Safari and Wildlife

The majestic elephant wields a special significance in India, having transported royalty over the centuries, entertained princes, led fabled charges by Rajput warriors and paraded in gold and velvet at religious celebrations.

Desirous of viewing these revered giants during a visit to the southwestern state of Kerala in March ’09, I had my hotel arrange for me to attend an elephant festival (along with another couple).

Following a two-hour taxi drive from the town of Kovalam, we arrived in a village, name unknown, and bounced into a dusty lot connected to a Hindu temple.

In the course of making plans with an in-country guide for a tour of Myanmar about four months later, my husband and I signed up for a day program at Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp (17 [5A], Kyaung St., Ahlone Township, Yangon, Myanmar; phone +95 9 73107278 or 4923284 or 5170687).

The camp offers a variety of programs, and for $100 per person, we opted for a half-day introduction to the seven elephants that lived in the camp (Nov. 25, 2012).

6 days / 6 nights, departing March 2, June 10 & Dec. 2, 2013. Highlights: Two daily game drives or bush walks in Serengeti National Park to look for lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, antelope / two yoga sessions daily. Land, $3,900. Extraordinary Journeys (New York, NY; 800 / 403-6012).

8-day/7-night tour, with internal flights on 9-seat Cessna 208 aircraft. Two-for-one offer on selected departures through Aug. 24, 2013. Highlights: In Arusha, tour a coffee estate/game drives in Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti Plain/market in Karatu. Land, $6,984 (second traveler free). Great Safaris (Glendale, CA; 800/409-7755).

17-day/15-night tiger-photography tour in INDIA, May 12-28, 2013. Highlights: From Delhi, fly to Khajuraho/stay in Bandhavgarh National Park for two weeks, taking 13 morning and 11 afternoon game drives to find tigers and their prey. Land, $6,150. Single supp., $3,500. Wild India (St. Louis, MO; 314/925-8380).

by George Anderson; Minneapolis, MN

My husband, Clyde, and I took a 35-day trip to India in March-April 2012 with arrangements made by Swagatam Tours (New Delhi, India; phone 91 11 25444000, fax 25444010).

I read the subscriber’s article “Searching for Wildlife in Three of India’s Top Tiger Reserves” (Aug. ’12, pg. 44), in which the writer described his disappointment. About four years ago I went to the same parks in India but in reverse order, although, except in Kaziranga, I stayed in different camps. I saw seven different tigers, one for 20 minutes as he walked ahead of and behind us.

On Oct. 16, India’s Supreme Court lifted the ban on tourism in tiger reserves that it imposed in July, and tiger-viewing safaris have resumed. The reversal came after the National Tiger Conservation Authority announced new rules and guidelines to address the issues of tourism encroachment into the “core areas” of tiger habitats.

Under the new rules, tourism can continue, but no new tourism infrastructure can be created in core areas and all permanent structures will be removed from them. Also, there will be no increases in the numbers of tourists and vehicles.

5-day / 4-night cruise aboard 210-passenger m / v Stella Australis (Jan. 12) or 136-passenger Via Australis (Feb. 4 & 20 and March 8), 2013. Highlights: Embark in Punta Arenas, CHILE / humpback whales around Carlos III Island / Zodiac to Magellanic penguin colony / hike to view Pia Glacier / sail Glacier Alley in Beagle Channel / Cape Horn National Park / Ushuaia, ARGENTINA. From $1,989 (B cabin) to $4,054 (AAA Superior). Single cabin, $3,429-$3,772. Cruceros Australis (Santiago, Chile; in US, phone 877 / 678-3772).