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holiday to India
Cameron Toyne, 30th March 2026In short, I have had nothing but excellent experiences with Mahlatini. I used them to safari in South Africa in August of 2021 and they were exceptional. This round, I employed Mahlatini to travel to India to photograph wild tigers. I had initially done research on the best reserves to travel to in India for tiger sightings, but my guide, Scott Dunn, convinced me to travel to a reserve I had never heard of previously – Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve. What some degree of caution, I agreed and I am so very glad I relied upon Scott’s expertise to guide me to Tadoba. I did eight safari tours (two each day – a morning tour and an afternoon tour) and of the eight tours I saw multiple tigers on six of the tours. The sightings were remarkable. For example, I watched a female tiger grab her hidden kill and drag the kill (a spotted deer) around our vehicle. She stopped roughly 35 feet from the vehicle, dropped the deer, and then stared for minutes into our vehicle before she resumed dragging the deer into the bush – breathtaking… On another occasion, I watched a tiger emerge from the bush, walk into a small pond, then emerge onto a small island in the pond where it rested on the bank of the island for several hours. The photo opportunities were exceptional. Also, the lodge Mahlatini selected for my stay was excellent – Svasara Jungle Lodge (I’ll write more about the lodge in a separate review). I do however want to recognise my guide at the lodge – Swarna Chakrabarty, whose command of the flora and fauna of Tadoba, was unparalleled. The itinerary Scott developed for me was outstanding. I was also able to tour Delhi for a day with a really talented guide, Karan, and the logistical support in India was remarkable – Sucheeta Dubey helped me in country with airport transfers, airline tickets, and hotel stays in Delhi and Nagpur (she was just super!). All in all, this was an exceptional trip. I am so grateful to Scott and Mahlatini for their exceptional support and guidance. I am planning a trip to Madagascar in September with Mahlatini and given their previous performances I am thrilled I’ll be again travelling with them. Mahlatini is just best in class.
Accommodation Visited
The Claridges
“I stayed at The Claridges New Delhi for one night before traveling onward to Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve. The hotel is lovely - the architecture is colonial and just lovely. My room was spacious and beautifully appointed. The morning buffet breakfast was excellent - a wide variety of European and Asian foods and a station for egg preparation - think omelets or scrambled eggs. All in all, this is a lovely hotel and I highly recommend it for the traveller.”
Radisson Blu Hotel, Nagpur
“Good hotel.”
Svasara Jungle Lodge
“Svasara Jungle Lodge is a gem in the center of India. Just to calibrate, Svasara is a two-hour drive south of the Nagpur Airport - the 27th most busy airport in India. The implication is that the traveller is deep in the heart of rural India. So the lodge itself is lovely - quiet and unassuming, but completely functional and adjacent to the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve. The staff are wonderful. Ranjit, the General Manager, was warm and kind and made certain my stay was perfect. The lodge is roughly 100 metres from the Kolara Gate so entry to the reserve through that gate is quick and seamless. The food is wonderful - think mildly spiced curries and fresh locally sourced vegetarian entrees. There was always a meat dish as well, but I did not try any meat dishes. My room was spacious and comfortable with hot water and a comfortable bed. But what stood out most were the lodge safaris. My naturalist, Swarna Chakrabarty, was amazing. His command of the local flora and fauna were exceptional. But my opinion, his greatest understanding was knowing where and when to locate our vehicle to spot tigers. Of the eight safaris I went on, I spotted tigers on six safaris. And the sightings were exceptional. For example, I watched a female tiger grab her hidden kill and drag the kill (a spotted deer) around our vehicle. She stopped roughly 35 feet from the vehicle, dropped the deer, and then stared for minutes into the vehicle before she resumed dragging the deer into bush – breathtaking… On another occasion, I watched a tiger emerge from the bush, walk into a small pond, then emerge onto a small island in the pond where it rested on the bank of the island for several hours. Plus Swarna was warm, funny and engaging. In short, I highly recommend Svasara Jungle Lodge when visiting Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve.”
Staff Review
“Excellent.”
