In search of the carnivorous plants - September 2018

Scheduled dates - 22nd and 23rd September 2018

Itinerary

Matheran was declared an ecosensitive region by the union environment ministry and is called a health sanatorium. The only form of automobile allowed in Matheran is an ambulance operated by the municipality. It is clean, green and vast. Landscapes spreading till the horizon and the vastness of the valleys is just mesmerizing

Day 1

This camp is planned within the core internal hotspots of Matheran. The shuttle mini train from Aman Lodge station (near Dasturi naka) takes you to Matheran station. Walk backwards after getting down at Matheran station to reach Springwoods Heritage, our resort (about 5 - 10 minutes walk). The camp starts at 10 am on Day 1, i.e. Saturday. Participants are requested to reach Matheran on their own.

After an initial formal introduction of the team, our skipper will explain about the camp plan and also on the biodiversity of Matheran. Lunch will be arranged at the resort. After lunch, we will go out for exploring the flora and fauna of the region till it is evening, when we come back to the resort for a tea break and an informal discussion on the photographs clicked. The most thrilling experience in the itinerary are the evening and the night trails. We recommend to wear protective footwear (Gumboot or similar) and carry fully charged torches or head lamps. We also advise to carry raingears – both for yourself and your equipments.

The trail starts at 6 pm and we shall come back to the resort by 8.30 pm for dinner. Post dinner, we shall have another 2 hours of night trail looking for various species. We will mainly look for Common Vine snake, Common wolf snake, Checkered Keelback, Bamboo Pit Viper, the famous, very colorful Fungoid frog, Wrinkled frog, Kokan Bush Frog, Deccan banded gecko, Brook’s gecko and Tarantulas. We make our best efforts to create an environment suitable for wildlife photography in the wild. However, we cannot guarantee the availability of the species in the wild at any given time.

Day 2

After having breakfast, we will checkout from the resort and move towards the destination – “in search of the carnivorous plants”. It is nearly a 4 - 5 km walk, so travel light. We will try to make arrangements of keeping the extra luggage at a secure custody so that we can do the walk only with our camera, accessories and rain gears. We will reach Dasturi naka for lunch at MTDC resort and then leave Matheran by 2.00 pm.

Things to carry

1. Carrying your macro lens is a primary need. However, there are good opportunities to use wide angle lenses for landscapes as well. 
2. Carry fully charged batteries for your camera / flash.
3. Carry battery charger. Carry extra pack of camera batteries
4. Carry backup memory cards / HDD storage drives, Laptop
5. Fill your camera bag with silica gel to protect your gadgets from moisture. They are available in chemist shops. 
6. You must carry headlights / torches for the night search. Headlights make your both hands free to operate your camera. 
7. We also advise you to carry protective footwear - gumboots are best. These boots give enormous confidence while walking through the forest floor or marshy areas. In case you are reluctant to use Gum Boots, do carry tough shoes (preferably covering upto ankle).
8. Carry Leech socks and way to use them will be demonstrated during workshops
9. Do carry protective rain gears for yourself and for your equipment. We find Ponchos very good
10. Carry basic first aid along with you. Carry regular medicines if you are on medication. Carry Odomos to keep you protected from mosquito bites. Carry Permite cream to keep you protected from tick bites.

On field learning is said to be one of the best methods of improving your skillsets. Our skipper will hand hold you at every possible step for a better understanding of perspectives, camera controls and how to make use of the best opportunities to get better images. The training will focus on the following

1. How to approach Wildlife in the field
2. Exposure control in field under difficult light conditions
3. Use of external lights and creative wildlife photography
4. Framing and composition in the field
5. Ethics in Wildlife Photography

We will be staying at Springwoods Heritage, 46 Kasturba Road, Near Nehru Bhavan, Matheran. Accommodation is on twin or triple sharing basis (separate room for ladies).

Rs. 5500 per head inclusive of all taxes (Accommodation - twin / triple sharing)

*To know charges for foreign nationals please write to info@dcpexpeditions.com

Cost includes:

1. Matheran forest entry fee
2. One night two days stay at Springwoods Heritage resort
3. One dinner, one breakfast, two lunches and three tea breaks
4. One session of night trail at Matheran and onsite macro photography.
5. All Taxes and service charges.

Cost does not include:

1. Mumbai – Matheran – Mumbai travel expense
2. Any kind of insurance, Medical or/and Emergency Charges.
3. Any extra meals not included in the above itinerary

Note: Participants are free to arrive directly at the Hotel on Day 1 anytime between 10 am to 12 noon (reach before lunch time)

1. All cancellations before 30 days of the event date - 100% refund
2. All cancellations between 20 - 30 days of the event date - 50% refund
3. All cancellations within 20 days of the event date - No refund possible