Kaav Safari Lodge
Kabini, Karnataka.
Along the very edge of the Nagarhole wildlife sanctuary, lies KAAV--a luxury homestay steeped in the spirit of rare solitude of the forest. A cradle of luxury, but coloured by the local landscape, KAAV offers the experience of a lifetime. Being right by the jungle, you'll hear alarm calls and other sounds of the wild even while ensconced in our care.

As good jungle denizens, we leave only the smallest footprint, and also find ways to go back and wipe our tracks clean. At Kaav, we want to go beyond low-impact tourism and achieve true sustainability with annual plantings of endemic flora so as to maintain the biodiversity of the region, and by working with local communities so they benefit from our activities.

The resort uses renewable energy sources wherever possible, and we recharge groundwater, letting us put in more than we take out. A reserve osmosis system provides potable water at a low energy expenditure, and we discourage the use of plastics. We understand sustainability to be managing our resources so future generations may also wander wonderstruck under a canopy of trees, sighting wild animals and birds, and enjoying fresh, unpolluted air.

All the food waste is biologically digested in a bio gas plant and the methane gas produced is used for cooking.
 
 
The Kabini river winds its way from the Wayanad district in Kerala to join the Kaveri in Karnataka. Along the way it feeds the Kabini reservoir, the shores of which form one of the best, most accessible places in the country to sight wildlife. In the summer, animals are drawn to the water as well as the lush meadows on the fringes of the reservoir.

The river flows along the edge of the famous Nagarhole National Park and Bandipur National Park, the top places in India, probably Asia, to spot herds of the Asian elephant. Also, in 2011 Karnataka's tiger population overtook that of Madhya Pradesh, making it the the number one tiger state in the country. Visitors have a great chance of seeing big cats in the wild, as well as sightings of sambar, langurs, sloth bears, chital, crocodiles, pythons, leopards and over 250 varieties of birds.

This region is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, an area of 5,522 square kilometres in the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka. The density of tree cover and animal life, as well as the number of streams and waterfalls, make Kabini a magical part of the reserve.
 
Facilities
Imagine hot baths, comfortable beds and great service within earshot of animal alarm calls from the jungle. KAAV Safari Lodge, set on the edge of the incredible Nagarhole Wildlife Sanctuary, offers luxurious homestyle accommodation.

The name of the resort comes from 'kavu', the sacred grove, that was traditionally a part of large homesteads in Kerala. These areas of protected jungle were for meditation; left undisturbed they became the abode for various species of animals and birds. Think of KAAV as your own little piece of jungle, as comfortable or as wild as you want to make it.

We believe in the idea that a minimal number of guests would have a lesser impact on the land and its flora and fauna and also makes for a close intimate experience for the guest.

Facilities include:
Four well appointed rooms with private decks
Common Lounge, Viewing Deck, Alfresco Dining, Swimming Pool, Barbecue on request.
 
Activities
1. Jeep safari (6:00-9:00am and 4:00-6:00pm)
Take a guided tour into the forest on a vehicle designed to give you great views of the wildlife. Look out for large herbivores such as elephant, bison, sambar and bonnet macaques. If you're lucky, you might see one of the predators: tiger, leopard or wild dog. And of course there are the over 250 species of bird endemic to the region.

2. Boat safari (6:00-8.30am and 4:00-6:00pm)
A trip out on the river in one of our boats offers views of two parks, one on each bank. With Nagarhole on one side and Bandipur on the other, there's good viewing of all the animals you'd see on a land safari, as well as sightings of marsh crocodiles, herons and other water birds.

3. Cycling
We have four adult and two children's cycles for trips into the village. The geared mountain bi-cycles make easy work of riding on our rough jungle roads.

4. Coracle ride
Take a ride out on the Kabini reservoir backwaters on this small round boat used by the locals for fishing. Coracles are thrilling because passengers are close to the water and the boats are very manoeuverable. They are quiet and don't disturb the water much, so is a good way to see birds up close.

5. Nature Walk
Experience nature in its full splendour by taking a guided walk along the edge of the park or by the banks of the reservoir.Watch your senses come alive as you see butterflies floating around the flowers and eagles soaring the thermals looking for prey.Hear birds chirping in dense tree canopies or just breathe in the fresh air and relax in nature.
Wear sturdy shoes, dress in earthy colours and take along a hat and drinking water.If you are a keen birdwatcher or photographer your binoculars and camera are essential equipment

6. Birding
Birdwatching in Kabini is a special experience with the wide variety of around 300 species of birds that can be found there.
Birders can take a guided nature walk along the edge of the park or a jeep safari in the forest to observe many of theendemic species such as the Malabar Pied Hornbill, Nilgiri Flycatcher and the Malabar Parakeet while water birds and waders are best seen on a boat safari.
 
Wildlife
Nagarhole forms part of the Nilgiri Biosphere whose diversity in vegetation make it one of the best elephant reserves in the country. It is home to the largest congregation of asiatic elephants in the world.In the summer months you can see herds in the hundreds at the reservoir quenching their thirst.

There are also a high density of tigers and leopards in the park due to the healthy prey base and excellent habitat. The other important carnivores found here are the wild dog(dhole), sloth bear and hyena. The herbivores are spotted deer, gaur, sambar, barking deer, four-horned antelope, wild boar and elephant.

Other mammals include common langur, bonnet macaque, jungle cat, slender loris, leopard-cat, civet cat, mongoose, common otter and pangolin.
 
Birding
Birdwatching in Kabini is a special experience with the wide variety of around 300 species of birds that can be found there.

Birders can take a guided nature walk along the edge of the park or a jeep safari in the forest to observe many of the endemic species such as the Malabar Pied Hornbill, Nilgiri Flycatcher and the Malabar Parakeet while water birds and waders are best seen on a boat safari.

Resident-Green & Resident Endemic-Brown, Painted Francolin(Francoinus pictus), Grey Francolin(Francolinus pondicerianus), Rain Quail(Coturnix coromandelica), Jungle Bush Quail(Perdicula asiatica), Painted Bush Quail(Perdicula eythrorhyncha), Yellow legged Buttonquail(Turnix tanki), Barred Buttonquail(Turnix suscitator), Red Spurfowl(Galloperdix spadicea), Painted Spurfowl(Galloperdix lunulata), Grey Junglefowl(Gallus sonneratii), Indian Peafowl(Pavo cristatus), Lesser Whistling Duck(Dendrocygna javanica), Cotton Pygmy Goose(Nettapus coromandelianus), Spot Billed Duck(Anas poecilorhyncha), Rufous woodpecker(Celeus brachyurus), White-Bellied Woodpecker(Dryocopus javensis), Brown capped pygmy woodpecker(Dendrocopus nanus), Yellow crowned woodpecker(Dendrocopus mahrattensis), Lesser yellownape(Picus chlorolophus), Streak Throated woodpecker(Picus xanthopygaeus), Common Flameback(Dinopium javanense), Black rumped Flameback(Dinopium benghalense), Greater Flameback(Chrysocolaptes lucidus), White Naped Woodpecker(Chrysocolaptes festivus), Brown Headed Barbet(Megalaima zeylanica), White Cheeked Barbet(Megalaima veridis), Crimson Fronted Barbet(Megalaima rubricapilla), Coppersmith Barbet(Megalaima haemacephala), Malabar Grey Hornbill(Ocyceros griacus), Indian Grey Hornbill(Ocyceros birostris), Malabar Pied Hornbill(Anthracoceros coronatus)), Common Hoopoe(Upupa epops), Indian Roller(Coracias benghalensis), Common Kingfisher(Alcedo atthis), Blue eared kingfisher(Alcedo meninting), Stork Billed Kingfisher(Halcyon capensis), White Throated Kingfisher(Halcyon smyrnensis), Pied Kingfisher(Ceryle rudis), Blue Bearded Bee-Eater(Nyctyornis athertoni), Green Bee-Eater(Merops Orientalis), Chestnut Headed Bee-Eater(Merops leschenaulti), Pied Cuckoo(Clamator jacobinus), Common Hawk Cuckoo(Hierococcyx varius), Indian Cuckoo(Cuculus micropterus), Grey Bellied Cuckoo(Cacomantis passerinus), Asian Koel(Eudynamys scolopacea), Blue Faced Malkoha(Phaenicophaeus varidirostri), Sirkeer Malkoha(Phaenicophaeus leschenaultii), Greater Coucal(Centropus sinensis),
 
 
Vernal Hanging Parrot(Loriculus vernalis), Rose ringed Parakeet(Psittacula krameri), Plum Headed Parakeet(Psittacula cyanocephala), Malabar Parakeet(Psittacula columboides), Asian Palm Swift(Cypsiurus balasienensis),House Swift(Apus affinis), Crested Tree Swift(Hemiprocne coronata), Barn Owl(Tyto alba), Oriental Scops Owl(Otus sunia), Collared Scops Owl(Otus bakkamoena), Euriassian Eagle Owl(Bubo bubo), Brown Fish Owl(Ketupa zeylonensis), Spot Bellied Eagle Owl(Bubo nipalensis), Mottled Wood Owl(Strix ocellata), Spotted Owlet(Athene brama), Jungle Owlet(Glaucidium radiatum), Gey Nightjar(Caprimulgus indicus), Jerdons Nightjar(Caprimulgus atripennis), Indian Nightjar(Caprimulgus asiaticus), Savanna Nightjar(Caprimulgus affinis), Rock Pigeon(Columba livia), Nilgiri Wood Pigeon(Columba elphinstonii), Green Imperial Pigeon(Ducula anea), Yellow footed Green Pigeon(Treron phoenicoptera), Pompadour Green Pigeon(Treron pompadora), Laughing Dove(Streptopelia senegalensis), Spotted Dove(Streptopelia chinensis), Eurassian Collared Dove(Streptopelia decaocto), Emerald Dove(Chalcophaps indica), White Brested Waterhen(Amaurornis phoenicarus), Purple Swamphen(Prophyrio porphyrio), Common Moorhen(Gallnula chloropus), Common Coot(Fulica atra), Black Winged Stilt(Himantopus Himantopus), Pheasant Tailed Jacana(Hydrophasianus chirurgus), Common Ringed Plover(Charadrius hiaticula), Yellow Wattled Lapwing(Vanellus malarbaricus), Red Wattled Lapwing(Vanellus indicus), River Tern(Sterna aurantia), Black Bellied Tern(Sterna acuticauda), Black Shouldered Kite(Elanus caeruleus), Black Kite(Milvus migrans), Brahminy Kite(Haliastur indus), White Rumped Vulture(Gyps bengalensis), Long Billed Vulture(Gyps indicus), Red Headed Vulture(Sarcogyps calvus), Short Toed Snake Eagle(Circaetus gallicus), Crested Serpent Eagle(Spilornis cheela), Black Eagle(Lctinaepus malayensis), Oriental Honey Buzzard(Pernis ptilorhyncus), White Eyed Buzzard(Butastur teesa), Changeable Hawk Eagle(Spizaetus cirrhatus), Bonelli's Eagle(Hieraaetus fasciatus), Peregrine Falcon(Falco peregrinus), Red Necked Falcon(Falco chicquera), Little Grebe(Tachybaptus ruficollis), Darter(Anhing amelanogaster), Little Cormorant(Phalacrocorax niger), Indian Cormorant(Phalacrocorax fuscicollis), Great Cormorant(Phalacrocorax carbo), Little Egret(Egretta garzetta), Intermediate Egret(Mesophoyx intermedia), Great Egret(Casmerodius albus), Cattle Egret(Bubulcus ibis), Indian Pond Heron(Ardeola grayii), Purple Heron(Ardea purpurea), Little Heron(Butorides striatus), Black Crowned Night Heron(Nycticorax Nycticorax), Black headed ibis(Threskiornis melanocephalus), Black Ibis(Pseudibus papillosa), Eurasian Spoonbill(Platalea leucorodia), Painted Stork(Mycteria leucocephala), Asian Openbill(Anastomus oscitans), Wooly Necked Stork(Ciconia episcopus), Blue Winged Leafbird(Chloropsis cochinchinensis), Golden Fronted Leafbird(Chloropsis aurifrons), Indian Pitta(Pitta brachyura), Bay backed Shrike(Lanius vittatus), Rufous Treepie(Dendrocitta vagabunda), House Crow(Corvus Splendens), Large Billed Crow(Corvus macrorhynchos), Ashy Woodswallow(Artamus fuscus), Black Hooded Oriole(Oriolus xanthornus), Large Cuckooshrike(Coracina macei), Black Headed Cuckooshrike(Coracina melanoptera), Small Minivet(Pericrocotus cinnamomeus), Scarlet Minivet(Pericrocotus flammeus), White throated fantail(Rhipidura albicollis), White browed fantail(Rhipiduara aureola), Black Drongo(Dicrurus macrocercus), Bronze Drongo(Dicrurus aeneus), White Bellied Drongo(Dicrurus caerulescens), Greater Racket tailed Drongo(Dicrurus paradiseus), Common Iora(Aegithina tiphia), Asian Paradise Flycatcher(Terpsiphone paradisi), Large Woodshrike(Tephrodornsis gularis), Orange Headed Thrush(Zoothera citrina), Nilgiri Flycatcher(Eumyias albicaudata), White Bellied Blue Flycatcher(Cyornis pallipes), Tickells Blue Flycatcher(Cyornis tickelliae), Oriental Magpie Robin(Copsychus saularis), Indian Robin(Saxicoloides fulicata), White Rumped Shama(Copsychus malabaricus), Pied Bushcat(Saxicola caprata), Brahminy starling(Sturnus pagodarum), Common Myna(Acridotheres Tristis), Jungle Myna(Acridotheres fuscus), Hill Myna (Gracula religiosa), Chestnut Bellied Nuthatch(Sitta castanea), Velvet Fronted Nuthatch(Sitta frontalis), Great Tit(Parus major), Wire Tailed Swallow(Hirundo smithii), Red Rumped Swallow(Hirundo daurica), Red Whiskered Bulbul(Pycnonotus jocosus), Red vented Bulbul(Pycnonotus cafer), White Browed Bulbul, Pycnonotus luteolus), Grey Brested Prinia(Prinia hodgsonii), Plain Prinia(Prinia inornata), Ashy Prinia(Prinia socialis), Zitting Cisticola(Cisticola juncidis), Oriental White Eye(Zosterops palpebrosus), Common Tailorbird(Orthotomus sutorius), Rufous Babbler(Turdoides subrufus), Puff-Throated Babbler(Pellorneum ruficeps), Indian Scimitar Babbler(Pomatorhinus horsfieldii),Tawny Bellied Babbler(Dumetia hyperyhra), Yellow eyed Babbler(Chrysomma sinense), Jungle Babbler(Turdoides striatus), Yellow billed Babbler(Turdoides affinis), Large grey Babbler(Turdoides malcolmi), Ashy Crowned sparrow lark(Eremopterix grisea), Rufous winged bushLark(Mirafra assamica), Malabar Lark(Galerida malabarica), Oriental Skylark(Alauda gulgula), Thick Billed Flowerpecker(Dicaeum agile), Pale Billed Flowerpecker(Dicaeum erythrorynchos), Plain Flowerpecker(Dicaeum concolor), Purple Rumped Sunbird(Nectarinia zeylonica), Purple Sunbird(Nectarinia asiatica), Crimson Backed Sunbird(Nectarina minima), House Sparrow(Passer domesticus), Chestnut Shouldered Petronia(Petronia xanthocollis), White Browed Wagtail(Motacilla Maderaspatensis), Paddyfield pipit(Anthus rufulus), Nilgiri Pipit(Anthus nilghiriensis), Baya Weaver Bird(Ploceus philippinus), Red Avadavat(Amandava Amandava), Indian Silverbill(Lonchura malabarica), Scaly Brested Munia(Lonchura punctulata), Black Headed Munia(Lonchura malacca).

Winter Visitors
Common Teal(Anas crecca), Garganey(Anas querquedela), Northern Pintail(Anas acuta), Northern Shoveler(Anas clypeata), Blue Tailed Bee-Eater(Merops philippinus), Pintail Snipe(Gallinago stenura), Common Snipe(Gallingo Gallingo), Spotted Redshank(Tringa erythropus), Common Redshank(Tringa totanus), Marsh Sandpiper(Tringa stagnatilis), Common Sandpiper(Actitis hypoleucos), Kentish Plover(Charadrius alexandrinus), Osprey(Pandion haliaetus), Eurassian Marsh Harrier(Circus aeruginosus), Pallid Harrier(Circus marcourus), Montagus Harrier(Circus pygargus), Shikra(Accipiter badius), Booted Eagle(Hieraaetus pennatus), Common Kestrel(Falco tinnunculcus), Grey Heron(Ardea cinerea), Brown Shrike(Lanius cristatus), Long Tailed Shrike(Lanius Schach), Eurasian Golden Oriole(Oriolus Oriolus), Black Naped Oriole(Oriolus chinensis), Ashy Drongo(Dicrurus leucophaeus), Blue Capped Rock Thrush(Monticola cinclorhynchus), Blue Rock Thrush(Monticola solitarius), Asian Brown Flycatcher(Muscicapa dauurica), Red Throated Flycather(Ficedula parva), Verditer Flycatcher(Eumyias thalassina), Chestnut tailed Starling(Sturnus malabaricus), Barn Swallow(Hirundo rustica), Blythe"s Reed Warbler(Acrocephalus dumetorum), Greenish Warbler(Phylloscopus trochiloides), Forest wagtail(Dendronanthus indicus), White Wagtail(Motacilla alba), Yellow Wagtail(Motacilla Flava), Grey Wagtail(Motacilla canerea), Rosy Starling(Sturnus roseus).
   
Tele : +91-11-41612107, 26823836. Mobile: 9810002772, 9910002772.