I spent 4 days and 3 nights at Kabini, staying at Kabini River Lodge, and my time there was spectacular. I arranged private transport through Wild Trails from Bangalore and it couldn’t have gone smoother. My driver, Satish, picked me up on time and was a very safe and professional driver. He was very kind and accommodating. From Bangalore, it took us 4.5 hours before we arrived at the River Lodge.
The Lodge itself is very quiet and the cabins are spacious. They have a small balcony looking down towards the water and you are just a short 20 meter walk from lovely sunset views over the the reservoir, watching flying foxes swoop down over the water at dusk. The buffet food is absolutely amazing, with over 80% of it being vegetarian. After spending a few days here, expect to put on a few kilos of delicious Indian cuisine.
What has surprised me most about Kabini is the level of care and respect they have for wildlife management. The number of vehicles for the amount of square kilometers means that it’s very easy to set off in your own jeep without a line of other vehicles ahead or behind you.
The zones are just the right size for jeeps to meet up every so often to check in on sightings, and then drive off in separate directions--giving you a true experience with nature and wildlife. The lighting in the morning and evening is wonderful, and driving down dirt roads with hundreds of spotted deer and countless langurs bouncing around in search of bigger game is a beautiful experience.
Another thing I like about Kabini is that it feels wild. It’s not like some places you go where they bait or surround sighted animals as if they are in show. Finding cats at Kabini takes patience and time. Don’t expect them to be sitting there waiting for you—posing on a rock or tree branch wondering what took you so long. You have to work to find them, but this is what makes the safari experience feel authentic, as you truly appreciate your encounters with the big cats.
The drivers and naturalists are great. They are very attentive and proactive. Their ears and eyes are open at all times, and they strike a perfect balance of sitting and waiting when calls indicate something might be near, and driving ahead to see what may be found around the next bend or hill when nothing presents itself.
Going with Wild Trails was a great decision. After a slight miscommunication on my first safari, Manju and Gee were quick to contact the general manager here to make sure everything went smoothly the rest of the time. Wild Trails checked in each day to see how things were going and whether we had any sightings. Having spent a few days here at the Lodge, the guides and naturalists began to know what I wanted and were helpful in providing the safari experience that suited my needs. The general manager and lead naturalist could not have been more accommodating and hospitable, and this is due to their relationship with Wild Trails.
Overall, I would highly recommend booking a multi-day safari at Kabini with Wild Trails. Great park, great guides and great care of their clients. A big thank you to Gangaswamy and Ravi at Kabini, along with Manju and Gee at Wild Trails.
