Wild Tigers and Leopards Safari

Feb 23-Mar 8, 2027 - Sold Out!

Join us in Northern India to photograph the majestic Bengal tiger during the cooler, more active winter season, when ideal light and atmospheric conditions create exceptional opportunities as tigers roam, hunt, and interact throughout the day. This immersive 14-day workshop includes six full-day safaris across Panna and Bandhavgarh National Parks, plus additional morning safaris and dedicated leopard outings in Jawai. Full-day permits allow early entry, flexible zone selection, and the ability to stay out from dawn to dusk—dramatically increasing your chances of extraordinary encounters. With only two participants per jeep, you’ll enjoy an intimate, highly focused shooting experience. The workshop is led by award-winning photographer Kevin McNeal and tiger specialist Nitish Madan.

Tuition

$12,200
All-Inclusive

Max Group Size

3 Students per Instructor
Max 6 Students

Instructor(s)

Kevin McNeal
Nitish Madan

Physical Intensity

Highlights

Photograph the iconic Royal Bengal Tiger in the beautiful landscapes of Bandhavgarh, Panna, and Jawai over 11 safari days, including 6 full-day safaris!
Enjoy 3 safari days in a dedicated leopard reserve to capture these fascinating cats.
Other wildlife includes Asian Elephants, sambor deer, sloth bears, kingfishers, eagles, parakeets, owls, and much more!
Small group of 6 photographers and 2 pro instructors so everyone will have their own row for an intimate, highly focused experience.
All-inclusive 14-day workshop with 4-star accommodations, domestic flights, meals, and ground transportation.
Classroom time will be scheduled throughout the workshop for image critique, post-processing, and photography instruction.

India Tigers and Leopards Safari Workshop

Itinerary

Day 1 (Feb 23): Optional arrival day. If arriving today, you will be responsible for booking your own lodging near the airport in Delhi. This gives you time to rest, adjust to the time zone, and prepare for the adventure ahead.

Day 2 (Feb 24): We fly to Khajuraho and then make the short 45-minute drive to Panna National Park, where we check into our lodge and prepare for our first tiger sessions.

Days 3–5 (Feb 25–27): We have three full-day tiger safaris in Panna National Park. These highly coveted full-day permits allow us early entry, flexible zone selection, and the ability to remain inside the park from dawn to dusk. While standard safari vehicles must exit mid-day, we stay in the field—positioned for extended behavioral encounters, hunting sequences, cub activity, and dramatic light throughout the entire day. This significantly increases our chances for extraordinary sightings and portfolio-worthy images.

Day 6 (Feb 28): Morning safari in Panna. After lunch, we make the scenic 4-hour drive to Bandhavgarh National Park—one of India’s most iconic and productive tiger reserves—and settle into our lodge.

Days 7–8 (Mar 1–2): Two full-day tiger safaris in Bandhavgarh National Park. Once again, our full-day access gives us a major advantage: extended time on active cats, the ability to reposition between zones, and uninterrupted shooting during prime mid-day behavioral windows when most vehicles are absent.

Day 9 (Mar 3): Morning safari in Bandhavgarh (the park is closed for evening safaris). Even with a half-day, Bandhavgarh’s density of tigers offers outstanding photographic potential. In the afternoon, we'll do a cultural tour of the countryside.

Day 10 (Mar 4): Our final full-day safari in Bandhavgarh. By now, we’ll be dialed into territories and movement patterns—maximizing every opportunity from first light through golden evening glow.

Day 11 (Mar 5): Travel day. We drive to Jabalpur (approx. 4 hours), fly to Delhi and onward to Udaipur, then transfer to Jawai where we check into our lodge.

Days 12–13 (Mar 6–7): Morning and afternoon leopard safaris in Jawai. This unique region offers exceptional opportunities to photograph Indian leopards as they move across dramatic granite outcrops and interact with the rugged landscape. The combination of striking terrain and relaxed leopard behavior makes for powerful, storytelling imagery.

Day 14 (Mar 8): We conclude with a final morning safari in Jawai before driving to Udaipur and flying back to Delhi. We will arrive no later than 6 PM. Most international departures leave late at night, allowing you to schedule your return this evening. Alternatively, you may choose to stay overnight in Delhi and depart on March 9.

Logistics

We recommend arriving in Delhi the day before the workshop begins on Feb 23rd, 2027. If you arrive the day before, you will need to book your own lodging near the airport and we recommend the Pride Plaza Hotel. We will meet at at the Delhi International Airport around mid-morning on Feb 24th for our flight to Khajuraho.

The workshop is all-inclusive, meaning your lodging, food, domestic flights, and transportation are all covered during our 14 days together. The base price assumes double occupancy. If you book as a single participant but want double occupancy, we will attempt to pair you with another participant of the same gender. But with our small groups that is not always possible. If we cannot pair you up, you will be asked to pay the single supplement.

All lodging during the workshop is in upscale 4-star hotels.

As a requirement of joining the workshop, participants must purchase their own travel insurance. The proper policy will cover things like last-minute cancellations, medical emergencies, and non-refundable expenses. You can visit the Travel Insurance Marketplace to compare policies from multiple providers.

We will setup a zoom meeting with all participants a few months before the workshop to discuss gear and pre-trip planning. You will receive additional information via email to ensure you are set up for a successful and memorable trip!

Pricing

$12,200/Person + Tax

Trip Includes:

12 nights double-occupancy lodging in 4-star hotels. Single supplement is $1600 if you want your own room.
All meals during the workshop.
Airfare between Delhi, Khajuraho, Jabalpur, and Udaipur.
Ground transportation between all other locations.
4x4 Safari Vehicles with drivers and spotters. Each participant will have their own row.
Services of exceptional English-speaking guides.
Six full-day safaris - 3 in Bandhavgarh, 3 in Panna. The rest will be regular AM/PM safaris.
All permits and entrance fees.
All gratuities for the local guides, drivers, and hotel staff.
In-field and classroom instruction by pros David Swindler and Nitish Madan.

Trip Does NOT Include:

Transportation to/from your home to New Delhi, India.
Beverages besides water, tea, and coffee.
Travel/Medical/Interruption/Cancellation Insurance.
Passport and Visa Fees.
Gratuities for photo instructors.

The Fine Print:

25% deposit required to hold your spot.
Another 25% payment is due June 23, 2026.
Remaining balance is due Aug 23, 2026
If you need to cancel, a full refund less a $300 cancellation fee will be given once your spot is filled by another participant.
Travel Insurance is highly recommended for this workshop.
We cannot offer the Loyalty Discount on this workshop as it is an international collaboration.
See the full Terms and Conditions

India Wild Tigers Safari Photo Workshop Wildlife Photography

It's More Than Just Tigers

Meet Your Instructors

Kevin McNeal

Kevin McNeal is a Washington-State photographer who is passionate about photographing grand landscapes that reflect the most unique places on earth. Capturing moments of magic light and transferring this to print is the ultimate goal. His images hold a combination of perseverance, patience, and dedication to capture landscapes in fresh ways. The stories of how these images are rendered come across in the feelings the images convey.

He has traveled all over the world, shooting diverse landscapes and wildlife. His hope is to find remote places that can convey to the public that this earth is worth caring for. His award winning images can be seen in galleries and showings across the United States. He was recently invited to the Art Wolfe Art Gallery for the Environmental Photography Invitational. Kevin was the grand winner of the Landscape category for the Natures Best Magazine and was selected for the Smithsonian National Museum of History in Washington D.C. He is a regular contributor to publications like Outdoor Photographer.

Nitish Madan

Nitish Madan is a landscape and wildlife photographer based in Delhi, India, deeply committed to the cause of wildlife conservation. He specializes in private guided wildlife photography tours to Indias best known national parks.

He works closely with clients to ensure they return home with a portfolio of images that they would be proud to show to their friends, family and colleagues. He has over 500 tiger safaris under his belt.

He has been visiting national parks of India since 2002 as he has always had a deep, spiritual love of nature, wildlife and adventure. He saw his first wild tiger back in 2004 in Kanha National Park in central India. He was totally mesmerized by its beauty. After this sighting, he decided to buy a camera so he could relive those special moments to cherish those memories.

Compared to other genres of photography, wildlife photography is very challenging as you have no control over nature or animals, but that is what makes it so exciting and deeply satisfying.

His goal as a photographer is to share these jewels of nature with everyone to inspire more interest and compassion for the natural world in the hopes that they may be conserved for generations to come.