India's Golden Triangle

Traveler Reviews

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  Philip

  April 18th, 2013
  A week spent in the prescence of a dying breed, that was finicky, inspiring and at times quite marvellous. Enough of...
  A week spent in the prescence of a dying breed, that was finicky, inspiring and at times quite marvellous. Enough of Paul and onto the Tigers. A week spent in the prescence of a dying breed, that was finicky, inspiring and at times quite marvellous. Spectacular scenery, good food and excellent leadership along with doing something uselful for the community in Tala. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? We went to the local school that Exodus supports and seeing the joy on the children's faces when they were presented with pencils, pens and basic calculators that the group had donated.Seeing a family of tigers in the bush for the first time.  Seeing another tiger, meaning that there was still more than one tiger left and the hope that that would always be the case.Having the alpha male tiger walk alongside the car for about 10 minutes.Watching the sun rise and the sun set on the Taj Mahal - we added an extra couple of days to this trip. What did you think of your group leader? See summary for Paul! Brilliant team leader who gets the group together and spurs you on to get good images and enjoy the moment. Also very good at giving advice (whether needed or not!) on practical photographic technique and processing Bavinder was quietly efficient in the background dealing with the unmitigating, trivial Indian paperwork requirements. When my wife was ill, he was very caring and considerate. he made an excellent partner to Paul. Our Driver (Gagan?) in Agra and Delhi was a really good driver with lots of help and information and a cheery personality. He finioshed off our trip really nicely. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Very good laundry at the lodge so don't need to take huge amounts of clothes. Take a long lens instead of clothes, 500mm if you can, because the tigers aren't always as close as lions etc can be on other safaris. Take decent blowup cushion for overnight train.  Also take Immodium despite good quality food in lodges etc! When in Delhi (if you take extra days) be careful of ANYONE who offers you advice when walking about sightseeing. Is there anything else you would like to add? Go see the tigers before the Indian government decides that you can't.If you've not been to Agra, add it on, it really is worthwhile- after all, you are going past the place!Show more
  Traveled in March 2013
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  Donald

  March 19th, 2013
  A great trip if seeing animals in their natural environment is for you. The whole experience was enjoyable and...
  A great trip if seeing animals in their natural environment is for you. The whole experience was enjoyable and memorable. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The first sighting of a tiger and the realisation that it was really possible to see them in their natural environment. We were incredibly fortunate to have nine individual tiger sightings. How lucky were we! What did you think of your group leader? Paul is definitely the full deal, very high energy. He really wanted everyone to have a great experience and did everything possible to ensure that this happened. Balvinder was a perfect foil to Paul, calmly organising the details to enable the action to happen. Together they made a great team. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Pack appropriate shoes for playing cricket! Be patient with beaurocracy at the Tala gate, it's all part of the experience. Is there anything else you would like to add? The trip was great fun for several reasons. Obviously the tigers and other wildlife were a highlights, the accommodation was excellent, as was the food. We enjoyed the company of our fellow travellers, with lots of laughs. We'll remember the experience with enormous fondness. The cricket and school visit were important parts of the trip also.Show more
  Traveled in February 2013
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  Sheila

  January 2nd, 2013
  A fantastic expedition. Out of 11 game drives we saw tigers on 7 occassions and only on the last half day did we not...
  A fantastic expedition. Out of 11 game drives we saw tigers on 7 occassions and only on the last half day did we not see one. We had 3 sighting from the back of an elephant. The bird life was also great. Need we say more? The overnight train journeys were interesting! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? There were many inspirational moments on this trip: watching a tiger eat a cow, which had strayed into the park, from back of an elephant; succeeding in capturing an unblurred picture of a blue roller bird in flight; watching a tiger arrive at a water hole after waiting patiently for about an hour. etc.  What did you think of your group leader? Paul Goldstein may make Zaphod Beeblebrox appear self effacing but he certainly gets the results and does his best to ensure that his clients do as well! Don't expect a quiet life if he's your leader because his mantra is "do the time at the coal face and the rewards will follow". It works! Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Take plenty of stuff like Medi-wipes for the journey and drink plenty of bottled water. Take lots of memory cards for the camera, preferably an SLR. Is there anything else you would like to add? Go for it!Show more
  Traveled in December 2012
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  Janice

  April 5th, 2012
  This was my vist to India and my first opportunity to see and photograph tigers in the wild. My first sighting...
  This was my vist to India and my first opportunity to see and photograph tigers in the wild. My first sighting was magical but my second was absolutely fantastic - not just a sighting but a photographic opportunity that was something to die for. And more followed. A trip that came without guarantees of sightings - but which delivered more than I dared hope. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Seeing a tiger in wild walk towards us out of the undergrowth and looking straight at us. Magical beyond belief. What did you think of your group leader? What brilliant leaders we had - Balvinder and the legendary Paul Goldstein. Balvinder is a real gentleman, gentle, kind, focussed, hard working and informative - nothing was too much trouble. Paul is - well Paul - consistently enthusiastic, committed, manic and full of energy. They both made sure everyone in the group was looked after well. Their commitment to the tigers - 'Worth More Alive' - matched their commitment to the local communities and their commitment to all the participants on the trip. Paul I know from previous trips but this was the first time I have met Balvinder and enjoyed his leadership. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? To enjoy this trip you need to be passionate about Tigers - and about them being protected in the wild. You need to enjoy spending hours and hours looking for and appreciating wildlife and to enjoy the company of people with similar passions. And of course it helps if you enjoy photography. Is there anything else you would like to add? Thanks you Exodus - and Paul and Balvinder - for a trip that surpassed my hopes and expectations. Tigers are indeed 'Worth More Alive'. Show more
  Traveled in March 2012
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  Kara

  March 30th, 2012
  This trip should come with a Government Health Warning. Booking a trip with Mr Goldstein can cause serious addiction....
  This trip should come with a Government Health Warning. Booking a trip with Mr Goldstein can cause serious addiction. Symptoms include a craving for more, feelings of fulfilment and in the most severe of cases, a desire to play cricket. If you seek a quiet, lethargic hoilday devoid of culture, interest and laughter, this is not the trip for you. Those of a nervous disposition or those who are photographically precious need not apply. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? "Yellow burning eyes penetrating the bamboo thicket."Psychologically broken and physically restrained ?, not here. Intoxicating felines in the wild, where they should be, how they should be and where they must stay. What did you think of your group leader? "Balvinder", one of the most sincere and caring guides I have ever met.As for Paul, this charismatic man does run on E's; Emotive, Effervescent and Ebullient. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Blow the dust off your red balls, get out those bats and get some cricket practice in before you go. Sport is not about "the taking part", what nonsense. It is all about winning.This year the Tigers put in a valiant effort but more runs resulted from the Delhi Belly than from the pitch. Is there anything else you would like to add? Wildlife watching can seriously improve your health. It is not an exact science, it is a gamble, but then so is life!Show more
  Traveled in February 2012
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  Jacqueline

  March 26th, 2012
  Another fantastic trip - although a big group this time all the logistics worked well - thanks to a great team -...
  Another fantastic trip - although a big group this time all the logistics worked well - thanks to a great team - Balvinder especially - even the trains played ball and got us there and back in good time! It was fun too, a good group and lots of laughs.We had some good sightings (for me though nothing will ever match our 2009 trip, but that really was a one off, I know that!). The Park does seem better organised now, but you will continue to get a mass of vehicles at a good sighting, especially where routes/zones overlap. Visiting the school is always humbling - it is a lovely experience though - as was giving out the pressure cookers to the ladies of a village bordering the Park. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Well, for me, it is all about the tiger and I was lucky to see 4 different ones on this trip. Nothing can quite touch the moment that I see one - it still sends tingles down my spine and yes brings a lump to my throat too, regardless of how many times I see them! I have to mention seeing that sloth bear for the first time too - quite lovely! What did you think of your group leader? Paul, as ever, delivered - he and Bali make such a great team. Paul's passion for tigers and their preservation is inspiring! Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Be prepared for the dust - it really does get everywhere!The trains were good this time - no delays - but that is not always the case!Take lots of goodies with you - for the school and the kids there (books, pens, pencils etc); sweeties for Paul and dog biscuits for the dogs at the Park!! Is there anything else you would like to add? Well I think I've said everything above really - it was a very enjoyable trip, everything went according to plan (well we lost the cricket, but I guess you can't have everything!!). I was a bit worried initially about the group size but it worked just fine - if there was one niggle then I guess it would be that not everyone was able to go out with Paul, but that was obvious right from the beginning and there was nothing that could be done about it. Good luck to Paul for the marathons and Kili ...and yes I'll be there on the 12th - looking forward to seeing everyone again! Show more
  Traveled in February 2012
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  Jennifer

  March 25th, 2012
  A wonderful trip, very well organised, with an element of luck with the tiger sightings. It certainly exceeded my...
  A wonderful trip, very well organised, with an element of luck with the tiger sightings. It certainly exceeded my expectations. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Seeing my first tiger in the wild, then seeing another tiger the same afternoon.Watching the cricket match.The presentation of pressure cookers to people from a local village. What did you think of your group leader? Very impressed with his drive and enthusiasm - lucky to be with him when I saw the first tiger in the wild.Show more
  Traveled in February 2012
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  Brian

  March 22nd, 2012
  Wonderfully well organised, excellent staff and good company. I could have done with a little more info. about the...
  Wonderfully well organised, excellent staff and good company. I could have done with a little more info. about the need to carry some cash on each game drive because of the chance of ad-hoc elephant rides when tigers have been found. The staff did everything possible to mitigate the problems of currency exchange and the shortage of small denomination bank notes which will always be a challenge. Great trip. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The moment you understand how positive the local impact is of your visit and what exodus do to help the local people. Makes a change to feel like a positive force when you are atourist. What did you think of your group leader? This is our second trip with Paul and we wouldn’t have him any other way. Excellent interaction with all the group members and his efforts to include everybody. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Be prepared for the culture shock of being in rural India. Try always to get small denomination bank notes – out of the cities big notes are a problem and ATMs are few and far between. Be rigorously careful about using bottled water all the time particularly when cleaning your teeth. The boiled water for tea and coffee in restaurants seems to be fine. Take something to store your photos on because you’ll take lots. Is there anything else you would like to add? No....Show more
  Traveled in February 2012
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  Matt

  March 21st, 2012
  Tigers, it truly does matter.. To see these wonderful cats in the wild is infectious, to see the children at the...
  Tigers, it truly does matter.. To see these wonderful cats in the wild is infectious, to see the children at the school is infectious, the whole experience in Bandhavgarh leaves you grinning like the Cheshire Cat.. The only question you have at the end of the 10 days is... when can i come back.. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The first sighting of a wild tiger, this is why we came and the park delivered day after day.. I remember clearly that 5 minute encounter on the back of an elephant with 2 Tiger Cubs, we drove away in the jeep a further 15 minutes later with my mind full of emotion and a tear in my eye.. What did you think of your group leader? I think there are 3 elements to this trip as far as leaders go as no trip runs smoothly due to 1 person, its a team effort that brings it all together: What can be said about Paul that hasnt been said before. Really i cant add to the long list of attributes that he bring to a trip. Overall the thing that shines through is his passion for Tigers, the people of Bhandhavgarh and Photography. Tigers matter, he tells you this throughout the week and after spending 10 days with him you understand why... Balvinder is fantastic, a friendly smile every morning making sure you had water for the game drive ahead.. Caring if you felt under the weather and always available to help no matter what..Lastly our Indian drivers in Bhandhavgarh, every morning and afternoon they met us with a smile. Happy faces that became like friends as the week progressed. All knowledgeable about the park and the wildlife and birdlife, always stopping and pointing out something whether in clear view or out of sight.. They delivered each and every day.. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Take time out to watch, sure its about Tigers but there is so much more in the reserve. Bee Eaters and Rollers to name but a few of the wonderful birdlife, Jackals to, there all so photogenic.. Its dusty out in the reserve. I took a pillow case to pull over the lens and body, it just helps to preserve your camera and ensure that dust isnt the thing that breaks your camera and stops you getting that wonderful image.. Bean Bags where available to us in each jeep and a monopod can be helpful although i found enough places on the jeep to offer support.. Is there anything else you would like to add? The children at the local school are the next generation, we need to make sure that tigers are there for them.. They need our help.. Calculators, pens, book and pencils, all the things we take for granted are so important to them, please bring as much as you can. When you give your gifts to them, that mass of smiles makes you know that your doing something special..Show more
  Traveled in February 2012
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  Alan

  March 21st, 2012
  the long journey to and from Bandhavgarh was extremely tiring but well worth it, to see to not only Tigers but also...
  the long journey to and from Bandhavgarh was extremely tiring but well worth it, to see to not only Tigers but also Sloth Bears and Jungle Cats was truly brilliant not to mention Owls, Hawks, Kites, Rollers and lots of other great birds, deer and other mammals. There is more to the safari than Tigers. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? It has to be the first sighting of a Tiger as that is the main draw to the reserve but to also get an image of a Nightjar close up on the ground - wow. What did you think of your group leader? "Bally" the local leader was extremely good and experienced, what can we say about Paul who just has so much energy it makes me feel tired! Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Be prepared for the long journey and travel light the lodge has a great laundry -provided you put it in in time it will be ready for the next day - Paul! Is there anything else you would like to add? perhaps the lodge could consider having cereals as an alternative for breakfast. Quite a few members of the group were not partial to the spicy food, perhaps also some none spicy alternatives (besides egg and chips) such as grilled or fried chicken could be offered - I did enjoy the egg and chips though!Show more
  Traveled in February 2012