking deer and hog deer can be seen. About 400 species of birds are found in Kaziranga National Park such as swamp francolin, great hornbill, pallas fish eagle, pied falconets, greater adjutant stork, long billed vulture. The specialty here is the blue naped pitta as well as a host of raptors and waterfowl. There is no telling what one might find in Kaziranga but it is always a great experience. The adjoining buffer areas are worth visiting too as numerous rare sightings are reported regularly including primates such as Bengal slow loris, Assamese macaque, capped langur and hollock gibbon (slow loris and hollock gibbon on the Karbi Anglong side only).

Spend the day exploring the park on morning and evening jeep safaris. There is also the option to visit The Kaziranga Orchid Park cum Biodiversity Conservation Centre.

Jeep safaris: Morning – entry time 0730 to 1000, no entry after 1000
Afternoon – entry time 1330 to 1500, no entry after 1500

Jeep safaris are permitted on pre-defined tourist circuits within Kaziranga National Park – currently at the following four points. Each of these circuits takes about 1.5 to 2.5 half hours (or even more depending upon interest of the tourists), subject to local range conditions and weather. Jeep safaris may be cancelled/curtailed due to any reason by the Park Authorities without prior notice.

1. Mihimukh in Central Range at Kohora
2. Bagori in Western Range at Bagori
3. Agaratoli in Eastern Range at Agaratoli
4. Ghorakati in Burapahar Range at Ghorakhati

The Central Range passes through the entire habitat spectrum from ox-bow lakes, savannah woodland to swamp forests. It is very good for mammal sightings as well as for birds (blue-bearded bee eater, great hornbill, rufous woodpecker). While driving along the trail, one can see rows of Indian roofed and tent turtles (Kachuga tecta and Kachuga tentoria) and sometimes water monitors (varanus salvator) are spotted in the beels.

The Eastern Range abounds in water birds such as bar-headed geese, falcated duck, grey-headed lapwing and spot-billed pelican (a colony of 200 pairs of this globally threatened species nesting on the Bombax trees can be found here).

The Western Range has the highest density of rhinos as this part of the park is swampier. It has grassland birds and raptors (swamp francolin, pallas’s fish eagle etc). Smooth Indian otters (Lutrogale perspicillata) can sometimes be seen fishing in it’s ox-bow lakes.

The Kaziranga Orchid Park cum Biodiversity Conservation Centre is spread across 16 bighas of land. It also has a photo gallery of 500 orchids, a greenhouse, lakes with boating and angling facilities and small tree-houses, among other attractions. The basic purpose of opening this park was to conserve local varieties of orchids, flowers, fruits, fish and to spread cultural awareness knowledge. Those visiting the park will also be able to taste juices of local fruits, try pithas (local cakes) and enjoy Borgeet and Xattriya dance performances as well. Experts such as Khonjit Gogoi, a teacher who has been preserving orchids for the past 20 years, have pitched in to shape the park. As has a farmer, Mahan Bora, with his 10-year experience in collecting paddy varieties, Kunti Bora, an expert in medicinal plants, who helped in opening a medicinal plants sales counter, Bihu expert, Dhaneswar Saikia who showcases the original Bihu dance forms and music and Xattriya expert, Biplob Baruah for Xattriya dance training.

After breakfast we drive to Nameri National Park (130 kms/3 hrs) and check it at Eco Camp. Later in the afternoon head off on a jungle walk.

Nameri National Park: located on the banks of the river Jia Bhorali on the northern side of the Brahmaputra, Nameri is in the foothills of the great Himalayas – tiger and bison country. The deciduous forests with the river Jia Bhorali flowing next to it have an added charm. Nameri is famous for its sizeable population of the very rare white-winged wood duck. Other interesting birds to be found here include white-cheeked partridge, great wreathed and rufous-necked hornbills, oriental hobby, amur falcon, grey-headed and lesser fish eagles, silver-backed needletail, long tailed broadbill, long-billed plover and ibisbill. Apart from these, a number of forest birds like pygmy woodpeckers, woodpeckers, orioles, barbets and thrushes can also be seen as well as 6-7 species of bulbuls. Primates found here include capped langur, Assamese macaque and rhesus macaque.

Note: No elephant or jeep safari facilities are available at Nameri National Park.

Enjoy a full day exploring Nameri National Park looking for its incredible birds and wildlife.

This morning we drive to Manas National Park (270 kms/6-7 hrs) where we check into the hotel.

Manas National Park: a sprawling park nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, Manas is the most stunning and pristine wildlife habitat not only in India but comparable to the best in the world. It has the unique distinction of being a UNESCO Natural World Heritage (endangered) site, a Project Tiger Reserve, an Elephant Reserve and a Biosphere Reserve. Additionally it is the only known home for the critically endangered Assam roofed turtle, hispid hare and pygmy hog. The focal point of Manas National Park is the enchanting Manas River, named after the serpent goddess Manasa, the longest Himalayan tributary of the mighty Brahmaputra. Coming down the Bhutan Hills from the north, the crystal clear waters of the Manas River run through the heart of the 500 sq km core area of Manas Park. It is bound on the north by the Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan, on the south by the populous North Kamrup district and on both east and west by buffer forest reserves which are part of the 2,840 sq km Manas Tiger Reserve.

One of the star attractions here is the Bengal florican, the rarest bustard in the world, of which there are probably only around 500 remaining. Manas is also a great place to see the great hornbill. The national park lists around 380 species of birds and the adjoining hilly terrain in Bhutan can easily add 100 additional birds to that total. Birds to look for are the greater adjutant, red-headed trogon, swamp francolin, oriental pied, wreathed and great Hornbills, marsh and Jerdon’s babblers, pied harrier, rufous-rumped and bristled grassbirds, hodgson’s bushchat, rufous-vented laughing thrush, Finn’s weaver, ibisbill and a variety of foothills species. Primates found here include capped langur and slow loris.

A wonderful day exploring Manas National Park by jeep.

Transfer to Guwahati Airport (180 kms/3-4 hrs) for your onward flight.