Jungle Walking Safari – Vanghat

Vanghat walking safari in Vanghat, known as a buffer zone, is located on the bank of Western Ramganga River, inside the Kalagarh Tiger Reserve, which is a forest division of CORBETT TIGER RESERVE.

Asia’s first national park was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park, and was renamed twice, first as Ramganga National Park in 1954-55 and later Jim Corbett National Park in 1955-56, and is currently located in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand. Aimed to protect wildlife (especially the endangered Bengal Tiger), the park was renamed in order to honour the great wildlife conservationist, naturalist, and author Edward James Corbett, who played a key role in its establishment.

Corbett National Park comprises a 520.8 km2 (201.1 sq. miles) area of hills, riverine belts, marshy depressions, grasslands, and a large lake. In 1974, it was chosen as the location for launching Project Tiger, an ambitious and well-known wildlife conservation project. To stop poaching and timber cutting, 797.72 km2 were added in 1991 as a buffer zone to the Corbett Tiger Reserve. This addition included the entire Kalagarh forest division, assimilating the 301.18 km2 (116.29 sq. miles) area of the Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary as a part of the Kalagarh division.

The elevation ranges from 1,300 to 4,000ft (400 to 1,200 m). Winter nights are cold, but the days are bright and sunny. It rains from July to September.

The dense and moist deciduous forest mainly consists of Sal, Haldu, Ficus, Rohini, and mango trees. The forest covers almost 73% of the park; 10% of the area consists of grasslands. It houses around 110 tree species, 50 species of mammals, 650 bird species, and 25 reptile species.

On the northern fringes of the famed Corbett Tiger Reserve, on the banks of the Ramganga Reserve, the wildlife -rich community forests near Vanghat lodge offer the finest walking safari experience in the western Himalayan foothills. Expert local lodge guides are fine trackers and bird experts. Riverine forests along the Ramganga offer sightings of Otters, Ghoral and Serow mountain goats, as well as Barking Deer and Sambhar. About 50 species of birds of prey indicate the rich bird life of the valley - raptors like the Lesser Fish Eagle, Pallas’s Fish Eagle and Mountain Hawk Eagle are commonly sighted. Great Hornbills are often heard and seen above the valley. The presence of Tigers, Leopards & Asian Elephants adds great adventure to this walking nature excursion.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Provides jungle experiences without disturbing wildlife
• Practices sustainable life-style & community-based conservation
• Promotes responsible tourism
• Hosts wide varieties of flora and fauna
• Facilitates a meaningful learning environment for children
• Creates awareness about human and environmental health

WHY VANGAT:

• EXPERIENCING THE DARKNESS OF THE FOREST
• LISTENING TO NATURE’S MUSIC
• MOBILE AND WI-FI FREE ZONE
• CONSCIOUS CONSUMPTION
• USING NATURAL SPRING WATER
• WANDER WITHOUT WHEELS

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• Vanghat is a secluded forest lodge with no mobile & Wi-Fi connectivity. There is a signal spot (Jio Point) just 100mtrs from camp where one can use Jio 4G network or Airtel 4G network. Hence kindly be prepared and carry extra sim with these networks if you don’t have one.
• To avoid usage of high electricity camp provides HOT WATER in a bucket for bathing on demand.
• Do not carry too much for the trip. Travel light and preferably in a rucksack.
• Do not carry lot of food items along even if you have please keep it with the restaurant staff since the food may attract lot of uninvited visitors in the cottages.

WALKING SAFARI

There is no better way to truly experience the forest than by walking through it. One will often see and learn more on 100m of a trail than on a 2-hour game drive. Exploring tiger-rich Jim Corbett National Park on foot is forbidden. However, as we are situated with in the Corbett Tiger Reserve and are a buffer zone to the national park, we offer expertly guided treks around Vanghat in an equally stunning and species-rich environment.

On foot, your senses are heightened in the wilderness, and will take in far more of your surroundings, from noticing lizards scuttle out of your path to the myriad of birdcalls and rustling in the undergrowth. Accompanied by a keen tracker, you will learn to identify species by their sounds, their footprints, and the evidence left in their wake, such as a tiger's scratch markings on trees, a wild boar's earthen excavations, or the aftermath of an elephant’s browsing on plant life. Compared to exploring in a 4x4, you may see fewer large mammals, but nothing quite tops the thrill of seeing wildlife on foot, and it is not unusual for safari-goers to find themselves sharing the landscape with deer, elephants, and occasionally, big cats.

There are a number of walking trails from the lodge, varying in difficulty, such as routes into the hills that surround us or along the river where numerous pug marks can often be seen. With new routes being added and the landscape changing with the seasons, no walk is ever the same; the unique draw of the forest can be strongly felt at Vanghat.

Guided Walking Safari – Vanghat

Kalagarh Tiger Reserve (Division Corbett Tiger Reserve), Uttarakhand

• Return 3 tier AC train ticket from Mumbai (Ex Mumbai option)**
• Accommodation for 3 nights on twin sharing basis in above mentioned Lodge
• Return ground transfers by AC Vehicle from Delhi
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary as B,L,D (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
• Guided Walking Safaris at Vanghat
• Porters & helpers on arrival to transfer luggage to camp from Marchula
• Professional Wildlife naturalist host of the trip
• GST 5%
• Convenience fee

• Additional / personal use of vehicle.
• Extended stay due to weather conditions or any situation not in human control.
• Any personal expenses, room service and special orders, mineral waters, non-alcoholic beverages, tips, phone calls, laundry etc.
• Any extra excursions or sightseeing apart from the above specified itinerary.
• Cost incidental to any change in the itinerary due to bad weather, ill health, roadblocks and/or any factors beyond control.
• Camera fees.
• Airfare/Rail fare (Ex Delhi option)**
• Anything Specifically NOT mentioned in includes.

• Vanghat is a secluded forest lodge with no mobile & wifi connectivity. There is a signal spot (Jio Point) just 100mtrs from camp where one can use Jio 4G network or Airtel 4G network. Hence kindly be prepared and carry extra sim with these networks if you don’t have one.
• To avoid usage of high electricity camp provides HOT WATER in a bucket for bathing on demand.
• Do not carry too much for the trip. Travel light and preferably in a rucksack.
• Do not carry lot of food items along, even if you have please keep it with the restaurant staff since the food may attract lot of uninvited visitors.
• Wildlife safaris/Bird watching is a matter of luck and opportunity. No guarantee of any sighting is made. Neither of our associates will quote that, although we try our best to spot and show you as much as nature allows us to.
• Birdwatching is a hobby and not a race, hence request all birders to maintain discipline at all times.
• Bird watching is an art of silence and key observation.
• Avoid Pointing out directly to a bird that might flush the bird away.
• Do not get too close to a bird for a photograph that you flush it away.
• Birdwatching should be enjoyed by binoculars and the fun is to spot them, identify them and if you still have some time with the bird photograph them.
• Never enter the forest with an intention of spotting a single species, it will only disappoint you. The forest is a gift packet with a lot to surprise with. Listen to our naturalist for more wonderful experience.
• Our walks are not target species specific (Unless specified)
• We explore everything we find uncommon and need to be explained.
• Any demand for spotting a single species in any jeep will not be entertained by the guide or the tour leader as there are other travellers who would want to see the birds etc.
• Respect & honour everything that is in the forest and it has to offer you.
• Enjoy being in the forest and you will feel much happier away from the concrete chaos.
• Respect the local, tribes, guards, guides, drivers, officers and all animals.
• Front seat of the Gypsy is always reserved for the Guide or Guard.
• No extra room will be made for photographers, respecting other travellers. (For photographers it is recommended to opt for higher options)
• No littering in the forest strictly. (what goes comes back the same way)
• Camera fees & guide tips to be paid separately & directly.
• Kindly follow the instructions given by the tour leader and the guide for your own safety.

• A Hat
• Sunglasses with UV protection
• A dust protection mask
• Personal Bottle (To avoid plastic use – 1LtrsX2)
• Small backpack for trails (10Ltrs)
• Bird books
• Sun screen
• Only dull coloured clothes (Green, brown, Beige, Camouflage)
• Camera (At owners risk) with proper equipment for photography (As per need)
• Fleece/Jacket (temperatures drop in the forest to below 10 degree Celsius
• Binoculars
• Energy bars for trails