Day 1: Dimapur to Khonoma
Arrivals into Nagaland's Dimapur airport this morning. From here we will set out on the slow drive southeast into the rugged Naga Hills to the state capital Kohima, and on to the village of Khonoma for a four-night stay.
Day 2-4: Khonoma, Benreu and the Khonoma Nature Conservation and Tragopan Sanctuary
Over these three days we will explore the surrounding hills from our base at Khonoma. Although much of Nagaland still follows a traditional way of life that relies heavily on slash-and-burn and hunting, the Angami community of Khonoma is renowned for its efforts to conserve the biodiversity of the surrounding forests. The Khonoma Nature Conservation and Tragopan Sanctuary was established here in 1998, protecting 25 sq km of mid-elevation subtropical forests that flank the Dzukou River between Khonoma and nearby Dzuleke. We will spend much of our time exploring the sanctuary, looking for several secretive range-restricted species including the endemic Naga Wren-Babbler, Spot-breasted Scimitar-Babbler, and near-endemic Striped and Brown-capped Laughingthrushes. Nagaland's avifauna is a fascinating combination of typically Himalayan species in the easternmost part of their range, and birds more widely associated with Southeast Asia at their westernmost extension, and we anticipate an interesting selection of species in this region, many of which will not be available throughout the rest of the tour. These will perhaps include Grey Sibia, Crested Finchbill, Rusty-capped and Manipur Fulvettas, White-browed and Spot-breasted Laughingthrushes, Brown Bush Warbler, Dark-rumped Swift, Black-tailed Crake, Mountain Bamboo-Partridge, and the elusive Blyth’s Tragopan. Around nearby Benreu, broadleaf forests with an abundance of wild fruiting trees and shifting cultivation in various stages of regeneration host Spot-breasted and Grey-headed Parrotbills, Grey-headed Parakeet, Striated Yuhina, Silver-eared Mesia, White-browed Shrike-Babbler, Grey-throated, Spot-throated and Rufous-capped Babblers, Blue-naped Pitta, a selection of thrushes, and mixed feeding flocks comprising Flavescent Bulbul, various sunbirds, tits and yuhinas.
Day 5: Khonoma to Dimapur
After a final morning around Khonoma we will leave on the journey back through the Naga Hills to Dimapur, where we will spend the next three nights.
Day 6-7: Hakhezhe and Amur Falcon Migration
We will spend these two days exploring the area around the village of Hakhezhe, around an hour east of Dimapur. Like the Doyang Reservoir further north, where this migration spectacle was first discovered in 2012, large numbers of Amur Falcons descend on the Hakhezhe area each year to feed on termites, roosting in teak plantations. After stockpiling fat in Nagaland these falcons will leave to undertake one of the world’s most arduous migrations, flying non-stop for more than 22,000km across peninsular India and the Arabian Sea over five days and nights. We have two full days to enjoy the hordes of Amur Falcons here, and in the surrounding mosaic of cereal and plantation crops, natural lakes and patches of secondary growth we can expect to see a wider selection of species such as Ultramarine Flycatcher, Fire-breasted and Scarlet-backed Flowerpeckers, Pin-striped Tit-Babbler, Buff-throated Babbler, Siberian Rubythroat, Blue Whistling-Thrush, Himalayan Buzzard, Oriental Scops-Owl, Eastern Barn Owl, and Brown Boobook.
Day 8: Dimapur to Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary
This morning we will set out on the journey down into the Brahmaputra floodplain, crossing the state border as we head into neighbouring Assam. Along the way, we will pass through some superb roadside forests at Nambor Wildlife Sanctuary, giving us the opportunity to pause and enjoy a selection of northeast India's more widespread species, perhaps including Ashy-headed Green-Pigeon, Asian Emerald Dove, Blue-throated and Lineated Barbets, Rufous-bellied and Small Niltavas, Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher, Bar-winged Flycatcher-Shrike, Fulvous-breasted and Rufous Woodpeckers, Speckled Piculet, Yellow-vented Flowerpecker, and Hair-crested Drongo. We will arrive at our next destination, Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary, by midday where we will spend the afternoon trekking within an important remnant of the once extensive lowland evergreen forest, looking for troops of primates and forest birds. Key birds here include Great Pied and Oriental Pied Hornbills, Greater and Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrushes, Large Niltava, Pale-chinned Flycatcher, Abbott’s Babbler, Red-headed Trogon, Common Green Magpie, Dollarbird and Green-billed Malkoha. Among a total of seven primate species, the sanctuary is home to Western Hoolock Gibbon, the only ape to occur in India. If we are lucky, we will encounter a family group calling noisily as they swing through the canopy. There are equally good chances to see Stump-tailed and Northern Pig-tailed Macaques alongside more widespread Assam and Rhesus Macaques, and Capped Langur.
Day 9: Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary to Kaziranga National Park
Spend the early morning at Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary before driving west into the Brahmaputra floodplain to Kaziranga National Park for a three-night stay. We will arrive in time to begin our exploration of the superb mosaic of swampy wetlands known as 'beels', extensive floodplain grasslands, and patches of mature woodland, taking an afternoon safari in open-topped jeeps into the park's central range.
Day 10-11: Kaziranga National Park
Over a further two days we will explore Kaziranga's eastern, central and western ranges by taking morning and afternoon safaris into the reserve. We will be looking for grassland specialists including Bengal Florican (though increasingly difficult here), Swamp Francolin, Striated Grassbird and Finn’s Weaver among numerous waterbirds in wetland areas, such as Greater Painted-snipe, Marsh Sandpiper, Temminck's Stint, Pallas's Gull, Grey-headed Lapwing, Bar-headed Goose, Cotton Pygmy-Goose, Indian Spot-billed and Ferruginous Ducks, Black-necked Stork, and Lesser Adjutant. We will also be looking for Greater Adjutant, a critically endangered species now largely restricted to the Assam valley. These wetland species will be complemented by a selection of species in small patches of mature woodland, perhaps Spot-winged Starling, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Alexandrine and Red-breasted Parakeets, Ruby-cheeked Sunbird, Kalij Pheasant, Brown Fish Owl, Dusky Eagle Owl, and a great diversity of birds of prey, with Eastern Imperial Eagle, Indian Spotted Eagle, Pallas's Fish Eagle, Pallid and Pied Harriers, both Black and Jerdon’s Bazas, and Pied Falconet all possible here. We will also find time between safaris to bird on foot in the tea estates adjacent to our lodge, looking for Greater and Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrushes, Chinese Rubythroat, Blue-eared Barbet, Maroon Oriole, Common Green Magpie and perhaps even the elusive Blue-naped Pitta. Large mammals are positively abundant at Kaziranga and we will start to notice these as soon as we enter the reserve. Most notably, Kaziranga is home to Indian Rhinoceros, Asian Elephant, Asiatic Wild Buffalo, and Barasingha (Swamp Deer), with a very realistic chance of Tiger here too.
Day 12: Kaziranga to Guwahati, depart
Depart Kaziranga this morning on the drive back to Guwahati. Departures from Guwahati airport this afternoon.
