Naturalist & Birding – Day Experience

CAMP OVERVIEW

The Outback Experience is proud to present a Winter Kids Special – Naturalist and Birding day-long experience. This specially crafted one-day camp is a perfect opportunity for children to experience the best that nature has to offer.

The Outback Farm & Homestay, our own property on the edge of a gleaming lake, is the perfect gateway to experiencing the joys of birding, wildlife tracking, angling and wildlife photography.  What’s better, with wildlife photographers Phillip & Samantha Ross as your camp leaders, your child is sure to have a fun-filled time getting to explore areas of Bannerghatta seldom visited by tourists.

The campsite is situated right on the fringes of the Bannerghatta National Park. This unique park, home to wild Asiatic elephants, boasts of being the world’s closest wilderness to a metropolis. The park is richly diverse and is also home to a tiger, leopards, wild dogs, sloth bears and an array of nocturnal wanderers including the rare honey badger or ratel in addition to more commonly sighted animals such as gaur, wild boar and various species of deer. The park is also a birdwatcher’s paradise, with over 150 species of bird, including the yellow-throated bulbul and rufous-bellied eagle. Be assured to sight at least 30 species within the property.

Enrol your child for a holiday like never before and watch your kids develop into budding young naturalists.

CAMP ITINERARY

DATE: Thursday, 28th December, 2023

Arrive at the pickup point in Bangalore at 8:45 a.m, and once all the children have assembled, we’ll depart in pre-arranged transport. An hour later we arrive at the gorgeous campsite set by a lake in the forests.

After check-in, the camp instructors will introduce the property while your child enjoys a refreshing welcome drink and refreshments. Later we will get to know each other through a fun ice-breaking name game.

After the game, the camp instructors will talk to your child about ornithology and lead the group around the beautiful property to explore its avian wonders. We should come across at least 30 species over the couple of hours we spend birding.

We will also learn about camera trapping, and the camp instructors will teach your kids the perfect way to deploy one.

After working up an appetite, we’ll give in to the enticing smells coming in from the kitchen. Yes, lunch time has arrived and the chef reveals the delicacies prepared.

After a delicious lunch, the camp instructors will now give everyone a Masterclass on Wildlife Photography and help you learn to shoot great pictures, with even a smartphone.

After the photography learning session, we’ll embark on an exciting trek to a nearby hill and birdwatching trail from where we are treated to a panoramic view of the forests of Bannerghatta. From here, your child can witness an amazing sunset, click stunning landscape images using the tips and tricks learnt earlier in the day and, if lucky, sight some of Bannerghatta’s wildlife in the valleys below. It’s a great place to spend the evening and a great opportunity for the children to learn how to identify and study the diverse birdlife of Bannerghatta and how to approach birds without disturbing them. We return to the campsite for a steaming hot beverage and some refreshments while the camp instructors help put together the bird checklist and talk about wildlife conservation and the steps we can take in order to make a change.

Finally, since all good things come to an end, we bid farewell to the beautiful forests of Bannerghatta. On the way back, we reminisce about all the highlights of the day-long camp and return to the city with the memory of a leisurely day well spent.