The forest is many things. Cute is rarely one of them. On this adventure though, gear up to scream (silently) about one of the cutest and fluffiest members of the animal kingdom – the Red Panda. A fun fact is that this creature was called a panda before its black and white, martial arts wielding counterpart. What is also fun is that the Red Panda looks like a cross between a cat, panda and a raccoon. It’s sized like a cat, but its bushy tail adds up to 18 inches; it has marking similar to a giant panda and its ringed tail is similar to a raccoon! Despite their reddish colour, these shy solitary creatures aren’t very easy to spot. That’s why we take you deep into Singalila National Park in the Eastern Himalayas to search for them. Only 32 of these furry beauties call this Park home and seeing them in the wild is a pure treat. Join us on the trail of this elusive fire cat and uncover its mysterious life.
Highlights:
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A chance to spot the endangered and elusive Red Panda
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Track rare animals and birds on foot through the Singhalila Forest at altitudes between 7,500 ft to 12,000 ft
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A Naturalist will be engaged throughout the trip to share information and insights about animals, birds and the forest
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The best spotters search the jungle before you head out so you always have the best sightings
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A chance to spot the rare clouded leopard, black panther, leopard, leopard cat, Asiatic golden cat and more
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A chance to spot the serow, barking deer, yellow-throated marten, wild boar, pangolin, pika, etc.
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Explore a birding paradise that hosts over 300 species of birds like the blood pheasant, satyr tragopan, khalij pheasant, brown and fulvous parrotbills, fire-tailed myzornis, griffon vultures and many more
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Wander like the wildlife between the Tinchule forest in Nepal and Singhalila forest in India without borders or visas
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A chance to see four of the five highest peaks in the world – Everest, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse and Makalu
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Stay at a beautiful and remote homestay
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Double rooms with en-suite facilities, balconies, fireplace, running hot & cold water
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A portion of our profits from this adventure will be dedicated towards Red Panda conservation
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A portion of profits from all operations of Jokotta Discoveries is pledged towards nature and wildlife conservation
Adventure Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival and transfer
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Arrive at Bagdogra ready for your adventure. Our services start here and will only conclude once we drop you off at the end of this journey.
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Pick up from the Bagdogra Airport & transfer to Manebhanjan by 01:30 pm.
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We will take Singalila National Park Porters, Guides, Safari Land Rovers & entry permission and start from here to the forest lodge in vintage Land Rovers. Yes, you read that right. In fact, for over six decades, a couple of villages in this region have been dependent on these ancient rugged vehicles to stay connected with the world. This land of the Red Panda is also the land of the Land Rover.
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Check in to your comfortable homestay around 03:30 pm in the exclusive eastern Himalayan forest.
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Settle in because this homestay will be our home for the next 5 days
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Explore the homestay properly, because there are several delights in store for you here. There's an in-house birding studio with a hide that allows you to spy on birds without disturbing them. There's a cosy common area with a bar where you can unwind after a long day in the forest. There's also a balcony with a magnificent view. And in case the view is obscured by clouds, you could check if there's a documentary about the local wildlife that could be screened on the TV, read a book or simply stare into the distance for a change.
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Day 2 to 5: Explore the trails
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Our wildlife exploration starts from the homestay after breakfast around 08:00 am (the timing may change depending on different activities)
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Indulge in a little birding (at the in-house Bird Studio setup and in the forest)
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Search for red pandas through the day
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Remember to not squeal with delight when you spot one. Fall in love with them silently and from a safe distance.
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Carry a camera and a diary to record all the types of birds you will see here because there will be many and their names will be confusing
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We’ll take breaks as required and you will spend a lot of time staring into the jungle
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Food will be served at the homestay or on the Field, depending on the activity
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Unwind in the common area or retire for the night
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But most importantly, take the time to notice as much as you can about the jungle
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Day 6: Fly away
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Check out from the homestay after breakfast around 8:00 am
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Transfer to Bagdogra/ Siliguri/ NJP by 02:00pm
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Remember your brilliant trip with us as you make your way back home
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Please Note: As per the Singalila National Park rules, no car is allowed to enter after 2pm. Therefore, according to the flight landing time, guests may have to spend the first night outside the park. This is not included in our costs. It takes 3 hrs to reach the national park gate, Manebhanjan.
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Group size: 01 – 08 wildlife enthusiasts
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When will you visit?
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1. October - November: Red Panda's favourite Kiwi & Sarbus fruit is in season | Colours of autumn | Clear Sky
2. December - January: Red Panda mating season | Chance of Snowfall | Fall Colors | Mostly Clear Sky
3. February - March: Red Panda with Baby | Chances of Snowfall | The Fragrance of Defny | Mostly Clear Sky
4. April - Mid-May: Singalila in Bridal Colors of Rhododendron & Red Panda | Magnolia | Orchids | Cloud Activity
5. Mid-May - Mid-June: Cobra Lillies and Orchids In Bloom | Wild Strawberry | Red Panda | Rain & Descending Clouds
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Inclusions:
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Direct contribution (20% profit) towards Red Panda conservation
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Your stay & food as mentioned above
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Naturalist service
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Guides, Porters & Safari Land Rover Cost
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Restricted Area Permits for India and Nepal
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Still camera permits
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Pure Himalayan water
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Red Panda Tracking
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In-house Birding Studio
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10% of all profits made at Jokotta Discoveries are pledged towards nature and wildlife conservation
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Exclusions:
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Any other food or beverages other than mentioned above
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Laundry service
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Liquor or cigarettes
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Anything not mentioned above
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Nepal Visa:
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Not required for Indians
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Guests from other countries must obtain a Nepal Visa before arriving
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VISA Details for Non-Indians
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Please request these details after confirming your booking with us
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Booking and Cancellation:
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Bookings can be confirmed with 50% advance payment
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Balance payment needs to be made 45 days before the experience start date
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For cancellation requests, the fees will be as follows:
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60 days prior to the start date: 20% of the trip cost
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30 days prior to the start date: 50% of the trip cost
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Less than 30 days prior to the start date: 100% of the trip cost
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Photo Credits: Karan Chawla, Shantanu Prasad, Swati Iyer