Winter Tigers Photo Tour
Photograph Tigers of India in Winter
In January 2027, we’ll be embarking on a nine-day wildlife safari tour to photograph the magnificent Bengal tigers of India in the winter of Bandhavgarh.
This tiger photo safari trip has been designed so that we can see and photograph wild tigers for six days straight in the Indian winter at one of the most rewarding tiger reserves of India. Alongside regular drives, we include all day drives in the park.
At A Glance
• Six days at Bandhavgarh National Park
• Winter photography for new perspectives
• Two all day drives included
• Six photographers per group
• Two photographers per vehicle
• Quality accommodation and dining throughoutAdvance Booking Rate
Reserve your place by 1 September 2026 to receive $250 off the tour price. This offer is subject to availability.
Why Photograph Tigers In Winter?
The differences between this tour and of our April and May tours are several.
It is in the cold of winter, where tigers are photographed against a backdrop the lush green foliage of the park in the absence of dry heat. Tigers have a thicker and more orange coat in winter and in my view the two best complimentary colours in nature are orange and green.
Winter also offers a backdrop of fog and mist which can make sightings stand apart from those in the dry season. By joining us in January, you will have the opportunity to make pictures that stand out from those taken in the busier and hotter months.
Tigers in winter are more challenging to spot due to thicker foliage, so to compensate we have included two all day drives to run with the eight standard morning and afternoon drives of this tour. Tigers are often seen in open spaces in the middle of winter days so this is where the all day drives can come into their own.
All Day In the Park
We are including two all day drives as a part of this tour. All day drives allow us not only to spend the entire day in the park, but also to allow earlier entry into the park, and a later exit. All day drives also allow access to all zones in the park, which provides a lot more opportunities than the one zone restriction that the standard drives offer. Another key advantage to all day drives is that tourism traffic is significantly reduced in the main part of the day providing us with more opportunities to photograph without the crowds.
Subject to availability, we can offer a third all day drive at an additional cost.
Our Tiger Tours in India
We stay in luxury accommodation and we employ the best guides and drivers that India can offer. Vehicles are specially adapted to accommodate photographers, with no more than two photographers per vehicle.
For your chance to participate in the upcoming India safaris and develop your tiger photography portfolio and skills, please contact me.
Tiger India Safari Tour Highlights
Photograph Wild Animals in India
As well as the Bengal Tigers of India, other Indian wildlife awaits us, including langur, macaque, Indian jackal, sambur and spotted deer. We have encountered sloth bear in Bandhavgarh and wild elephants arrived and made home several years ago.
January is peak birding season when crisp winter mornings, frequently dropping below 4°C—draw both exotic winter migrants and vibrant resident species to the park's woodlands and water bodies.
Tiger Photography
Photographers of all levels are welcome. We are professional photographers with extensive experience in the field, as well as in guiding and photographic instruction. Each safari tour offers a small client-leader ratio that allows for personal attention and customised guidance on how to capture the best tiger photography.
Safari Guides and Drivers
Our India safari guides and drivers know Bandhavgarh National Park Tiger Reserve very well and have over twenty years of guiding and driving experience. Our drivers have driven crews for BBC and National Geographic wildlife documentaries. They also have experience driving photographers, so they know just what to expect from us.
Access to the Best Tiger Zones
For our tiger safari tours in India, we prebook the park zones months in advance to ensure we secure the best zones for Bengal tiger encounters in the wild. All day drives, we have free access to all zones.
Two Photographers per Vehicle
We use gypsy cars, which are popular in the wildlife parks in India. Ours are specially adapted by removing a row of seats to carry two photographers only, which allows for comfort and space for more gear and better opportunities for lower angle photography.
Tiger Safari Hotel Accommodation
We stay in luxury accommodations throughout the tiger safari, including our initial stay in Delhi and for each of our stays in the parks. Good dining accompanies the accommodation and the cottages are large with separate bedrooms, bathrooms and balconies.
Tiger Image Reviews and Tuition
After our morning drives, we offer tuition on tiger photography, photographic techniques and post-processing. We also host image review sessions in a more formal setting during the week. Our goal is for you to make the most out of your experience and to take home pictures of tigers you’ve long desired.
Where we go during the Winter Tigers Photo Tour
Bandhavgarh National Park Tiger Reserve
Bandhavgarh was established in 1968 as a National Park and is spread over an area of 1150 square kilometres. It was declared as a tiger reserve under Project Tiger in 1993.
It is predominantly covered with vegetation like sal, salt and dhobin, and has vast stretches of grasslands spread over 32 hills. The region, though smaller than other wildlife parks, has one of the highest densities of Bengal Tigers in the world.
Where we stay during the Winter Tigers Photo Tour
Delhi
Roseate House New Delhi, is a plush sanctuary sprawling across 1.6 acres minutes away from the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Aerocity, the capital’s first hospitality district. It is most loved for its extraordinary modern design & aesthetic, majestic rooms & suites, and award winning restaurants & bars.
Bandhavgarh
Tree House Hideaway is a 21 acre resort of six treehouses at Bandhavgarh. The outlook of tree houses is grunge and sturdy looking but the door opens to acceptable elegance complementing the outside world. The designs are a fusion of contemporary and traditional jungle living with earthy and eco essentials. The property houses six well-spaced tree houses made by local carpenters using regularised wood. Local craft knowledge and traditional expertise have been put to use to ensure that the tree houses blend harmoniously with nature. The Lodge also has a raised platform overlooking a water hole frequented by wild animals, a bar lounge, alfresco dining options and an organic garden.
The property has resident species of birds, reptiles and animals residing around the forest trees and over time the area has now become a small secure park for them. You can spend your time unseen and undisturbed in the intimacy of your room or choose to go looking for wild animals & birds in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve.
How Do I Book?
Our Winter Tigers tour group is small (a maximum of 6 participants) so space will be limited. To reserve your spot in this tour please contact me.
Dates and Costs 2027
The cost of this all-inclusive Tigers of India safari is $7700 per person. Bookings are secured with a 20% deposit per person, with the balance being required 90 days before.
An optional single supplement is available at $1400 extra. Single supplements are for single travellers who want their own room. Otherwise, single travellers are paired with another traveller of the same gender.
Additional All Day Drives
Subject to availability, we can offer additional all day drives at an added cost.
Advance Booking Rate
Reserve your place by 1 September 2026 to receive $250 off the tour price. This offer is subject to availability.
Dates
12th – 21st January – With David Lloyd and Karan Rana (open)
Financial Protection
Your deposit is used to secure your accommodations, internal flights, hotel transfers and park permits, many of which require early payment.
Payments for all safaris are made through Shona Travel which means you have the financial protection of booking through a registered tour operator. Your money is 100% safe and if one of our suppliers goes bust, your money is fully protected. Shona Travel can also book your flights for full financial protection. Please download our terms and conditions here.
Winter Tigers Photo Tour
What’s Included
All accommodation in hotels and lodges
All internal flights
All airport transfers
All meals at lodges
Eight morning and afternoon drives
Two all day drives
Exclusive vehicles and qualified driver guides
What’s not Included
International flights
India visa
Alcoholic and non-local alcoholic beverages
Tips and gratuities for camp staff and guides
India Tiger Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Delhi
Meet and transfer from the airport to the hotel, rest of the day at leisure, overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 2: Bandhavgarh
Fly and Drive to Bandhavgarh, overnight stay at the lodge.
Day 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8: Bandhavgarh
Morning and evening drives to see Bengal Tigers and other Indian wildlife, overnight stay at the lodge.
Day 9: Delhi
Breakfast, transfer to Jabalpur to board the connecting flight to Delhi. Day use or overnight at the hotel.
Your Tigers of India Safari Guides
We are a small team of award-winning wildlife photographers and experienced photography tutors in the field of natural history. We have won wildlife photography awards in Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Nature’s Best and GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year, and our work is published regularly. Our photographic experience extends back to the days of film, paper and manual focus cameras.
David Lloyd
David Lloyd is an exhibiting wildlife photographer, having won awards for his work which favours a fine art style in both colour and black & white. David has been awarded six times in Wildlife Photographer of the Year. In 2011, his image A Flick of the Tail was chosen as the cover of that year’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year portfolio.
His images have been published widely in the press and several photographic monthlies, in both the UK and abroad. David also holds exhibitions of his work, most recently at the Royal Geographic Society in London. He is the author of two wildlife photography books: As Long As There Are Animals and All Eyes Speak One Language. Visit David’s wildlife photography gallery for tiger photography and more.
Karan Rana
Karan Rana heads the naturalist team at Pugdundee and keeps a keen eye on the operations of its lodges. With an experience of more than 20 years with Tiger Tops as a manager, he joined Pugdundee in 2004 and has continuously trained and led the naturalists at all our lodges. Karan also leads various specialist groups including mobile and walking safaris.
He has contributed his pivotal jungle skills to the successful launch and progress of walking safaris in Central India. Coincidentally, the role of wearing many hats has seeped into his personality as he is never seen without a hat in real life too!