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Wildlife
The ones to watch From elephants and turtles to rare, exotic birds, there is no shortage of exciting species to spot in India, Sri Lanka, the Seychelles and the Maldives. Katy Balls suggests some more unusual wildlife experiences CAMP SOLO IN THE JUNGLE. At Forsyth Lodge in Satpura National Park, central India, brave clients can camp out in a one-person hide within the lodge’s 45 acres and use night vision equipment to get up close with nocturnal nature. Forsyth Lodge is also the only tiger reserve that allows visitors to explore on foot – enabling them to see the animals close up for a more memorable experience. Half-day walks last three to four hours and full-day walks about six hours. Guests can venture out on night-time nature walks to catch sight of nocturnal animals such as porcupines, civets, jungle cats and the rare rusty-spotted cat, as well as a variety of frogs, snakes and night birds. Cox & Kings can tailor-make a trip
combining three nights in Delhi and four at Forsyth Lodge (one-person hides at special request) from £2,295 per person, including flights. ■ coxandkings.co.uk
SPOT RARE BIRDS. At Cousine Island resort in the Seychelles, bird-loving guests can feed and put identification rings on the legs of magpie robins. The black and white Seychelles magpie robin is an endangered species, though conservation efforts in recent years have brought it back from the brink of extinction. Seychelles Elite has five nights’ all inclusive from £5,998 per person in a villa with private pool, including return flights from Heathrow on Air Seychelles and private helicopter transfers to and from Mahe. ■ seychelleselite.co.uk
cruise or plain old human feet. TransIndus combines a private eight-day Golden Triangle tour with a two-night extension to the Chambal Sanctuary from £1,790 per person including flights and accommodation. ■ transindus.com
LEARN WITH AN ECOLOGIST. Dubbed “a modern day Noah’s Ark”, Fregate Island Private resort in the Seychelles is a sanctuary for rare indigenous species. The island has 41 permanent staff dedicated to conservation work, and guests can take a guided nature trail to learn about the island. The island is home to the Seychelles magpie robin, and lucky visitors might also spot giant tortoises, the Seychelles terrapin and the Seychelles blue pigeon. Those who don’t mind creepy crawlies should also look out for giant tenebrionid beetles which can only be found on Fregate Island. Elegant Resorts has seven nights from £11,580 per person including flights, based
HORSEBACK TOURS.
Get up close to animals at Forsyth Lodge in central India
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The National Chambal Sanctuary in northern India is one of the last surviving habitats of the Ganges river dolphin. Horseback is just one of the ways to tour the Chambal Valley, which is home to 300 species of resident and migratory birds. Other methods include by bike, jeep,
Giant tortoises are one form of wildlife on Fregate Island
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india & indian ocean knowledge also spot parrotfish, stingrays, clownfish, stonefish, tuna fish, barracudas and turtles. Kuoni has seven nights’ B&B from £1,585 per person in May, including flights. The swimming with whale sharks trip costs an extra $80 per person. ■ kuoni.co.uk
TURTLE CONSERVATION.
From left: whale sharks at the Maldives’ Diva Resort; Indian skimmers at India’s Chambal river; a magpie robin in the Seychelles on two people sharing a one-bedroom villa in May. ■ elegantresorts.co.uk
SWIM WITH WHALE. SHARKS. Diva Maldives resort lies within a marine protected area on the South Ari Atoll of the Maldives, an area which is home to
one of the Indian Ocean’s whale shark populations. These harmless but colossal sharks average 25 feet in length, and often swim close to the surface, so clients do not need to be scuba divers to get close to them. The resort has trained guides to take out confident swimmers to – with a bit of luck – swim alongside the largest fish in the world. If fortune is on their side they may
For an opportunity to spot Sri Lanka’s endangered turtle population, pay a visit to the Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery on the south-west coast of the island. Run by Dudley Perera, the hatchery is working to counteract the impact the black market for turtles’ eggs and shells has had on the population. Visitors can learn about the work of the project and – although turtles hatch at night – the sanctuary keeps some hatchlings on site to strengthen them before releasing them. You can visit the hatchery on Page & Moy’s Sri Lankan Secrets – From Tea to Turtles tour. The 12-day trip also takes in the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, that looks after injured and orphaned elephants. Prices from £1,449 per person, with flights. ■ pageandmoy.co.uk
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