India Tiger Safari

Traveler Reviews

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  Monica1.0•March 2020
  The safari tour was terminated after only four days due to the hotel and airport closures imposed by India in...
  The safari tour was terminated after only four days due to the hotel and airport closures imposed by India in response to the Coronavirus pandemic. The four days we had showed great promise for the entire tour. The reason for my Bad review is this. NOBODY has contacted us in regards to how we are to be compensated for the cancellation of our experience. NOBODY. Not Tourradar, not Exodus, NOBODY. We fully expect some sort of accommodation to be made for the fact that we gave you thousands of dollars and didn't get what we paid for. Not blaming you for the cancellation. Blaming you for not reaching out to us in regards to reparations. Perhaps you are still trying ot figure this out. Some tour members may be satisfied with a voucher to repeat the safari at no further cost. Some may not be able to do that and will want a refund. Those two options should be the basis of the way you handle this unfortunate situation. But there should have been some immediate communication from somebody, and there was not. You need to get on this before customers seek other avenues of redress.Show more
  Traveled in March 2020
  

  Reply from: Exodus Adventure Travels

  Dear Ms DiFranco, Thank you for taking the time to review your recent Exodus holiday to India. We are extremely sorry, however, that your trip was impacted by the global Coronavirus outbreak and the measures taken by various governments and agencies to control the spread. As we are sure you will appreciate, the Coronavirus outbreak is causing unprecedented operational disruption and, whilst we are in the process of contacting all affected clients whose trips were curtailed, we regret that it is taking us longer than normal to write to everybody. We anticipate being in touch shortly and, in the meantime, we would like to thank you for your patience and understanding during this incredibly challenging and turbulent time. Kind Regards, Exodus Travels

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  Penelope5.0•May 2013
  This was a mystical and awe-inspiring trip - seeing tigers in the wild was the best wild animal experience I have...
  This was a mystical and awe-inspiring trip - seeing tigers in the wild was the best wild animal experience I have ever had. We saw small cubs, 3 near adult tigers lounging around together in the shade, several crossing the road next to us, another one sitting in a waterhole, altogether 16 tigers and 5 leopards. Can't believe how lucky we were. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Seeing Muna, the tiger with CAT written on his forehead, come out of the bush at Kanha, and wander along the road beside us, mark his territory, walk on a bit further then cross the road. All this whilst about 12 jeeps were jostling to get close to him. He didn't pay us the slightestbit of attention.Seeing how the wardens reacted at Bandhavgahr when we reported seeing the tiger with the porcupine quill up its nose on our last day. Within hours they had got a vet to the tiger, darted her, and removed the quill, which was so far up her nose it was life-threatening. She was in agony and it was very heartening that they intervened so quickly.Seeing two wild dogs bring down an 8-pointer spotted deer stag. They had obviously been attacking it for some time and the stag had much of its rump eaten away. Every time they brought it down it got back up to fight again even though it was deeply in shock. Finally they left to get the rest of the pack, and even then it tried to get away, but was far too badly mauled to survive. It was a very brave animal. What did you think of your group leader? Krishna was brilliant. He was passionate about the tigers and so well informed. It was a pleasure to be with him. He also looked after me so well when I got sick, and arranged for a doctor at the camp to see me and give me antibiotics. He is one of the best group leaders I have been with and he was funny and endearing as well as good at his job. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Take antibiotics, don't ever brush your teeth with tap water, even in Mumbai (my downfall) and don't wear anything on the drives that you love, everything gets covered in red dust that doesn't really wash out! Is there anything else you would like to add? I just loved this trip. I am determined to support the Tiger Project in India, it is frightening to think these magnificent creatures could be extinct in the wild within a decade if people don't support their conservation. I have never seen anything so majestic and beautiful. Even leopards and cheetahs are not quite as awe-inspiring and lions look positively moth-eaten in comparison!Show more
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  Michael5.0•May 2013
  This thoroughly exceeded my expectations. In seeing 15 different tigers I think we were extremely...
  This thoroughly exceeded my expectations. In seeing 15 different tigers I think we were extremely fortunate........but what a thrill. Hard to see it being bettered; but we will no doubt try. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Observing tigers (and leopards) in their habitat, some from only around 15 yards from the vehicle was a dream come true and so emotive. What did you think of your group leader? For any tour you need an informed, interested and knowledgeable leader, not just on the tour 'main topic' but associated facts and information too. In Krishna we had someone that fitted the bill admirably. He 'knew his stuff' on a wide and extremely varied range of facts relating to India and the wildlife we encountered on our safari, and was never stuck for an answer. He made sure the trip was memorable for all the right reasons, and was always attentive to both the needs of the individual as well as those of the wider group. I came away with a collection of thoughts, information and images on India that will remain with me for a very long time, thanks in no small part to his enthusiasm. I cannot recommend him highly enough. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Don't let pre-conceptions on things such as 'Delhi belly' dampen your thoughts about going on a holiday to India. Our tour was trouble free, due in no small part to the preparation undertaken by Exodus and it's staff. Relax and enjoy the experience. Is there anything else you would like to add? I appreciated the opportunity to see first hand the conditions in which local people live, work and are educated and could not help but see how pleased they were to see, meet 'foreigners' and how warmly they greeted people who obviously had a considerably better lifestyle than their own, without the least sign of envy. I never once felt threatened and saw only happy, and at times curious, faces.   The only downside was the Indian rule of law with regards to traffic flow and who has right of way............. it's obviously  'he who dares, wins'! There's a logic there somewhere.Show more
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  Patricia4.0•April 2013
  Beautiful game parks, fantastic wildlife, good accommodation. Altogether a great experience. What was the most...
  Beautiful game parks, fantastic wildlife, good accommodation. Altogether a great experience. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Finally seeing tigers on our 18th (and final!) game drive!  They are truly amazing creatures and we were privileged to see 4 on our final drive, two of which we saw really close up and for quite a while.  What did you think of your group leader? Harish Kumar is exceptionally knowledgeable about India and its wildlife, especialy the beautiful birds.  He could not have worked harder to nip any health issues in the bud whenever anyone in the group was under the weather and to ensure we had the best opportunities to see the wonderful wildlife, including tigers.  He felt personally responsible that, until our fianl drive, we had not had a decent sighting of a tiger and this was obviously a great concern for him. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Tigers are wild creatures and do not appear just because you will them to!  Current Indian goivernment policy has reduced the opportunities for seeing tigers so now is the time to go before their numbers dwindle even further as a result of poaching. Having said that, be prepared to just enjoy the beauty of the parks and the other wonderful wildlife in case you are unlucky in your tiger quest.  There's plenty else to enjoy.Make sure you have your binoculars handy at all times and don't let your camera battery or memory run out!Ear plugs for the overnight train may be useful We had a chronic snorer as a neighbour - he got a good night's sleep but nobody else in the vicinity did! Is there anything else you would like to add? Tiger tourism is not a priority for the Indian government, poaching is rife and not rigourously pursued.  Now is the time to go if you want to have a decent chance of seeing this magnificent creature in its natural environment.  It's well worth signing up for all the additional game drives on offer (we had 11 included as standard plus 7 additional drives) to maximise your chances of seeing tigers and also as there's little else to do to fill the time.  Budget accordingly! Food everywhere was geared towards the western palate so was not overly spicy. It was quite difficult to get really hot food!Show more
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  Anthea5.0•April 2013
  This trip is well worth doing if you want to try and see tigers in the wild where they belong. We didn't see any...
  This trip is well worth doing if you want to try and see tigers in the wild where they belong. We didn't see any tigers for the first few game drives, but keep looking.....there is no guarantee but I saw a tiger cub 4 months old, an adult male asleep in the grass, a female adult in another park, then the last drive was the absolute best, 3 tigers cubs 15 to 18 months old about 10 metres from our jeep the most awe inspiring part of my trip and made it all worthwhile. But the trip as a whole is wonderful. Sightseeing tour in Delhi was great and so interesting. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Well seeing wild tigers is the only thing I can say here, truly amazing experience, gives me goosebumps thinking about it! The Rickshaw ride was really good fun as was the Tuc Tuc ride too. Seeing the Taj Mahal was brilliant. What did you think of your group leader? Harish was a rather lovely tour leader, smiley, funny, made everything go smoothly, looked after us and got us medicine when required. Worked really hard making sure we were all having the best trip we could, he worked so hard behind the scenes. Nothing was too much trouble, he always kept us informed of the next days goings on etc. brilliant I would say and we were lucky to have him as our tour leader. Fact ! Do you have any advice for potential travellers? The game drives are so dusty so take something to cover your face when needed. After the game drives our hair was full of dust but we didnt care it was all fun ! The food is really good and if you are careful you can avoid Delhi belly like I did. Everyday up really early and you don't really catch up on the sleep but its an adventure so enjoy it all. The sun is hotter than hot, almost unbearable at times, a good hat with uv protection is best. Take some pens and pencils etc for the children at the school, I took a fair bit and they loved them all. Take plenty mosquito spray I took 2 and used it all, ants in the room here and there but that's to be expected when you're next to the forest, soon got rid of them though. Take a few snacks for in between meals, I took cereal bars and was glad of them. The overnight train was better than I expected and it went quite quickly, it was clean and tidy. Is there anything else you would like to add? If you have a passion for seeing tigers in the wild then BOOK THIS TRIP NOW! No guarantees but more likely that you will see some than not and it such a wonderful experience. The people of India are lovely and they want you to take their photo like at the local markets etc, just show them the photo on your camera and they are happy. Oh the samosas are really yum too! You also see the real India when travelling to the next destination which was fab. Not too many souvenir shops where we were in India, a couple of small ones and then just at Delhi airport when leaving so if you want some momentos buy them when you get chance.Show more
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  Ruth5.0•April 2013
  What an excellent trip. The holiday was made perfect by being in the company of an exceptional group of like-minded...
  What an excellent trip. The holiday was made perfect by being in the company of an exceptional group of like-minded people, Tigers were seen by all of our group although they were very elusive. Accommodation and food were of a high standard. To experience the busy chaotic streets of India teeming with noise and colour is something I will never forget. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? It was all brilliant, although that first Tiger sighting was just out of this world, seeing a tiger just yards away cross in in front of our jeep sent a shiver down my spine. I wanted to watch, I wanted to capture the moment and take photos, my hands were shaking it was incredible! What did you think of your group leader? Bali (Balvinder Singh) was just the best guide a group could have. His wicked sense of humour, his charm, his friendliness, his love and passion for his Country inspired us as a group. He was always around to smooth the way, nothing was too much trouble. Bali made me want to return to India one day to experience much more.... Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Be prepared for cold early starts. Tigers are elusive, enjoy the beautiful birds and other wildlife. Take a scarf the drives can be very dusty. Is there anything else you would like to add? I have now travelled with Exodus twice, and both holidays have surpassed all my expectations. I came home thumbed through the brochure and have turned down the corners of so many pages looking for new adventures to make and places to experience.If you are looking at this trip as a possibility I would say go for it!Show more
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  Sarah5.0•April 2013
  The trip was well thought out, with plenty of variety, and although we didn't get much 'tiger action' in Pench or...
  The trip was well thought out, with plenty of variety, and although we didn't get much 'tiger action' in Pench or Kanha, there was much to entertain - especially the langurs, which were enchanting. The overnight train journey was a revelation - clean, comfortable and quiet. I loved it! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Undoubtedly seeing three huge cubs at Bandhavargh - they were astonishing and I can hardly believe I've seen them and photographed them! What did you think of your group leader? What Harish doesn't know about his country and its wildlife isn't worth knowing.  He was always approachable and kind, was ready to answer questions however silly and dealt sympathetically and practically with those who were 'under the weather'.  He organised things behind the scenes - transport, porters etc., so we never had to worry about anything.  A wonderful leader and the best we could have had. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Take toilet roll with you at all times, especially for the train.Make sure you get plenty of Rupees at Mumbai as there is nowhere to change money till you get to Agra. Is there anything else you would like to add? I have wanted to go to India since I was a little girl, and this seemed to be a good introductory trip.  I wasn't mistaken.  The parks were beautiful - especially Kanha, where the scent of Sal blossom was intoxicating; Old Delhi was an experience I wouldn't have missed for the world, frantic and colourful and the Taj Mahal was as beautiful as I expected.  A great trip.Show more
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  Rosalyn5.0•April 2013
  This trip was exciting, well organised and inspirational, and exceeded my expectations. It is difficult to find the...
  This trip was exciting, well organised and inspirational, and exceeded my expectations. It is difficult to find the right words to sum up the whole experience that is India - immense, overwhelming, cultural, basic, ancient , modern, friendly, diverse, colourful, busy, noisy, smelly! and so much more. You have to go and experience it to know exactly what I mean. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Hearing our guide say quietly ' tiger coming ' as we sat in our jeep parked on a dirt road followed by the sound of rustling in the undergrowth. Spotted deer exploding across the track fearful for their lives and the quiet appearance of a tigress and three, definitely not cuddly, cubs in front of us - magic. What did you think of your group leader? 'Bali' ( or Balvinder Singh to give him his proper name ) was exceptional. His whole philosophy was to do everything he could to make this holiday a sucess for everyone. His organisational skills were epic - especially when it came to getting all of us plus our luggage onto the sleeper then making sure we were all together by persuading people to change berths! He gave us an insight into Indian culture and geography, explained the food we were eating and so obviously enjoyed his job that his good nature rubbed off on everyone. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Do some research on India before you go so as to appreciate things to the full. As a woman remember that India is a very male orientated society and dress appropriately. Is there anything else you would like to add? It is now three weeks since I returned exhausted but elated at having such an adventure and I am still putting everything into perspective. The memories are so vivid that I expect them to last forever.Show more
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  Bill5.0•April 2013
  An excellent trip, with superb accommodation and food. Itinerary was perfect, with not too much travelling involved....
  An excellent trip, with superb accommodation and food. Itinerary was perfect, with not too much travelling involved. Tigers seen by everybody in the group, though personally, only twice out of fourteen game drives. Each sighting was of a female with three grown cubs in Kanha and Bandhavgarh, the latter being very close. Perfect finale to the trip with a visit to the Taj Mahal - unforgettable! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Undoubtedly, seeing tigers close-up in their natural environment, but so sad to think that their future remains endangered. The visit to the Taj Mahal - absolutely stunning! So hard to believe that this magnificent building was completed almost 350 years ago. The familiar postcard images fail to show the amount of fine detail of the semi-precious stones within the marble that seemingly fills every square inch. What did you think of your group leader? 'Bali' (Balvinder Singh):  From pick-up to departure, 'Bali' just never stopped working to ensure that everything was as it should be. We had no major problems, thanks to his exceptional organisational skills. Inevitably, a few very minor problems arose, but none was too small for him to rectify. At mealtimes he guided us through the wide range of Indian food on offer, before settling down to his own meal. Single-handed, he virtually nursed us through the expected chaos of the overnight train, keeping personal charge of the porters and our luggage as it was loaded. The train journey was a breeze! As well as being a superb tour guide, he was a lovely person and an excellent travelling companion, keeping us entertained with his experiences as an Exodus leader, his enthusiasm and love for his country, his personal life as a Sikh, and not forgetting his skill as an amateur magician!!  I have never experienced such an emotional farewell. You just might be lucky to get a leader as good as Bali, but you simply couldn't wish for one that's better. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Be prepared for 5am starts and cool mornings in the Parks. Opt for as many optional extra drives as you can, though the afternoon game drives are less productive - the parks close at 6.15 pm when the tigers are only just becoming active. Above all - be patient! Is there anything else you would like to add? Be prepared to be overwhelmed by the chaos of the traffic on Indian roads - a non-stop crescendo of horns, with cars, motor cycles, cyclists, rickshaws and tuc-tucs filling every conceivable space on the road. Sit back and admire their skill as they pass within inches of each other, but seemingly, never collide. Amazing! (Don't be tempted to hire a car!!!) Show more
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  Gail5.0•March 2013
  This trip was just what I had waited the best part of my life for - to see a tiger in its natural surroundings. As...
  This trip was just what I had waited the best part of my life for - to see a tiger in its natural surroundings. As usual, it was well organised and went without a hitch despite the "jobs worth" game reserve officials. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Seeing a tiger for the first time and the adrenalin rush it gives.  It comes out of the blue and you are so focussed on what the tiger is doing that taking photos is the last thing on your mind and then when you do you are shaking so much it takes time to focus.  As seeing tigers was the main reason for booking this trip, visiting the Taj Mahal and Red Fort at Agra was like a separate weekend break! What did you think of your group leader? Krishna had been dropped on us at the last minute as the original leader was taken ill two days before we arrived in India.  He was passionate and dealt with the disappointment of not being able to join us on the game drives with true professionalism.  As his name and details was not on the original booking he was not allowed to accompany us even though an official letter giving the details for the change was not accepted. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Money - unless you arrive in India before joining the trip there is nowhere to change your money other than at Mumbai airport where the exchange rate is not very good.  It would pay you to arrange to change your money back at a bank in Delhi on the last day - keeping enough of course for your last meal out that evening.Take a sink plug - in all of the accommodation there are signs saying save water, but none of the sinks has plugs, so while washing/shaving, etc the water just goes down the drain.Sightings - don't be too disappointed if you don't see a tiger.  On the 14 game drives the maximum number of sightings overall by our group were four, some only had 2 and it is very hard to keep going out, not seeing any and then coming back at the end of the drive to find that others in your group had wonderful sightings.  Of course there is plenty of other wild ife to see including spotted deer, monkeys, peacocks, bird life, etc and by your last game drive you'll say to yourself "and another spotted deer"!Food - enjoy the indian food because it's better than any you will get at home. Is there anything else you would like to add? Take your swimwear - there is a pool at the first accommodation and at the last two hotels.  Take some crayons, pencils or drawing books for the children you visit in one of the local villages or school.  Scarves and jewellery were priced very reasonably in the hotel in Agra.  There's plenty of reading/relaxing time between game drives so if you are an avid reader it would pay to take an electronic book reader rather than the real thing.  Try not to get too frustrated by the rules and regulations now imposed at the game parks.  Always have your passport with you as you won't get in without it.  There were no elephant rides - this had been stopped when we were there, the number of jeeps are limited and the drivers are allocated the routes they have to drive and have to stick to these routes, even if they are aware that there are better opportunities to see a tiger on a different route.  The drivers/guides are also penalised if they don't come out of the parks by the set time - they can lose their wages or even be suspended for a period of time.  Since the number of jeeps has been limited there are more drivers/guides than the numbers allowed into the parks at a time and therefore a rota system has been introduced.Show more