Tiger Photo Safari : How to Best Organize?

Tiger is one of the most charismatic and aggressive predators, because of its incomparable beauty it is the cynosure of a photographer’s eye. Well, not only the lens men it is equally coveted by one and all. Some wish to see it in its natural habitat while some wish to catch scintillating images in their camera.

The desire to photograph the big cat is best fulfilled in India. With more than fifty reserves, it is the most coveted destination for wildlife and tiger photography. Well not only that even the filmmakers vie to come here on their mission and many succeed.

Success depends upon a few factors that experience teaches hence; lens men keep in touch with naturalists and tiger experts to decide upon their journey.  The guidance is valuable and most of the expeditions succeed in availing striking images of the predator in its natural habitat.

The prerequisite for tiger photography in India is a suitable camera with a high-quality medium lens and a monopod. This equipment need arises since the work has to be done from an open jeep, and people are not allowed to set foot in the wilderness of the reserves. It is not possible to film or photograph from a hide or a tent keeping the nature of the best in mind as well as associated dangers being charged on being bitten by snakes. Anyway, this requires special permission from the MOEF or Ministry of Forest and Environment through the Chief Wildlife Wardens of the States.

Forget this need if you are a good lensman with experience. In most of the parks experienced naturalists and guides impart valuable advice in order to fulfill your mission.

You have to choose the best place with frequent sightings and a panoramic backdrop to come across a striking image. As far as tiger sighting is concerned there are quite a few places in the country that can deliver if you book more than five safaris. Professional photographers usually organize a week-long program but amateurs do not, so this advice is for them. Some of the best places are mentioned below:

• Kanha NP
• Bandhavgarh NP
• Pench NP
• Panna NP

All above are in Central India.

• Ranthambore in Rajasthan
• Corbett in Uttrakhand
• Tadoba Andhari in Maharashtra
• Nagzira in Maharashtra

These are a few places with good sightings and hence accord moments with the big cats you would like to capture. The tourism infrastructure is sound in these destinations and travel is not much of a trouble. But entry to the parks is limited and on a permit. This calls for advance bookings, hence contact the tour operator in India and ask them to book the safari as soon as your dates are set and the program finalized.

The wildlife hotels are situated near the parks and it is good to book the accommodations as soon as the expedition is finalized. Sometimes during the festivals and weekends accommodations are fully booked so take heed. The tour operator will do all these bookings in a package so that’s not much of a hassle. He will also assure the services of a naturalist who will assist you on the photo safari. Most of the naturalists are well-versed in wildlife photography so that is a great help.  The local forest guides that must accompany you on the jeep are also of great help in tracking the big cat.     

For greater space and comfort on the jeep, organize a solo expedition, or else no more than two lensmen accompany you.  Always seek a well-maintained jeep registered with the forest department and avoid canters that seat many tourists. For photo safari in India privacy is a must and the jeep offers this the best in the reserves. The reserves offer a good enough chance to capture images of enchanting mammals and birds as well.   

Before embarking on the tour read books on the tiger and Indian wildlife. Familiarize yourself with your destination and travel in India. The country is remarkably diverse and so is the terrain, I am sure you will enjoy the tour all the way through.       

 Read on... Exciting Tiger Safari          

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Uday Works as Freelance Naturalist and Blogs on conservation, tigers, and environmental issues.

He also provides SEO and Website Content in English. He teaches Digital Marketing in Jabalpur in the summer.

He can be contacted at:

Mail: pateluday90@hotmail.com
 Mob: 09755089323

             

Wildlife Photography in India

Extensive travel is a must if you wish to cover a large number of  species during your photographic expedition. Indian wildlife is spread across its various states especially in distant areas with intact ecosystems. The topography is diverse hence a large number of mammalian, avian, reptilian and insect species make India there home. 

Comprehensive photography of nature in this country is a Herculean task. Specific bird or animal photography is bit less expensive and less time consuming. Filming wildlife professionally requires lot of investment and time. Extensive film production in the country's protected areas requires permission from Ministry of Environment and the Chief Wildlife Warden of the state. The is would enable a nature film company much flexibility within the law. As per permission granted filming on ground level, camera trapping and night filming may become possible.     

What facilities and flexibility are granted depends upon the MOEF and CCF hence on first instance the company should contact these offices.  Charges applied have to be paid including hefty gate fee in tiger reserves. One needs to hire local staff with skills sets suitable for the expedition. Professional naturalist guides are a necessity. Persons having experience in obtaining and executing permission or facilitating in accommodations, travel food etc can make the project a big success.    

For amateur shooting with personal video or camera a nominal charge has to be paid every time you enter the park.  Tourists need remember the usage of flash is not allowed in the park and night drives are not permitted. The season with longest day hours is the summer. From after predawn to late evening light is present with good intensity. Many professional camera men prefer this period the heat not withstanding. Rains or monsoon are difficult times for the lens men due to hampered movement, bad light condition and slush. Only those interested in monsoon assignments should time their expedition for June to 1st week of September. Rains are intense during these months.       

One need to know the sighting records of animals in India. Where would you find the target species? One needs to do lots of home work. Popular charismatic animals like tiger, lion, rhino, elephant and others can be filmed in protected areas which are meant to conserve them. Little bit of fact finding will yield lots of information.    

For bird photography the popular birding spots are the best though for rare endemic species distant travel will be required. Most of the nesting takes places in rainy season or monsoon hence greater stress. Due to flooding and slush formation travel to many places becomes very difficult.

Study of Indian wildlife will help you reach the right destination for a particular species. The country has lots of protected areas notified as National Park, Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuaries where major species are conserved. There many WLS in remote places which are a micro habitat designated for just one or two species. Hence it is good to have as much information on wildlife as possible including travel and accommodation requirements.