Nagarahole Tiger Reserve-Day 1

Our journey started in London where four of our group boarded an overnight flight to Bangalore. However, we landed late due to delays at Heathrow. Luckily, our guide, Kaustubh, was waiting for us at the airport. After exchanging currency, we had breakfast at an airport hotel before driving for 5 and a half hours to Kabini River Lodge. Stopping briefly near the city of Mysore for a rest stop.

Kabini Lodge is located in the Kabini forest reserve, part of Nagarhole National Park, a popular destination for wildlife enthusiasts. The park is home to many species of animals, including tigers, leopards, elephants, deer, and wild dogs. Over 250 species of birds can be spotted here. The lodge blends luxury and nature, with spacious cottages overlooking the Kabini River. They are designed to blend in with the natural surroundings, providing a relaxing and comfortable stay after a day of exploring.

Our first drive into the reserve

Upon arrival, Kaustubh gave us an overview of the area before we settled into our lakeside cottages. We had lunch before heading out for our afternoon safari. We were excited to spot a female tiger with two cubs early on in our drive, although she kept the cubs hidden in the bush. She eventually walked directly towards our vehicle, giving us an excellent opportunity for photographs. We also had good views of a number of other inhabitants of the park, such as Green Bee Eaters, herd of Gaur resting, Bonnet Macaque, Malabar Giant Squirrel, and our first distant view of an Asian Wild Elephant.

^{Selection of Images of Magge the Tigress}

After the safari, we had a late dinner of traditional local Indian cuisine at the lodge. Given the long journey and exciting day, we called it an early night, exhausted but thrilled with our first trip into the reserve.

Our journey to Kabini Lodge was a great start to our Indian wildlife adventure. With its beautiful surroundings, abundant wildlife, and luxurious accommodations, it’s a must-visit destination for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts