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India - Small Mammal Expedition

© Gharial by Adam Riley
India - Small Mammal Expedition 2028

13 Jan 2028 - 25 Jan 2028 (13 days)

USD10,395 SPACES AVAILABLE

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Tour Leader: Local Leader

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Tour Leader: Robert Williams

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Tour Price (Per person): USD10,395 (EUR9,119 * GBP7,832 * ZAR168,148 * CAD14,702)

Single Supplement: USD1,925 (EUR1,689 * GBP1,450 * ZAR31,139 * CAD2,723)

Flight costs: USD138 (EUR121 * GBP104 * ZAR2,232 * CAD195)

India supports an extraordinary variety of mammals across a remarkable range of habitats, from the wooded Aravalli hills and the ravines of the Chambal to Rajasthan's dry scrub, granite outcrops and sweeping desert landscapes. This specialist itinerary has been designed around active searching at the times when elusive carnivores, small cats, civets, bats and nocturnal mammals are most likely to be encountered.

The journey begins around New Delhi with mammal and bat watching before continuing to the Chambal River, where boat safaris offer opportunities for Ganges River Dolphin, Gharial and several scarce turtles. Several nights around Kailadevi provide our best sustained chance of finding Asiatic Wolf, Striped Hyena, Jungle Cat, Rusty-spotted Cat and other secretive mammals. We then travel to Jawai for Leopard before concluding in the Thar Desert near Jaisalmer, where desert cats, foxes, hedgehogs, rodents and bats become the focus.

 

Top Birds

Great Indian Bustard; Indian Skimmer; Black-bellied & River Terns; River Lapwing; Great Thick-knee; Indian & Cream-colored Coursers; Painted & Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse; Rock Bush Quail; Black-crowned & Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Larks; Bimaculated & Desert Larks; White-browed Bush Chat; Greater & Lesser Flamingos; Sarus & Demoiselle Cranes; Black & Painted Storks; Indian, Dusky, & Brown Fish Owls; Indian Scops Owl; Laggar & Red-headed Falcons; Bonelli’s, Eastern Imperial, & Steppe Eagles; Egyptian, Cinereous, & White-rumped Vultures.

Top Mammals

Jungle, Rusty-spotted, & Leopard Cats; Asiatic Wildcat; Caracal; Leopard; Asiatic Wolf; Striped Hyena; Golden Jackal; Bengal Fox; Indian Desert Fox; Ganges River Dolphin; Sloth Bear; Common Palm Civet; Small Indian Civet; Indian Crested Porcupine; Indian Long-eared Hedgehog; Indian Hedgehog; Indian Gazelle; Nilgai; Indian Hare; Indian Grey Mongoose; Wild Boar; Northern Plains Langur; Indian Flying Fox; Fulvous Fruit Bat; Naked-rumped Tomb Bat; Greater & Lesser Mouse-tailed Bats; Blyth’s Horseshoe Bat.

Habitats Covered

Urban wetlands and wooded parks; semi-arid and thorn scrub; Aravalli rocky ridges and plateaux; Acacia and dry deciduous woodland; open and dry grassland; dry streambeds, rocky gullies, and eroded ravines; seasonal water bodies and caves; the Chambal River, sandy banks, and exposed islands; agricultural fields and pasture; granite hills, caves, and boulder fields; seasonal river courses; reservoirs and freshwater wetlands; Thar Desert dunes; stony and gravel plains; salt-lake depressions; xerophytic scrub; fallow cultivation.

Expected Climate

January is generally cool and dry, with very cold early-morning jeep and boat excursions—especially in Rajasthan—and warmer daytime conditions. Warm layers, gloves, a scarf or buff, and a beanie are recommended.

Max Group Size

8 with 1 Rockjumper Tour leader and 1 Indian tour leader

Tour Pace & Walking

MODERATE TO CHALLENGING: This tour requires a good level of fitness, stamina, and overall health. It’s best suited for experienced birders who are comfortable with a more active itinerary. Please note that it may not be ideal for avid photographers, new birders, or those with mobility or health concerns.

Moderate

Accommodation

Comfortable

Ease of Birding

Moderate

Number of Species Expected

250-300

Other Attractions

Chambal River; Desert National Park.

Photographic Opportunities

Good

What our clients say about us

David Hoddinott
FG, India 2018

David Hoddinott was at his best even on new grounds full of lifers.

Gregory de Klerk
HS, India 2018

Greg de Klerk and David Erterius were great - super knowledgeable and really kind. You can tell that they both care about birds and their guests. I hope I can go on a Rockjumper tour with them again.

Stephan Lorenz
MM & GM, Southern India 2018

We really enjoyed both tours. The leader, Stephan Lorenz, was very helpful and worked hard to make the birding trips a success. We appreciated the local guides on both trips as well. They were all very good at getting the job done and making it all enjoyable and seamless. We always feel we are in good hands when we go on a Rockjumper tour.

David Hoddinott
SS, India 2018

David Hoddinott is wonderful and a great leader.

Stephan Lorenz
LC & PD, Northern India 2017

We had a wonderful trip with Rich Lindie and Stephan Lorenz, and we would certainly be happy to travel with either of them again. They were both excellent with the birds, had a great sense of humour, and were helpful and patient when individuals required extra assistance. In addition to the birding, we enjoyed a long list of mammals sighted in the various national parks. The accommodations and meals were also very good.

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Route Map

Tour Route Map