11-Day Wildlife of the Anamalais & Nilgiris with Nikhil Devasar

Drive from Kochi after breakfast and reach Munnar in the afternoon. The first block covers the tea country and high shola habitats around Munnar, about 1,500 metres above sea level. The program names Talayar Bungalow or Deshadan Resort.

Visit Rajamalai in Eravikulam National Park to look for Nilgiri tahr. At Pampadum Shola, look for Malabar giant squirrel, gaur and Nilgiri langur, with a chance of the elusive Nilgiri marten. The itinerary also visits the drier Chinnar area for grizzled giant squirrel.

Possible highland birds include Black-and-orange Flycatcher, Broad-tailed Grassbird, Kerala Laughingthrush, Nilgiri Flycatcher and White-bellied Shortwing. Look too for wintering warblers and thrushes, Yellow-throated Bulbul and Painted Bushquail.

Leave Munnar early with a packed breakfast and descend to Chinnar’s dry and riverside forest. A short walk offers another chance to look for grizzled giant squirrel, and elephant and gaur are possible en route. Reach Top Slip in the evening and stay at Banyan.

Explore Top Slip in the Anamalai Hills. Look for Nilgiri langur, brown palm civet and brown mongoose. The search for lion-tailed macaque depends on permits. Gaur and elephant are possible, as are tiger and leopard.

Scan the canopy for Great Hornbill and Malabar Grey Hornbill, and listen for Sri Lanka Frogmouth and Rufous Babbler. Other possibilities are Malabar Parakeet, Wayanad Laughingthrush and White-bellied Blue Flycatcher.

Travel through the Palghat Gap and climb toward Ooty before descending past the scrub around Masinagudi. Watch for elephant, gaur and dry-country birds on the drive. Reach Bandipur by evening, then spend two days in the park’s scrub and deciduous forest. Four-horned antelope and striped hyena are possible in the hillier terrain. Stay at Dhole’s Den Farm Stay.

Drive through farmland and rolling hills and reach Kabini in the afternoon. Explore the lowland deciduous, bamboo and riverside habitats. Dry-season water can draw elephants to the reservoir. Look for gaur, leopard, tiger, dhole, sloth bear, primates and deer as conditions allow.

Bird possibilities include Sirkeer Malkoha, White-bellied Minivet, Malabar Lark, Jerdon’s Bushlark and White-bellied Woodpecker. Watch the banks for mugger crocodiles and the river for otters. Stay at JLR Kabini.

After an early outing and breakfast, drive toward Bengaluru. Visit Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary to scan the island heronry for Eurasian Spoonbill and night herons, among other herons, storks, cormorants and terns. Reach Bengaluru in the evening.