5 independent reviews for Kanha tiger safari & cycling tour, India
Reviews for Kanha tiger safari & cycling tour, India
alan johns review 21 Feb 2024
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Close contact with wildlife particularly tigers and wild dogs.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
We opted for a bespoke trip. Our advice would be trust in Sophie. Tell her what sort of holiday you would like and relax.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes we had good contact with local people and projects and were aware of the support given to them by this tour operator.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent in every respect. Locations, organisation, support, guides, staff etc etc - all personally known and trusted by Sophie. This was an amazing and exciting holiday which was so well organised that we never felt stressed.Eloise Barker review 14 Dec 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The encounters – the many memorable encounters with people and wildlife that I had on this trip. I just loved feeling like I was embedded in the area, that we could just jump on our bikes and visit a friend for tea and a walk round their tree nursery, or pop in on a roadside stand for chai and samosas and a chat. I was humbled and astonished by the openness of people that I met who were willing to share their stories. I came back with a restored faith in humanity – not many holidays give you that. We had incredible wildlife encounters. It was a joy to see – every tree, every leaf, brimming with life. We saw scores of species of bird without really trying. And of course, the tiger sightings. We had two amazing encounters.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Just book it. Sophie was the most reassuring and caring person I’ve ever dealt with. Any worries about the trip can be handled – she can answer any question. Wearing baggy clothes really did make it easy to walk around and not feel out of place. Lots of layers were essential for safaris that start in chilly mist and end in gorgeous sunshine. The cycling is very manageable and great fun (there are e bikes, too). Cycling gear recommended, but I actually didn’t use my gel shorts, gloves or jersey in the end – though others did. I wish I’d learnt a few words of Hindi as interacting with people is one of the best parts of this holiday. Binoculars (‘bins’) are super useful. Obviously delete all the pics on your phone so you have space for a million more.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
In three words: A big YES. In more words: This is a great example of slow travel: you spend time in just one area – and get there by train rather than internal flight. You visit and several important projects in the area on different days, so you might do a safari in the morning, and then cycle to a local market in the afternoon, or a women’s craft collective, or a local farming project. The main accommodation is run by 90+% people from the local community, providing vital employment opportunities to marginalised tribal peoples. The camp operates in a very low impact way – from packed lunches wrapped in paper and tied with string, to refillable toiletries in glass bottles. And it’s very beautiful and peaceful. The food is vegetarian-led – there might be a meat dish at dinner, but the star of the show is fantastic vegetarian curries, breads, rice. I suspect a lot of people return from this trip and become lifelong supporters of some of the initiatives visited.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
One of the most memorable trips I’ve ever taken; by day four I was already scheming about how I can come back!Helen Lowe review 13 Dec 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The most memorable element was the friendliness of everyone we met. From staff in lodges, people we met in the street and others on the trip. The mixture of safari and cycling gave us a perfect opportunity to combine our favourite interests.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
To come with an open mind and enjoy the change of pace from Indian cities.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
The hotel and lodges that were selected on the trip were very concerned with limiting their environmental impact,whilst maintaining very high standards. The trip included an oversight by Earth Focus and we visited some of their ongoing projects at a kindergarden, school and a village farm cooperative. We felt the access to local villagers was very rewarding and we felt cycling enhanced this experience.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Absolutely magicalGwyneth Wright review 20 Nov 2017
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Every day of my trip was exciting and memorable. It was a truly wonderful experience to explore rural Chattisgargh with a seamlessly tailored holiday. I felt I made friends every step of the way and a part of me has stayed with a wish to return. At Bhoramdeo jungle retreat each day felt magically like two as time seemed to stretch effortlessly to accommodate an activity of our choice; maybe visiting the local home or the sewing school in the morning and another, maybe a tribal village market, in the afternoon with plenty of time to rest in between. We took beautiful walks through local villages, farmlands and jungle, and spent time meeting and chatting with local people. With sophie and sunny as guides it is a real privilege to have genuinely rich and interesting encounters with local people, with lots of room for fun with the village children too. Bike rides were beautiful, weaving through the quiet countryside lanes to ancient temples and villages, all with time to absorb the unique beauty of the environment and the rhythms of village life. The food is all locally sourced and utterly delicious. The trip to Khanha National Park was exhilarating. Our hosts and guide there are exceptional and without expectation I experienced the real thrill of being in truly immersed in the wonder of the natural world where human presence is an insignificant part of the animal kingdom. Witnessing tigers close by was utterly exhilarating and magnificent, the slow ease of a python across the track extraordinary , time alongside rare wild dogs, many birds species and deer. All with the expert knowledge and tracking of our guide, Raj,who lives and breathes tigers and wildlife. A bike trip through the the buffer zone with an overnight stay to share an evening and hear about the stories of a life lived beside the jungle is a treasured memory.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Put yourself in Sophie's expert hands. Expect a holiday in beautiful places that are unspoilt by tourism. Sophie has all the top tips so just follow her suggestions.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
The whole holiday was integral to these aims- benefiting the local community, reducing environmental impact and nature conservation and awareness. Part of my holiday was to take part in a successful initiative to sponsor village women to enter a pinkathon run in the nearest city. This involved a trial run in the village where tracksuits and trainers were given out by the superintendent of police for the district, visits to schools, and lots of fun with local girls and women who otherwise wouldn't get the chance to go to the city, let alone run and benefit from free breast cancer care. Also, I attended a great workshop with the village women to discuss and raise awareness of menstrual issues and was introduced to re-usable sanitary pads which the women later learned how to make. This is an innovative initiative run by Rajisi and her husband. It avoids the use of disposable sanitary wear and provides a far more sophisticated solution to the traditional rag, which prevents women from being active during menstruation. All the accommodation I stayed in used natural resources, such as environmentally friendly methods including wood burners for water heating and local sustainable products. All the team at Bhoramdeo were from the local community and all the benefits of tourism there carefully and respectfully managed. Much time was spent raising awareness of environmental issues, such as water management and projects that are involved with the local community.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent. The best holiday of my life.Lesley Fairbairn review 20 Nov 2017
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
So much to praise about this wonderful trip! - Safaris into Kanah National Park – real ‘Jungle Book’ land (Rudyard Kipling territory). - Sophie is an ornithologist so together with the expert naturalist, Raj, we saw so many different birds, as well as the rare Swamp Deer, a python, and yes, we were so, so lucky – tigers. Such an exquisite and intense experience. I have a very long list of animals, butterflies, birds and trees that we saw. - Sleeping at night listening to the sounds of the jungle at Shergarh – a most extraordinary and luxurious tented safari camp near Kanah. - Visit to Phen Wildlife Sanctuary, so lovely that there were no other jeeps, like safaris were fifty years ago. So peaceful to stop the jeep and listen to the sounds of the animals and the jungle. - Picnic breakfast unpacked from back of jeep in Phen. - Cycling around Bhormadeo – to temples, lakes, through farmland. - Being greeted with trays of flowers and fresh lime drinks when we returned from our cycle rides and walks. - 11th century temples with carvings of gods and erotic sculptures. - Experiencing a puja at the temple where we were completely welcomed by everyone. - Walking in the jungle and meadows, down from near Chilpi back down to Bhormadeo Jungle Retreat (BJR). - Fabulous food – I felt so well on it. - Perhaps most of all, simply being around the people at Bhoramdeo. - And the stories from Sunny as we relaxed around the fire in the eves with drinks in hand before a scrumptious meal. - Visits to village markets – good shopping. - Being greeted and welcomed by villagers and the gorgeous children as we strolled along. Seeing how they live so peacefully in such tranquil settings. Really made me reflect on how we live our cluttered lives back home. - A special highlight of this particular trip was the running event. Sophie and Sunny took a team of 144 local young women from Bhoramdeo to Raipur to take part in ‘Raipur Going Pink’. Some of them had never taken part I a formal race before and their joy was so infectious. Such a confidence building experience for them, they also brought back the crucial health awareness messages to their remote tribal villages. Sophie and her team of fundraisers provided running shoes and track suits to all those runners. If you like running and Sophie is offering a trip with a run in it – book that! It is like nothing you will ever experience outside of India. - I cannot speak highly enough of this small, very personal company and the friends they work with, embedded in and committed to the land, the wildlife and its people. Book a tour - they are bespoke and varied. You won't regret it. I just got back - it was the trip of a lifetime.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Where discreet clothes – long sleeves and long trousers. Bring really warm layers for the eves and for travelling in the open jeeps. I didn’t get a single mosquito bite but I covered up in the eves and wore lots of repellent. Sophie will email you great advice in advance on all aspects of your trip.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Being of benefit to the local people, reducing environmental impacts and supporting conservation are part of the fundamental reason that Bhoramdeo Jungle Retreat (BJR) is situated where it is – Sunny was born in the district and decided return and locate BJR there to help improve the environment and the lives of the local people. Helping the community is not an add-on – it informs everything they do there. Here are some examples of how BJR uses some of its revenue to help the community, all wide-reaching and long term: - Installing high quality water filtration for the guests instead of providing bottled water thus reducing plastic rubbish by 100s of bottles each month. - Giving reusable cups to the community thus reducing the number of plastic cups thrown away as litter at celebrations. - Installing efficient, low-polluting boilers to heat the water for the guests’ showers. - Setting up a sewing school for the local women and paying for a sewing instructor and the materials. - A clean-up programme to nudge behaviour so that locals reduce how much litter they leave. - A wonderful health campaign for local tribe and village girls, which was kicked off with a running event to spread awareness about breast cancer and other issues that put women’s lives at risk. - If you like running and Sophie is offering a trip with a run in it – book that! It is like nothing you will ever experience outside of India.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
I had a 2-week trip with the tour operator and I've never been so well looked after! Every detail taken care of to give us a great adventure, wondrous sights, immersed in jungles, wildlife and tribal village people. All the holidays are tailor made and Sophie is incredibly flexible. For instance, we chose to travel back from Kanha by car in order to take in Phen Sanctuary. I’m a keen cyclist and we did lots of cycling when we got to Bhormadeo Jungle Retreat. All excursions into the local community tenderly, sensitively led by Sophie and her team of hosts and guides. I’d never been to India before and I was nervous about how to behave and whether I’d fit in. And I wanted to learn about where I was visiting, not just be a tourist. And Sophie and her team took care of all my concerns – their insights into how the community works, health campaigns for local women and their families, and recycling initiatives, all made me feel part of BJR despite just being there for a few days. It was very hard to leave and I would definitely book another trip with the tour operator again. I was in safe hands.Holiday Reviews
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