September
Wildlife Sanctuaries of Goa - Biodiversity Hotspots of the Western Ghats
During this camp, we will be exploring Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and Bondla Wildlife Santuary. The region has been acknowledged as a Mega Biodiversity Hotspot of the Western Ghats Range and has also been recognized as an Important Bird Area.
Dates: 27- 30 September 2010
Accommodation: Wildernest Resort (4 star category)
Please check the website: www.wildernest-goa.com
Charges: Rs. 9000/- (includes twin-sharing accommodation in eco cottages, all meals, slide-show on wildlife and bio-diversity, swimming pool facility and pick-up and drop-off from Thivim Railway Station on the Kokan railway).
Registration: Call at Hornbill House 22821811.
Group Leaders: Mr. Isaac Kehimkar and Mr. Nikhil Bhopale.
How to Reach: Konkan Kanya Express (0111) Starts from Mumbai CST at 23.05 hrs, and eaches Thivim at 10.40 hrs.
Return: Konkan Kanya Express (0112) Reaches Thivim at 17.34 hrs (2 min halt) reaches Mumbai at 05.50 hrs
Meeting Point: Thivim railway station at 10.45 hrs, drop back to Thivim Railway station at 16.00 hrs Note: -Room sharing will be separate for male and female participants.
October
Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary
Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, one of Kerala’s premier wildlife reserves is situated in the Annamalai Hills, south of the Palghat Gap in the Western Ghats. The 285 sq km stretch of thick forest has several rivers, including the Parambikulam, the Sholayar and the Thekkedy. Thickly forested with stands of bamboo, sandalwood, rosewood and teak. Here you can see the famous Kannimari teak tree, the largest in Asia.
Fauna includes tigers, leopards, wild dogs, sloth bears, elephants, wild boar, barking deer, spotted deer, langurs and macaques. Parambikulam is also home to Kerala’s largest population of gaur. Besides these, civet, chevrotain (mouse deer), pangolin, crocodile, jungle cat, porcupine and some 140 species of birds are found in the sanctuary.
Dates: 1st Batch : 6th – 9th October +++ 2nd Batch : 11th – 14th October (on demand)
Accommodation: Dormitory (basic amenities)
Charges: Rs. 6500/-
Registration: Call at Hornbill House 22821811.
Group Leaders: Mr. Isaac Kehimkar and Mr. Nikhil Bhopale.
How to Reach: Coimbatore Express (1013) Starts from Kalyan Jn at 23.18 hrs and reaches Coimbatore Jn at 6.30 hrs
Return: Kanyakumari Mumbai Express (6382) reaches Coimbatore Jn at 18.00 hrs (5 mins halt) and arrives in Mumbai at 4.50 hrs
Meeting Point: Coimbatore Jn railway station at 7.30 hrs, drop back to Coimbatore Jn Railway station at 16.30 hrs
Dodital – An Autumn Camp in the Himalaya
Dodital is a high altitude lake in Uttarakhand at 3,024 m. This crystral clear lake is in the midst of thickforest of Oak, Rhododendron, Fir and Deodar. Another name for this lake is Dhundital meaning Lake ofGanesha. One side of the lake is guarded by a high ridge called the Darwa Top, which gives a panoramic view of high peaks of Garhwal. Good opportunity to see the region’s rich Himalayan flora and fauna. Traditionally Dodital route has been frequented by nomadic herdsmen for grazing their livestock, and by pilgrims on the Gangotri-Yamunotri route. Perfect time to see Himalayan Monal, Koklas Pheasant, Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush, Bearded Vulture and butterflies like Queen of Spain, Blue Apollo, Painted Lady, Indian Red Admiral and lot more.
Dates: 16th -23rd October 2010
Trek Grade: - Difficult. Physical fitness is necessary for the trekking during the camp, ponies might not be available. Luggage will be carried by the porters.
Meeting Point: Birla Temple, Cannaught place, Delhi at 9.30 pm on Saturday, 16th October 2010. Though we will return on 23rd October kindly book your overnight stay at Delhi and return ticket for 24th October.
Cost: Rs. 17,000/-
Group leaders: - Mr. Nikhil Bhopale & Mr. Asif Khan
Accommodation: twin/ triple sharing Note: - Room sharing will be separate for male and female participants.
Registration: Call at Hornbill House 22821811.
Camp Programme
Day 1 : Leave Delhi by 9.30 pm by A/C coach
Day 2 : Reach Uttarkashi by 1 pm and check in at Leisure Camps , -a riverside swiss tents camping site, evening birdwatching
Day 3: Leave early to Sangam Chatti and start trek to Agoda 6 km easy, stay overnight there in lodge with basic facility
Day 4 : Start trek to Dodital 15 km easy to moderate through the forest experiencing Himalayan flora and birding enroute and stay overnight in Forest Rest House
Day 5: Excursion to Darva top - alpine meadows - and back by the evening to Dodital
Day 6 : Leave Dodital early to stay at Agoda Lodge
Day 7: Leave early to board the bus from Sangam Chatti to reach Mussoorie by 6 pm and check in hotel
Day 8 : Early morning excursion to Benog Bird Sanctuary and back by 11 am, have lunch and leave for Delhi to reach by late evening.
November
NATURE CAMP at Agumbe Rainforest Research Station (ARRS)
Agumbe situated 560 meters above sea level on the Sahyadri ranges (Western Ghats), a World bio-diversity hotspot is aptly called the Cherapunji of South India as it receives an average rainfall of 7000-8000 mm annually. The Agumbe Rainforest Research Station is set up by Romulus Whitaker, where he caught his first King Cobra 35 years ago. The main objective of ARRS is to study and conserve the rainforests of south Indiausing the King Cobra as the flagship.
Learn how to identify forest birds and their calls from an expert.
Dates: 1st Batch: 20 to 23 November +++ 2nd Batch: 24 to 27 November
Accommodation: Dormitory (very basic facilities)
Please check the website: www.agumberainforest.com
Charges: Rs. 4700/- (includes accommodation in dormitory, all meals, and pick-up and drop-off from Udipi Railway Station on the Konkan railway). Matsyagandha Express (2619) 04.42 hrs. Pick up at 7.00 a.m.
Drop-off at Udipi Railway Station at 15.30 hrs. Matsyagandha Express (2620) at 16.00 hrs, to Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, Mumbai.
Registration: Call at Hornbill House 22821811.
Group Leaders: Mr. Isaac Kehimkar and Mr. Nikhil Bhopale.
BUTTERFLY WATCH Camp in Duars of West Bengal.
Eastern India is home to more than 900 species of butterflies which makes it a hot spot for butterflies, not only in our country but in the entire oriental region.
Learn the fine art of photographing and identifying these elusive flying gems from an expert.
CHILAPATA WILDLIFE SANTUARY
Chilapata Forest is a dense forest near Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary in Dooars, Jalpaiguri District. It is about 20 km from Alipur Duar. The forest forms an elephant corridor between Jaldapara and the Buxa Tiger Reserve.
BUXA TIGER RESERVE
The park is located at the north eastern corner of Duars plains of North Bengal bordering Bhutan and Assam. Situated at an altitude of 2600 ft above sea level the forest mainly comprises of deciduous forests, which are densely wooded and is home to some of West Bengal's most varied flora and fauna.
Here we go Butterflying in the Jayanti and Moorti River beds.
Dates: 3rd -7th November 2010 (1st batch) +++ 8th – 12th November 2010 (2nd batch on demand)
Meeting Point: New Jalpaiguri (NJP) railway staion
Cost: Rs. 13,500/- (15 limited seats available per batch)
Group leaders: - Mr. Isaac Kehimkar and Mr. Nikhil Bhopale
Accommodation: 3 sharing. Note: - Room sharing will be separate for male and female participants.
Cost Includes: Pickup and Drop to NJP, Accommodations, all meals, Local Butterfly Guide, and BNHS expertise.
Registration: Call at Hornbill House 22821811.
December
SUNDARBANS- Land of the Royal Bengal Tiger
The Sundarbans are located in the river delta of Brahmaputra and Ganges in the Bay of Bengal. 102 islands are situated in this world’s largest river delta. Approximately, 40 per cent of the Sundarbans is in India’s state of West Bengal.
The Sundarbans are the largest mangrove forest worldwide; they cover 60 per cent of India’s total mangrove area. Almost 90 per cent of all Indian mangrove species are found here.
Of course, the Tiger is the flagship species of Sundarbans, where it roams in the marshy areas and is often seen swimming across the channels. Moreover, Sundarbans is the best place to see the Saltwater Crocodile and Water Monitor Lizard. With more than 180 bird species found here in winter, January is the perfect time to see the migratory birds.
DATES: Batch I - 24th to 27th of December +++ Batch II - 28th to 31st of December (On demand)
Camp fee: Rs. 9000 [Includes accommodation (3/4 sharing), all meals, pick up and drop at Howrah railway station. Registration: Call at Hornbill House 22821811 Group Leader: Mr. Asif Khan Meeting point: Pick up near Howrah railway station near Yatri Niwas morning 08.00 hrs. Note: - Room sharing will be separate for male and female participants.
Great Rann of Kutch – The Birding Paradise of India
Explore the areas bordering the Great Rann of Kutch and other interesting places like, Banni, Chari-Dhand for birdwatching and finding fossils. Winter is the perfect time to watch a variety of migratory birds that come to these places in thousands.
Good time to see Common Crane, Short-eared Owl, Greater Spotted Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Laggar Falcon, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Sykes’s Lark, Indian Courser, Indian Bustard, Crab Plover, Greater Flamingo, Lesser Flamingo, Oystercatcher, Great Thick-knee, White-naped Tit, White-bellied Minivets, Painted Sandgrouse, Sirkeer Malkoha, Rufous-fronted Prinia, buntings, Grey Hypocolius, Graceful Prinia, Red-tail Wheatear, warblers and lot more.
Some of the mammals seen here are Jackal, Indian Fox, Hyena, Nilgai, Chinkara, Jungle Cat, Hedgehog and Mongoose.
Batches: 1st Batch 28th- 1st December/ January +++ 2nd Batch 2nd- 6th January 2011 (on demand)
Charges: Rs. 9000/- (Charges include transport from Bhuj railway station and back, local travel, entry fee, all meals and accommodation twin-sharing basis).
Note: - Room sharing will be separate for male and female participants.
Registration: Call at Hornbill House 22821811
Meeting Point: Bhuj Station at 8.00 hrs, drop-off at Bhuj Station at 18.00 hrs.
Travel: Participants are advised to book Bandra – Bhuj Sayaji Express (Train No. 9115) which leaves Bandra daily at 14.50 hrs and reaches Bhuj at 07.40 hrs next morning.
The Camp concludes on the 5th day and both above-mentioned trains leave Bhuj by 22.15 hrs. Group Leaders: Mr. Vandan Jhaveri and Mr. J K Tewari.
January, 2011
Andaman Islands
Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a union territory of India lies in the Bay of Bengal. It consists of about 527 islands both small and large. The coastline of the Islands stretches for about 100 Kms. The area of theIslands is about 8,293 square kilometers. Of the total land area 92% of the land is covered with rain forests. Of the 527 islands, only 38 islands are inhabited by humans. These Islands have good numbers of endemic flora and fauna. This trip covers North, Middle and South Andaman.
Dates: 17 – 27th January 2011 (First batch) +++ 20th – 30th January 2011 (Second batch on demand)
Reporting: - Port Blair airport. Kindly book your flight at the earliest to avail tickets at cheaper rate.
Group Leaders: Mr. Isaac Kehimkar and Mr. Nikhil Bhopale.
Camp Fee: Rs. 26000/- {Includes visits to Anthropology Museum, Central Jail from inside with sound & light show, Mount Harriet, Wandoor National park (Jollybuoy / Redskin Island for snorkeling), travel through Jarawa Reserve, two nature trails at the base of Saddle Peak, evening visit to Ramnagar beach, Ross & Smith Island, Mud volcano, Lime Stone cave, Chidiyatapu, night stay at Havlok Island, Elephanta and Radhanageri beach}
Cost includes: Port Blair to Port Blair. Airport pick up and drop. Twin sharing ‘A’ class hotel in Port Blair and triple sharing in Wandur National park, Hygienic veg. / non-veg food (non-veg. as per availability). Permits for prohibited areas
Cost excludes: Air travel, Personal expenses like mineral water, Cold drinks, Laundry and Medical expenses. Optional activity charges like Scuba Diving, Snorkeling. Cost of extended stays or change in itinerary on account factors beyond our control (for instance bad weather, civil disturbances etc.), Camera fees in wild life sanctuaries.
Note: - Room sharing will be separate for male and female participants.
