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The land of giants. The stronghold of the Indian Rhinoceros. A conservation success. Welcome to the UNESCO World Heritage site – Kaziranga National Park!
Situated in the alluvial flood plains of the Brahmaputra, Kaziranga is widely admired for the breathtaking landscapes and the large mammals that call this place their home. Over two-thirds of the world’s population of Indian Rhinoceros call this park their home. The recovery of this endangered mammal in this park is one of the greatest conservation success stories across the world. In addition to the Rhinoceros, 4 other endangered animals make up the Big 5 of Kaziranga – Asiatic Water Buffalo, Indian Elephant, Bengal Tiger and Barasingha. The location and varied habitats of Kaziranga hold another secret – the park plays host to a huge diversity of bird species. Over 479 species of birds have been recorded here, including Great Hornbills, Dusky Eagle Owls, Lesser Adjutants, Swamp Francolins and many more.
Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary can be called the primate capital of India with 7 species of primates being found here. And it is home to India’s only ape – the Western Hoolock Gibbon. The calls of the Gibbon fill the forest every morning, making it a not-to-be-missed experience, as we seek out opportunities to photograph them on a morning hike here.
Join Darter Photography on this small-group wildlife photography tour to experience the magic of Kaziranga and Hoollongapar. With on-the-field and classroom photography mentoring, you will also learn the tips and tricks of wildlife photography in one of the most beautiful national parks of India.
Jump to ◆ Tour Highlights ◆ Itinerary ◆ FAQs ◆ Tour Price ◆ Tour Mentor ◆ Sign Up
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Tour Dates
Feb 12-16, 2025
Tour Price₹54,950Max. Participants – 7
Tour Highlights
Dates & Itinerary
Tour Dates: Feb 12-16, 2025
Day 01. Arrive at Kaziranga.
After check-in to our hotel at Kaziranga, we’ll have a welcome session to introduce ourselves. This is followed by an orientation session about the place and the photography opportunities that we’ll pursue during the tour. An early dinner and we retire for the day.
Day 02. Morning and Evening Safaris in Kaziranga. Review sessions.
We wake up at sunrise. Remember that we are in the far east and sunrise is much earlier than you’d expect. Our hotel is located in a great place for birds and we’ll get some early morning bird photography done.
We then head out for our first safari of the tour. As we drive through the park, we’ll take in the myriad landscapes and photograph the wildlife that we encounter during the drive. We return to the hotel for breakfast. After breakfast, we’ll have a review session to discuss events of the morning safari and review the photographs.
After lunch, we head out for another safari into Kaziranga. During the course of the tour, we’ll try to cover various zones of the park to explore different habitats and photography opportunities. After the safari, we have another review session before dinner.
Day 03. Morning hike at Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary. Evening safari in Kaziranga.
We start before sunrise today and set off on a 2-hour drive to Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary. Home to 7 species of primates (one of them nocturnal), this is a great place to view the star – Western Hoolock Gibbon (India’s only ape. Apart from us, of course). We’ll hike in the park to look for these primates.
After breakfast, we drive back to our hotel for lunch. In the afternoon, we do a safari drive into Kaziranga National Park.
Day 04. Morning and Evening Safaris in Kaziranga. Review sessions.
Today’s schedule is very similar to Day 2. In the afternoon/evening, we’ll have a session on organizing and processing your photographs from the trip.
Day 05. Transfer from Kaziranga to Guwahati/Jorhat. Tour Ends.
We head out for one last safari for the tour. After breakfast, we begin our journey back home via Guwahati/Jorhat.
Frequently Asked Questions
This tour is for wildlife photographers and wildlife enthusiasts who want to explore and photograph the wildlife of Kaziranga. Note that the participants are not required to be experts in photography or carry professional equipment. Due to the small group size, beginners as well as serious photographers benefit through our personalized attention to photography sessions and on field assistance. Non-photographers, interested in exploring wildlife of Kaziranga, are welcome too.
How do we reach Kaziranga?
Kaziranga is easily accessible from Guwahati (5 hours away) and Jorhat (2 hours away) by air.
What would be the mode of transport during safaris?
On this tour, you’ll be in an open gypsy during the safaris at Kaziranga. Each safari vehicle will have a maximum of 4 photographers, including the mentor, at any time. Your photography mentor will alternate between the safari vehicles on different safaris. The number of participants is limited to ensure that everyone in the vehicle gets ample space to photograph the wildlife of Kaziranga.
Are we doing Elephant Safaris during this tour?
No. It is inherently cruel to subject elephants to the torture they go through to be trained as safari elephants. We don’t conduct elephant safaris/rides during our photography tours.
I am not a keen photographer. But I want to visit Kaziranga with your group. Can I still join?
Yes. If you are interested to explore wildlife and (possibly) see the Big 5 of Kaziranga, you are welcome to join this tour. Please note that we do not offer a separate non-photographer pricing.
Can I bring my non-photographer partner with me?
Yes, you can. We visit one of the most beautiful wildlife parks in India on this photography tour. Your partner will enjoy the journey with the group. Please note that we do not offer a separate non-photographer pricing.
What photography equipment is needed for the tour?
We recommend telephoto lenses reaching up to at least 400mm focal length to photograph wildlife at a distance. And please carry a shorter focal length lens to photograph the landscapes of Kaziranga. Please talk to us to decide on the photography equipment that you need to carry for the tour.
Also refer to our tours faq for more information.
Tour Price
Tour Price: ₹ 54,950 per person (inclusive of all applicable taxes, on double occupancy basis)
The tour price includes
The tour price does not include
Cancellation Policy for Kaziranga Wildlife Photography Tour:
– 20% of full tour fee is charged as cancellation fee on cancellation at least 45 days before tour starts. Balance will be refunded to your account.
– 50% of full tour fee is charged as cancellation fee on cancellation between 44 to 15 days before tour starts. Balance will be refunded to your account
– 70% of full tour fee is charged as cancellation fee on cancellation between 14 to 07 days before tour starts. Balance will be refunded to your account
– No refund for cancellation less than 06 days before tour starts.
Cancellations have to be communicated via an email to photography@darter.in. The date of email receipt in our account will be used to apply the cancellation policy mentioned above.
Please note:
Wildlife Photography Mentor – Shreeram M V
Shreeram M V is a professional photographer, photography mentor and naturalist. What started off as a fascination for birds in a lake behind his house turned into a journey across the natural world. For this IIM Bangalore graduate, the passion for travel and wildlife enabled him to charter his own course outside the corporate world.
He has explored and photographed places across the world as diverse as the savannahs of Africa, the ice continent of Antarctica, the islands of New Zealand, the rainforests of the Western Ghats, the salt marshes of Kutch, the grasslands of Tal Chapar, the deciduous forests of South and Central India, the high-altitude plateau of Ladakh, the coasts of peninsular India, the forests of North-east India and the islands of Andaman. His approach to wildlife photography has evolved into telling stories about the place and its habitats, biodiversity and human interactions with nature.
He is a well-published and awarded photographer. His articles and photographs have been published in diverse print and digital magazines such as National Geographic Traveller, Sanctuary Asia, Saevus, Lonely Planet India, Terrascape, Nature inFocus and JLR Explore. As a naturalist, he has been associated with Jungle Lodges and Resorts and Karnataka Eco-tourism Development Board in training and certifying naturalists from across the state.
His approach to wildlife photography is to bring back photographs that tell stories – about the place and its habitats, the diversity of flora and fauna and human interactions with the wilderness. Composition and light are his favourite tools in crafting new perspectives of the natural world.
His personalized style of mentorship, where he works with each participant’s individual interests and strengths, has been much appreciated over the years. See some of his work at Shreeram M V Photography and instagram.
Sign Up
To join the tour, please email us at photography@darter.in or call Shreeram (+91-9740083260).