India Big Cat Quest: A photography Journey
in the land of tigers
Experience the thrill of a lifetime on our unforgettable wildlife photography tour in India with Focus Photo Tours and Wildcat Odyssey! Traverse three of the country’s premier national parks, where the majestic tiger reigns supreme. Capture stunning images of these incredible animals in their natural habitats, surrounded by India's diverse landscapes—from lush forests to serene grasslands—and abundance of wildlife. With expert guides by your side, you’ll gain unique insights into the behaviors and habitats of Indian wildlife, all while honing your photography skills. Join us for an adventure that blends artistic expression with the wonders of nature—your perfect shot awaits!
General Information | Overview | What’s Included | Reviews
Gallery | Itinerary | Location & Accommodations | Tour Leader
India Big Cat Quest
Dates: January 7-19 (sold out); february 1-10, 2027
Location: Tadoba, Pench, & Kanha National Parks, India
(+ Bhigwan Extension available for birding and wolves)
Price: 2027 pricing coming soon
Fitness Level: LEVEL one - You will be riding around in a safari jeep for most of the tour with minimal physical activity
Group Size: 8 participants + 2 group leaders
*Price per person, based on same-sex double occupancy accommodations. A limited number of single supplement rooms are available for an additional fee, which you may select at time of booking. If the single supplement rooms are sold out online, please contact us, and we will reach out to the lodging to see if we can accommodate more, though we cannot guarantee this is possible.
Tour highlights:
Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve: Immerse yourself in one of India's oldest national parks, famous for its vibrant wildlife, including sloth bears. Experience thrilling encounters and the opportunity to photograph these unique creatures in their lush surroundings.
Pench National Park: Discover the enchanting beauty of this park, home to diverse wildlife. Look out for the famous 'The Jungle Book' inspired landscapes and capture photos of various creatures, from deer to exotic birds.
Kanha National Park: Kanha stands as one of India’s most celebrated wildlife destinations, encompassing over 940 sq kilometers of core and buffer forest. The park’s stunning landscape features dense sal forests, expansive grassy meadows, and gently rolling hills, forming one of Central India’s most picturesque ecosystems.
Expert Local Guides: Benefit from the knowledge of experienced guides who will help you locate wildlife and provide tips for capturing the best images. Their insights will enhance your overall experience.
Apart from tigers and leopards, observe a variety of flora and fauna, including various species of deer, birds, and reptiles.
Support Responsible Tourism: Engage with wildlife conservation efforts by participating in sustainable tourism practices that prioritize animal welfare and habitat protection.
Images courtesy of Scott & Jackie Stone
The first time you see a tiger in the wild, emerging from the underbrush, is unforgettable, and with our guides' expertise, you'll be in the right place to frame that perfect shot. Our tour includes specialized excursions at dusk and dawn, when wildlife is most active, allowing you to document their fascinating behaviors in the wild. This trip goes beyond just tigers. You will have the opportunity to photograph a variety of wildlife, including deer, leopards, and a plethora of bird species that dot the Indian landscape. The varying topographies of Kanha, Pench, and Tadoba present numerous backdrops—from lush grasslands to rugged hillsides—ensuring your photographs reflect the vibrant diversity of India's ecosystems. Whether you're a novice looking to understand the basics or an advanced photographer seeking to refine your techniques, our expert guides will provide tailored advice, demonstrating how to effectively utilize light, composition, and camera settings to elevate your wildlife photography. Join us on this exhilarating adventure where every moment spent in the wild could lead to an awe-inspiring photograph. Discover the beautifully dynamic world of tigers while forming unforgettable memories with fellow wildlife enthusiasts. This is more than a photography tour; it's a deep dive into nature's captivating tapestry.
What’s Included:
16 Safaris in private safari jeeps
Handpicked drivers and naturalist guides
All accommodations as per itinerary
All meals as per itinerary
All ground transfers
All safari permits and park entry fees
Photography guidance and expedition leadership
What’s Not Included:
International flights to India
Flight to/from Mumbai to Nagpur
Travel insurance
Any extra F&B, laundry charges, drinks of personal nature, etc.
Anything else not included in the ‘INCLUSIONS’ section
This tour begins at Nagpur Airport, though we will meet you in Mumbai to ensure you have no issues with visas or customs. Please make travel arrangements based on the itinerary below, or Contact Us for travel assistance.
Day 0 (january 31): Arrive Mumbai (BOM)
Please plan to arrive in Mumbai, India (airport code BOM) on January 31, 2027 any time. Your leaders or a representative of Wildcat Odyssey will be in Mumbai and available to help resolve any issues with visas/customs/arrival. Though this night will not be included in the cost of the tour, we will make hotel recommendations for this night and plan a group dinner for everyone to meet each other, as well as arrange transportation to the airport for the early morning flight to Nagpur.
DAY 1 (February 1): travel to taboda
Depart Mumbai for Nagpur on recommended 5-6am domestic flight. Arrive Nagpur Airport and meet the expedition team. After breakfast at a hotel in Nagpur, transfer to Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve in comfortable vehicles.
Arrive by noon and check in at the lodge on a full-board basis. After lunch and a short orientation session, head out on your first afternoon safari in Tadoba.
Return to the lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 2-4 (february 2-4): TADOBA safaris
Enjoy morning and afternoon safaris in Tadoba over the next three days. Safaris will be conducted in private jeeps with handpicked drivers and naturalist guides, assigned according to safari zones.
Tadoba’s rugged teak forests and open landscapes offer exceptional opportunities to track the Bengal tiger, along with sightings of leopards, wild dogs, sloth bears, and diverse bird life.
Daily itinerary
DAY 5 (february 5): tadoba to pench
After an early breakfast, depart from Tadoba at 8:30am and drive to Pench National Park, a scenic journey of approximately 3.5 hours.
Arrive around 12:30pm, check in to the lodge, and enjoy lunch before heading for an afternoon safari in Pench. Safaris here will be conducted with experienced guides under the foreign tourist quota.
Return to the lodge in the evening, relax, and enjoy dinner.
DAY 6 (February 6): PENCH safaris
Enjoy morning and afternoon safaris in Pench National Park in private jeeps.
Pench’s beautiful teak forests are renowned for leopard sightings, along with rich wildlife including wild dogs, gaur, deer species, and a vibrant array of birds.
DAY 7 (february 7): Pench to Kanha
After breakfast, depart Pench at 8:30am and drive approximately 3.5 hours to Kanha National Park, arriving around 12:30pm.
After lunch, proceed for an afternoon safari in Kanha with handpicked drivers and guides.
In the evening, return to accommodations for dinner and relaxation.
DAY 8-9 (february 8-9): Kanha safaris
Enjoy morning and afternoon safaris in the spectacular landscapes of Kanha Tiger Reserve, known for its sweeping meadows, dense sal forests, and thriving wildlife populations.
Apart from the Bengal tigers, the park is famous for the hard-ground barasingha, a conservation success story unique to Kanha.
DAY 10 (february 10): departure
Enjoy a final morning safari in Kanha before returning to the lodge.
After lunch, check out and drive back to Nagpur Airport in private vehicles for onward departures (about 5.5-6 hours).
Tour concludes in Nagpur. As of now, there is a 10:10PM departure out of Nagpur to Mumbai. Please plan on taking this or the latest flight possible to avoid feeling rushed. Book departures out of Mumbai early morning on February 11.
Optional add-on:
There is an optional add-on for three days in Bhigwan Bird Sanctuary for birding and wolves at an additional cost. Please let us know at time of booking if you would like to add this to your tour.
location & accommodations
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Tadoba, Pench, & Kanha national parks, india
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tadoba lodging
Or similar, based on availability.
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Pench Lodging
Or similar, based on availability.
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kanha lodging
Or similar, based on availability. Lodging will also depend on safari gate.
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Tour LeaderS: SCOTT & JACKIE STONE
Scott and Jackie Stone have spent their lives dedicated to the outdoors and love sharing it with others. Brought together through their conservation beliefs, they have been married since July 3, 2023, and together run Alaska Bear Camps and Scott Stone Photography, as well concentrating on sharing their adventures with other passionate people. They devote their lives to the brown bears and other bear species around the globe, striving to educate and share their love of the planet and conservation with like-minded people.
Through their love of nature and our planet they joined with co-founders Traci Sepkovic and Dee Webb to offer trips around the globe to teach and share photography tours based on conservation, education and most importantly, giving back to the local communities we visit in pursuit of seeing all the amazing places and wildlife across the planet.
Scott and Jackie love all forms of photography including wildlife, landscape, astro, aurora, and macro; their cameras are their compass.
Instagram: @sstone_images, @akreelgirl
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