Manas Tiger Reserve

Introduction

Manas Tiger Reserve. 30th Dec. 21- 3rd Jan. 22

“New Year in the North East”. 30th Dec 2021- 3rd Jan 2022 Manas Tiger Reserve A Dream destination one had almost made it to in 1999-2000, but got put off due to ethnic strife and militancy in the area. The strife ravaged the landscape for years after, and only started its recovery back to its original glory a few years ago. Reports of tours from friends and known wildlifers brought back that idea that one may visit now, and so made it happen to ring in a new year beholding a wilderness scape that rises and sets in diversity and beauty. As a UNESCO World Heritage site Manas has been to the absolute brink and back, with its re-introduced Rhino population holding steady and increasing year on year. Tiger population doubling over the last few years. One of the best places to see the highly endangered Bengal Florican anywhere.

A Diversity of 60 mammal species including Wild Elephants, Asiatic Wild Buffalo, Gaur, Swamp Deer, Hog Deer, Leopards including a few regularly seen Black Panthers, Clouded Leopard, Gee’s Golden Langur, Capped Langur, Black Giant Squirrel, as well as the highly endangered yet rarely seen Pygmy Hog and Hispid Hare.

400+ bird species including the stunning Red-Headed Trogon, Silver Breasted and Long-tailed Broadbills, Four species of Hornbill including the Rufous-necked and Wreathed Hornbill, Collared Falconet, Ashy Woodswallow, Crested Goshawk, and Swamp Francolin amongst others.

Numerous Reptile species including the enigmatic King Cobra, Burmese Python, recently discovered Salazar’s Pit Viper and the gigantic Tokay Gecko. Add the fluttering Butterfly and steadfast Plant species across its mosaic of habitats, and Manas is a cornucopia for the senses. Add to that the options for Full Day and Half Day safaris, River Rafting through Wildlife Rich Habitat

along the Beki River, Optional Forest Rest House Stay, wonderfully designed Forest Guard Camps that double up as Watch Towers for wildlife watching, Home Stays and accommodation of quality on the outskirts and surrounding villages and the variety of experiences on offer are just incredible. However, after spending 3 full days in the park it was also obvious that Manas does not reveal her secrets easily, but should you give it time and have patience how much you end up seeing will be staggering. Manas is not for the casual glut tourist, but paradise for the wildlife Connoisseur.

Day 1. 30th December (Thursday)

1. Checked into Rhino Cottage Homestay, and heard a cacophony of metallic bird sounds outside my window. Walked out and discovered the tree next to my room was a favourite with 4 Species of Sunbird. Purple Sunbird, Crimson Sunbird, Little Spiderhunter, and the Bulbul sized gigantic Streaked Spiderhunter.
2. Visited Florican Cottage Homestay at the edge of the park and had fantastic views of Gold-fronted Leafbird, Streaked Spiderhunter and Blue-throated Barbet on the short tree just above their reception.
3. Was taken for a motorcycle ride along the Electric Fence that edged along the boundary of the park and found a Rhino mother with her young calf in a small clearing of a grassland 70 odd metres from us. 4. Heard Brown Hawk Owls calling at night.

Day 2. 31st December (Friday)

1. Asiatic Wild Buffalo Herd on the Beki River floodplain. First ever sighting of the species.
2. Ashy WoodSwallows sunning themselves on a tree. Lifer sighting of this species.
3. Crab-eating Mongoose seen moving away from us 70-80m away in the shadows of the safari track by the river.
4. A pair of Crested Goshawks trying to hunt and spooking around 70-80 Pin-tailed and Yellow-footed Green Pigeons on the woodland safari track near the river in Bansbari. Lifer sighting of Crested Goshawk.
5. Being literally surrounded by the sounds and smells of an elephant herd in the woodland we tracked the mongoose, before having a young tusker move in the forest near us, and then walk out on the safari track way ahead before casually approaching us to within 50m, at which point he turned away and crossed over to join the rest of the herd on the other side of the forest.
6. Lone Capped Langur feeding on Silk Cotton Blossoms atop a Silk Cotton Tree in the mid hours of the morning. First ever sighting of this species. Saw quite a few as the day went on.
7. Asian Fairy Bluebird Male.
8. Saw the River Rafting experience first hand as one had a light breakfast on the river’s edge.
9. Tokay Gecko at Mothanguri Forest Rest House. First ever sighting of this species in the wild.
10. UFO Tiny (Day Gecko sized) Gecko also seen in Mothanguri Forest Rest House.
11. A Flock of 4 Wreathed Hornbills seen flying over the Mothanguri Forest Rest House across the Beki River and on toward the forests of Panbari Range and the mountains of Bhutan further on.
12. Had a Red-Headed Trogon Male in my camera sights post lunch while returning from Mothanguri (A couple of km in the woodland area), and one of my camera cards got full, and so no pic. Saw it well though, so no complaints.
13. Rhino with large Calf, as we were in the midst of a grassland. Had her cross the track behind us just after we had crossed her.
14. Elephants in different grasslands as we exited at sunset.

Day 3. January 1st (Saturday) Bhuyanpaara Range. Manas East

1. Striated Grassbird and Swamp Francolin.
2. Multiple Elephants as they stood almost well hidden in the grasslands
3. Hog Deer Alarm call for a possible tiger as we appreciated breakfast atop a Forest Guard Camp Watchtower with a panoramic view of the grasslands.
4. Collared Falconet sunning itself and then hunting a Dragonfly on the wing near us on the river’s edge.
5. Rufous-necked LaughingThrush in Bhuyanpaara Woodland zone. Lifer sighting of this species. Funny how I thought a flock of Bulbuls looked much bigger than otherwise till my Forest Guard guide pointed out that they weren’t.
6. Fresh Tracks (from the early part of the morning) of 3 different Tigers ( 2 different Males and an adult Female). One of the Males had walked the track for over 5km.
7. Tracks of two different Leopards.
8. Intense Rhesus Macaque Alarm call that went beserk over a few minutes 50m from us in the forest, before my guide whispered “Leopard”, and one saw a dark shadow under the shade of the trees on the track 50-60m ahead of us. It had spotted us, and thus was in stealth mode it remained just visible on the downslope of the safari track before treading away and vanishing into the opposite side of the forest 10 seconds later.
9. Wild Dog Tracks on the same Woodland Safari Track
10. Multiple Elephant Tracks on the same woodland safari track.
11. Adult Bull Gaur Sighting very close to the jeep while returning on the same track post lunch.
12. Lone Wedge Tailed Green Pigeon female.
13. Great experience with 3 Black Giant Squirrels, where one chased the other wanting to mate, and another aimed to intervene. The same individual later took offence to our presence and kept giving out its alarms while staring at us from a tree top 20m away.
14. Multiple Elephants and Wild Buffalos at dusk.
15. Sambar and a Fawn crossing at dusk.

Day 4. January 2nd. (Sunday) Bansbari Range

1. Asiatic Wild Buffalo Bull sightings at close range during different parts of the morning.
2. Ashy WoodSwallows sunning themselves on a tree near a grassland edge.
3. Good Hog Deer Alarm for a possible tiger/leopard on the opposite side of a narrow river channel in the mid morning hours on a secluded part of the Beki River
4. Good Views of two Adult Male Rufous-Necked Hornbills sitting together atop a Silk Cotton Tree at the edge of a Grassland. Amazingly it was the first ever sighting of the species on the Indian side of Manas (had glimpsed them from afar on the Bhutan side a few years prior) for my driver Sushen in 7 years of driving in the park.
5. Great time spent observing a Black Giant Squirrel feeding on fruit just 10ft. from us in a woodland zone.
6. Good sightings of Brown Crake, Common Snipe, Bluethroat and Cinnamon Bittern in a Grassland bog near the safari track.
7. Good sightings of Asian Fairy Bluebird and a flock of Long-tailed Broadbills on the Mothanguri-Bansbari Main road.
8. 4 One Horned Rhinoceros seen at Bura Buri Camp at Dusk. One of the pairs was a mother with a very young calf.

Day 5. January 3rd. (Monday)

1. 1. Beautiful observations of a troop of Gee’s Golden Langurs at Kakoijana Reserve Forest 80km from Manas.
   2. Observing Snippets of Kakoijana Village life such as Rubber making, Spinning the yarn, and grandparent carrying her grandchild in a satchel like backpack.

Acknowledgements

A Special Thank You to the following without whom the trip would not have been.

1. Soumyajit Nandy- A Wildlifer par excellence and a dear friend, because of who's knowledge of the place and contacts one was able to make the trip in the first place.
2. Bubul Nath- The Owner of Florican Cottage, and partner in Rhino Cottage. A wonderful and gracious host who's systems of local organisation and knowledge made the trip super smooth and fabulous.
3. Staff at Rhino Cottage- A quartet of efficiency, professionalism and warmth amidst the busy hustle bustle of New Years Eve and festivity celebrations.
4. Sushen ji (Gypsy Driver)- One of the best Safari Jeep Drivers one has been out with. Driving slow, with patience and allowing one to experience the wilderness in totality.
5. Mr. Konsune Kherkhatry ji- Forest Guard and Guide, and with eagle eyes to spot literally most of the birds and mammals we saw through the entire trip. Certainly privileged and grateful for his presence and knowledge.

Day 4

Highlights

1. 150 Species of Bird including 8 lifer species like Crested Goshwak, Wreathed Hornbill, Ashy Woodswallow, Yellow-browed Warbler, Asian House Martin, Rufous-necked Laughingthrush, Streaked Spiderhunter and Little Spiderhunter. Also some good views of Collared Falconet and Asian Fairy Bluebird. Good glimpses of a Swamp Francolin and a Red-headed Trogon. A fabulous 1 hr. long sighting of a pair of Male Rufous-necked Hornbills in a Grassland. A surprisingly longish view of around 30-40 seconds of the dimunitive Scaly-breasted Wren Babbler, which is usually extremely shy and reveals itself for only a second or two from it’s dense undergrowth habitat.
2. 18 species of Mammal, including a glimpse of a Leopard in the early part of an Afternoon amidst frantic Rhesus Macaque Alarm calls. 4 Rhino sightings including three different females with calves. Lifer sightings of the stunning Capped and Golden Langurs. Very good Black Giant Squirrel at close range. Lifer sightings of Multiple Asiatic Wild Buffalo, including an Old Bull at very quarters. A good view of a Crab-eating Mongoose at a distance of 50m on the safari track.
3. 2 species of Reptile including Tokay Geckos in the wild for the first time. Their massive faces presenting a spooky look from the false ceiling of the forest rest house they were residing in.
4. Stunning Landscapes and Weather all round.

Daily Highlights

Day 1. 30th December (Thursday)

1. Arrived at Manas in the early afternoon.
2. Streaked Spiderhunter, and Little Spiderhunter sightings at the Homestay
3. Rhino with Calf seen at the edge of the park in the evening

Day 2. 31st December (Friday)

1. Full Day Safari in Central Range.
2. Asiatic Wild Buffalo herd seen in the Beki River Valley
3. Ashy Woodswallows flock at close range
4. Crab Eating Mongoose seen on the track
5. Crested Goshawk pair spooking off a flock of Yellow-footed Green Pigeoons
6. Multiple sightings of Capped Langur including one sitting out on an open branch and feeding on the flowers of a Silk Cotton Tree.
7. Wild Elephant Herd with a Tusker seen
8. Scaly-breasted Wren Babbler sighting for longer than normal
9. A flock of 4 Wreathed Hornbills flying close overhead and across the Beki River
10. A Tokay Gecko in the False Roof of the Forest Rest House
11. A good glimpse of a Male Red-headed Trogon
12. A Male Asian Fairy Bluebird
13. Rhino with a large calf in a Grassland
14. Multiple Herds of Elephants in the grasslands as we exited in the evening

Day 3. 1st January (Saturday)

1. Full Day Safari in the Eastern Range
2. Striated Grassbird and Swamp Francolin sighting
3. Multiple Elephants hidden in the tall grass as well as one crossing the track 100m away in front
4. Distant Alarm Calls of Hog Deer for a predator in the grasslands
5. Good Views of Collared Falconet sunning itself
6. Rufous-necked Laughingthrush Flock sighted
7. Tracks of 3 different Tigers, 2 Leopards and a Wild Dog in the Woodland zone
8. Glimpse of an Adult Leopard as it crossed out onto the safari track amidst frantic Rhesus Macaque Alarms
9. Great views of Black Giant Squirrels
10. A lone Bull Gaur seen super close to the safari track in the woodland
11. Wild Elephants and Asiatic Water Buffalo seen in the grasslands when exiting in the evening

Day 4. 2nd January (Sunday)

1. Full Day Safari in Central Range. Decent sightings of Wildlife but extremely crowded with multiple jeeps all around as it was Sunday and the New Year’s Weekend.
2. Multiple sightings of Asiatic Wild Buffalo, including one old Lone Bull at very close range
3. Good alarms of Hog Deer for a predator, from the forest on the opposite side of a secluded channel of the Beki River just 50-60m away from us.
4. Long-tailed Broadbills and Asian Fairy Bluebird sighted
5. A long 1 hr. sighting of a pair of Male Rufous-Necked Hornbills perched on a Silk Cotton Tree in a Grassland.
6. Two adult Rhinos seen in a forest glade in the evening, including one with a very young calf

Day 5. 3rd January (Monday)

1. Morning spent at Kakoijana Reserve Forest located 2 hrs. Away from Manas.
2. Excellent close up sighting of a Troop of endangered Gee’s Golden Langurs as they moved through the Rubber Trees and fed on it’s fruit
3. Insight into a bit of the Village life of Kakoijan
4. Dropped at the Airport and Caught the evening flight to Delhi>

Itinerary

Cost

Inclusions

Gallery