Notice habitat, alarm calls and animal behaviour.
PERSONALLY LED · SOUTH INDIA
The Predator Trail.
A focused seven-day journey through two of South India’s compelling big-cat landscapes. Repeated field sessions give photographers time to read behaviour, work with changing light and build a wildlife story.
Three nights in each forest. Repeated field sessions, personal photography guidance and time to build a wildlife story.
Enquire About Predator TrailExplore the seven-day itinerary →
TWO FORESTS. TIME TO OBSERVE.
Read the forest.
Build your story.
Three nights in each forest means returning with a better understanding of the habitat. Bandipur’s forest tracks give way to Kabini’s layered woodland, bringing variety without a rushed change of base every day.
Personally led by Chetan, with a maximum of five photographers. Guidance follows the conditions and your experience, from observing behaviour to decisions about exposure and composition.
Watch movement and changing light before the moment unfolds.
Make deliberate choices about exposure, composition and the forest around the animal.
Review, select and refine your photographs with restrained post-processing.
THE JOURNEY, OPEN TO EXPLORE
7 days.
Room to observe.
The complete proposed journey. Read at your own pace. Every day is shown below. Transfer-day outings depend on travel time, park rules and the confirmed operating programme.
Download Expedition Itinerary · PDF ↓CHAPTER 01 · DAYS 1–3
Bandipur.
Dry woodland, grassy openings and denser forest give Bandipur a changing visual rhythm. A broad elephant portrait and a small detail in the undergrowth can belong to the same morning. The reserve forms part of the connected southern landscape that large mammals depend on.
DAY 01
Arrive in Bandipur
Meet in Bengaluru at the agreed departure point and travel to Bandipur. Settle into the lodge, prepare equipment and join a field briefing before the first scheduled wildlife session. The evening introduces Chetan’s approach to tracking and anticipation.
DAY 02
Bandipur · Read the forest
Morning and afternoon field sessions, with guidance on behaviour, composition and changing forest light. Between sessions, review photographs and prepare for the next drive.
DAY 03
Bandipur · Build the story
Another full day in the same landscape brings time to recognise patterns and develop photographic ideas. Two scheduled sessions, with rest and optional image review between them.
CHAPTER 02 · DAYS 4–7
Kabini / Nagarahole.
Kabini opens into the Nagarahole landscape, where wooded habitat and water create very different ways to frame wildlife. Its connection with neighbouring forests matters as much as a single sighting: this is habitat used by both large herbivores and predators.
DAY 04
Bandipur to Kabini
A final Bandipur session, subject to the operating programme, followed by breakfast and the transfer to Kabini. Settle in for the next forest chapter; the afternoon session depends on arrival and lodge scheduling.
DAY 05
Kabini · Forest and habitat
Morning and afternoon wildlife sessions. Look for big-cat behaviour, elephants, gaur and dhole, and consider the forest around each subject. Evening review explores how photographs work together as a story.
DAY 06
Kabini · Follow the signs
A second full day creates room to respond to animal movement, alarm calls and changing conditions. Chetan guides photographic decisions throughout both scheduled sessions.
DAY 07
Final session & Bengaluru departure
An early wildlife session and breakfast, then the return to the agreed Bengaluru drop-off point. Finish with guidance on selecting and refining a coherent set of images.
BETWEEN THE FIELD SESSIONS
A place to rest.
Time to reflect.
Meals, rest and selected image-review conversations fit around the forest programme. International flagship circuits include private-room accommodation by default. Meals follow the selected lodge programme.
Bandipur
Bandipur Safari Lodge
Proposed viceroy cottage. Exact room category and availability are confirmed in your written offer.
Kabini / Nagarahole
Kabini River Lodge
Proposed maharaja cottage. Exact room category and availability are confirmed in your written offer.
These are proposed bases, not confirmed reservations. No particular room, view, private vehicle or exclusive access is promised.
YOUR INTERNATIONAL EDITION
Know what’s
part of it.
Included
- Single-occupancy accommodation throughout the expedition
- Meals supplied within the selected lodge packages
- Scheduled lodge wildlife experiences and forest entry charges
- Applicable camera and long-lens fees for scheduled wildlife sessions
- Ground transfers between the listed forests and the agreed Bengaluru arrival and departure points
- Personally led tracking, behaviour interpretation and wildlife photography guidance by Chetan Kumar
- Selected image-review and post-processing sessions
Excluded
- International and domestic flights
- Indian visa and travel or medical insurance
- Personal camera equipment and equipment insurance
- Alcohol, laundry, tips and personal expenses
- Additional activities, safaris or transfers outside the agreed expedition programme
LOOKING AHEAD · 2027
Proposed departure dates.
- February 13–19, 2027
- May 8–14, 2027
- August 14–20, 2027
- December 11–17, 2027
Proposed / Subject to Confirmation. Permits, accommodation and availability are not confirmed. Prefer other dates? Ask about a private departure.
SIX NIGHTS / SEVEN DAYS
Your room.
Your choice.
The listed international inclusions and expedition experience remain the same. Flights, visas, insurance and the other listed exclusions are separate.
Enquire About Predator TrailMEET YOUR EXPEDITION LEADER
In the field
with Chetan.
Chetan Kumar is a Bengaluru-based wildlife photographer and expedition leader. Over a decade behind the camera, with more than three years focused on wildlife, has shaped his approach to light, composition and observation.
His work in Bandipur, Kabini and Bhadra connects reading animal behaviour with anticipating photographic opportunities. During this journey, personal guidance and selected image reviews help you move from a sighting to a considered photograph.
Meet Chetan Kumar →Explore his original photography →PLANNING YOUR PLACE
A personal confirmation, at every step.
Enquiries are open; payments are not. The intended sequence is a 10% reservation payment, followed by total payment of at least 75% within 48 hours of written confirmation that the hold is secured.
The remaining balance date and full cancellation schedule will be agreed before any payment is requested.
Before you travel, agree your dates, accommodation, safari arrangements, price and complete terms in writing. In the field, meals, rest and image review fit around the confirmed lodge programme.
BEGIN YOUR FOREST JOURNEY
Request expedition
details.
Share a few details. Chetan will reply personally about dates, availability and your photographic interests.
No payment or reservation is made by submitting this form.
Prefer a conversation? info@cksafaris.com · WhatsApp