Nature lovers travel all over the world, hoping to experience the wilderness at its untouched form. Assam, a state in the northeastern part of India, boasts of an ecosystem, pristine at its most, and comprised of a rich bio-diverse system that is a treat for the wildlife lovers from all around the world. The fertile alluvial soils of the Brahmaputra have provided with the base element for an ecosystem that boasts of conserving and bringing back from the verge of extinction, the legendary Indian One Horned Rhinoceros. Well assisted by super rare migratory birds and other life forms along with a dense growth of flora, this ecosystem, is spread throughout the state and divided over a few National Parks and Reserves for better management.
Assam welcomes all by setting the door open to this magical habitat of the majestic creations of nature and providing us with the opportunity to enjoy and learn by observing them in their most possible natural habitat.
With our arrival at the Guwahati Airport/Railway Station, our chauffeur will drive us to the Manas National Park, situated at the base of foothills of the Bhutan Himalayas on the north bank of the Brahmaputra River. After checking into the pre-booked accommodation, it’ll be time for a lunch following which, a short walking trail in the vicinity can be arranged, allowing getting a preliminary idea of the landscape which is the only one in the world where pristine Terai grasslands are seen merging with the bhabar Grasslands interspersed with diverse habitats ascending to semi-evergreen forests and then to the Bhutan Himalayas. The evenings can be spent in leisure followed by sumptuous dinner and night stay near Manas National Park.
The day starts early as we’ll get ready to embark on the first elephant safari of the trip, the best medium to view the wildlife from close quarters. An hour later, we will be back to the resort for breakfast and will follow the next on course journey of two hours jeep safari through the hearts of the park which is a Project Tiger Reserve, an Elephant Reserve and a biosphere reserve, all at the same time, apart from hosting the largest population of the endangered Bengal Florican in the world. We may have a late lunch today and prepare ourselves for the 3rd safari of the day. This time will focus more on plying through the semi-evergreen forest to increase the chance of sighting endangered Assam Roofed Turtle, Hispid Hare, Golden Langur, and Pygmy hog. The water buffaloes enjoying in the orange light of the jungle sunset is something a visual treat. The evenings can be spent relaxing back at the resort, followed by a delicious dinner and night stay near Manas National Park.
Mornings are the best time to be in luck on witnessing the legendary one-horned Indian Rhinoceros and the majestic Royal Bengal Tigers and, so we will gear up for an early morning safari at Manas. Soon after, it’ll be breakfast time and we will be back to the resort and check out for our way to Guwahati, sprawling city beside the Brahmaputra River. After checking into the pre-booked hotel, we shall visit the famous Kamakhya Devi Temple, considered to be one of the holiest shrines of Hindu Mythology. We shall have lunch en-route. Later, a motor cruise on the Brahmaputra river can be a brilliant option to experience a magical sunset, before returning back to the hotel or we may just return to the hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure followed by dinner and night stay at Guwahati.
The 2nd pit stop for the jungle surfing will be leading us to the Orang National Park, currently known as the Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park, located on the northern banks of the Brahmaputra river. It is the oldest game reserve of the state and is an important breeding ground for a variety of species of fish. It is also known as the mini Kaziranga, owing to its similarity in the landscape, comprising of marshes, streams and grasslands and both being inhabited by the Great Indian One Horned Rhinoceros. After checking into the lodge we will have our lunch and proceed towards jungle safari at Orang National Park with the desire to witness the Hog deer, porcupines, and the Maljuria Elephants. As the light falls, it’ll be time to return back to the lodge for leisure followed by dinner and night stay near Orang National Park.
The day begins early with a scheduled morning safari through the bio-diverse ecosystem of the Orang National Park. The journey through the dense forest with tall trees and high grasslands can pay rich dividends in the form of the rare and majestic sightings of the Indian One Horned Rhinoceros and the Royal Bengal Tigers. We will return to the lodge for breakfast and a short rest. It’ll soon be time for the 2nd vehicle safari of the day, in hope for spotting the critically endangered species like the Pygmy Hog, Indian Pangolin, Rhesus Macaque, Leopard cat and the Gangetic dolphins among others. By now, it’ll be time to return back to the resort to take care of the famished souls with a delicious lunch, followed by another jeep safari; this time specifically to screen the park for a sight of the rarest of the birds found here like the Spot Billed Pelican, Greater and Lesser Adjutant Stork, Brahminy Ducks and the Bengal Florican among many others. As evening sets in, it’ll time to return back to the resort for a leisurely time, followed by a plate of hot satisfying dinner and night stay at Orang.
The next destination on this extensive Jungle trail is the Nameri National Park, situated just 100 KM from the Orang National Park. After finishing a sumptuous breakfast, we’ll be on our way to the Nameri Park, with an en-route halt at Tezpur, for visiting the ruins of the yesteryear Rulers. Upon reaching the Nameri, accommodation will be arranged in Nature Camps, where a much-needed lunch will be served, followed by a visit to the nearby Pygmy Hog Foundation to learn more about the species. The evening can be spent in leisure back at the camp, assisted well by a plate of hot and delicious dinner and a night stay in camps near Nameri.
The day starts with an exciting session of river rafting at Jia Bhoroli River, that can provide with ample opportunities to have a chance to spot a lot of migratory birds and on a lucky day, it is not unheard of the sightings of the majestic Royal Bengal Tiger and the Asiatic Elephants on the banks of the river. The 13 km long stretch of rafting can turn out to be the best ride to spot the White Winged Wood Duck, Great Pied Hornbill, Black Stork, and Ibisbill among others. By now, the tired body will be in dire need of a sumptuous breakfast back at the camp, followed by a nature trail along the park. The much-needed forest guides accompanied by armed forest guards give the opportunity to trudge deeper into the forest, thereby providing options to enjoy the rare sightings of the Hornbills from the closest quarters possible. As the light starts to disappear, it’ll be time to return back to the safe refuge of the camp to enjoy a hot meal for dinner night stay at Nameri.
Today, it’ll be a journey to the prized destination of the tour, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for the record number of the Indian One Horned Rhinoceros: the Kaziranga National Park spread across the floodplains of the Brahmaputra. Apart from being home to the highest density of tigers among all the ‘Protected Areas’ in the world, the park is also home to a large breeding population of elephants, wild water buffalos, and swamp deer. Upon reaching, accommodation would have been already arranged in a nearby wildlife resort. Once the fulfilling lunch is over, it’ll be time for a guided tour along the banks of the river, to get an idea of the ecosystem comprised of tall elephant grasses, marshlands, and dense tropical moist broadleaf forests, crisscrossed by rivers and numerous small bodies of water. A short visit to the local tea garden and rubber plantation shall be on the cards if time permits. With the gradual resumption of darkness in the evening, we will return to the resort for leisure, dinner and night stay at Kaziranga.
An early morning safari through the Kaziranga is something of a rare experience as we move through the tall grasses, while the morning mist slowly disappearing to make way for the warm light, accounting for a visual treat that one won’t forget easily. If luck favors, there will be sightings of the Indian One Horned Rhinoceros in their most natural habitat. A return to the resort for breakfast is required after which it’ll be time for a jeep safari into the central part of the park, hoping to spot some of the Royal Bengal Tigers, the prized possessions of the Park. Later, after returning back to the resort for a lunch, we’ll be gearing up for the last safari of the day, this time to the western part of the Park, to get an idea about the Aviary species of the place. Exotic birds like the Lesser White Fronted Goose, Ferruginous Ducks, Baer’s Pochard Ducks and the Asian Open Billed Stork that specially migrate from Central Asia, are the star attractions of this place. As the darkness starts to set in, it’ll be time to return back to the resort where a delicious dinner will be ready to take care of the famished souls, followed by night stay at Kaziranga.
The mornings in Kaziranga are always magical with the combination of the orange light and the greyish mist. A breakfast in this environment will set things up for a visit to the next destination, The Pobitora National Park. Located in the Morigaon District, it covers an area of about 38.8 sq. km. On reaching the Park, it’ll be time for a quick lunch at the wildlife resort, followed by a jeep safari through the heart of the Park with the anticipation of spotting a few One Horned Rhinoceros. However, other animals that offer sight are leopards, wild boars, barking deer, and the wild buffalos. As the day ends, it’ll be time to return to the resort and the day will end with a plate of hot food followed by night stay near Pobitora.
The day starts with another elephant safari early in the morning as this time of the day is deer for sighting the maximum number of wild lives. Returning back to the resort, a breakfast is due after which we’ll be setting out for Deepor Beel, a permanent freshwater lake, for some exciting bird watching and boating. After enjoying a picturesque sunset on the lake, it’ll be time to continue the journey to Guwahati, where provisions have been made for an overnight stay at Guwahati, after a plateful of delicious dinner.
Our Chauffeur will be ready to drive us to the Airport/Railway station after breakfast as per our flight/ train schedule to journey home.
At zerodegreel
every moment will someday make you look back and want to experience it all over again.
