Camp Forktail Creek

Nestled on the periphery of Corbett Tiger Reserve in Uttarakhand, India's oldest National Park and the bastion of Project Tiger, Camp Forktail Creek is an excellent place to explore and discover the flora and fauna of this region. The Camp has an in-house team of top notch professional wildlife trackers and naturalists who enable guests to understand, discover and respect the jungle and be comfortable with it.

Camp Forktail Creek offers exciting opportunities for angling, birding, game drives, elephant safaris, hikes and treks, jeep safaris and more - aided by its excellent and well trained technical staff. Also, guests can train as Mahouts (elephant handlers) in one of the Camp's most unusual and exciting programs.

Mud Huts
Camp Forktail Creek has eight spacious mud huts. Locally made from mud taken from the Camp itself, they have thick, pure mud walls and large windows to retain light and heat. The huts are comfortably furnished with furniture made of waste wood and painted with used Mobil oil.

Huts have twin or double beds with soft and warm duvets, side tables, a chest of drawers with a dressing mirror, a luggage rack or table, some lounge seating and deck chairs for the verandah. Some huts also have a shower, a writing table and large sofas that could convert by night into extra beds - making them ideal for a family of four. Each hut has a private verandah or a sun room and a fully functional toilet, with hot tap water. Some huts have thick thatched roofs and the others, tiled roofs.

Dining
The Thatch - The Thatch, an open stone structure with a large thatched roof, is the dining area. All meals in Camp are served in a  buffet and are either Continental or Indian cuisine which includes deliciously traditional Kumaoni meals as well. The chef follows an eclectic mix of recipes from family, friends and even guests! Owing to its openness and the fact that it faces one of Camp's largest bird feed areas, the Thatch tends to buzz with activity at all odd hours.

The Dhaba - The Dhaba, a popular area where tea or coffee is brewed in a fashion typical to this region, is another focal point. It is close to the campfire and houses the tandoor (clay oven in which Indian breads are baked) - the warmest place to be on chilly winter nights!

Common Guest areas
The Machan - The Machan is a double leveled structure with a lounge area on the lower floor attached to an uncovered open space with a garden bench and a stone seat under a tree. Stocked with information/ maps on Jim Corbett National Park and its environs and all sorts of books for easy holiday reading and reference, it's the best place in the Camp to relax with a book or to catch up with other guests.

The Acre - The Acre is a lovely hideout amidst dense lantana bushes for bird watching or relaxing in the hammocks/ garden bench placed there

Angling
The spring-fed, crystal clear western Ramganga is the main lifeline of Corbett Tiger Reserve. Teeming with fish and other aquatic life forms, it's one of the best spots for fishing in northern India. The protected habitat, wild surroundings and stately Sal forests are prime reasons for big fish and the healthy populated pools that the Ramganga has to offer.

Birding
The Corbett Tiger Reserve spans three distinct topographic zones - the hilly Shivaliks, Bhabar in the Patlidun valley and the swampy Terai. Elevation ranges from 400m to 1200m. With such diverse topography, it is home to an excellent variety of avifauna all year round.

Camp Forktail Creek, located on the north-eastern periphery of Corbett Tiger Reserve, provides incredible bird watching opportunities - both outside and within the camp. Camp Forktail Creek organizes a variety of bird watching trips - ranging from day walks around Camp to multi-day birding tours with a skilled bird guide in the varied habitats of Corbett, upper Himalayas and some bits of northern India.

Game drives
Game drives take place in two Tiger reserves - Corbett Tiger Reserve & Dudhwa Tiger Reserve.
Corbett Tiger Reserve is perhaps one of the few national parks in India where one can spend the whole day tracking game, and where one can stay overnight in one of the many Forest Rest Houses strewn about in the heart of the reserve.

Dudhwa Tiger Reserve is located in the north-west of Uttar Pradesh, India. From mosaic grasslands and dense Sal forests to swampy marshes, Dudhwa's terrain is as diverse as the wildlife population it harbors. Dudhwa is a wonderful bird watching destination & much of the park's avifauna is aquatic in nature and is found around Dudhwa's lakes.

Elephant Safaris
Camp Forktail Creek organizes short (two-hour) as well as multi-day safaris on elephant back, through the dense jungles of the Corbett Tiger Reserve. Multi-day elephant-back safaris are only permitted in one particular area of the Tiger Reserve, not famous for its game because of the terrain, but with good moist forests, great for birds.

Jeep Safaris
Imagine driving in a rugged open jeep into the middle of a forest, and breaking camp in an ancient bungalow amidst the wild.. developed for visitors who love adventure and wildlife, Camp Forktail Creek's Himalayan Forest Rest House Tours combine the best of jungle safaris with the unbeatable experience of staying in atmospheric bungalows built in the days of the Raj.

Himalayan Forest Rest House Tours are easily customized to suit the profile and interests of the people traveling - be they bird watching, wildlife, Himalayan views, old colonial architecture, age old Kumaoni temples, discovering the way of life in small local hamlets, solitude or peace and tranquility.

Multiple Day Hikes
One of the best ways to experience the landscape is through hikes, long and short. Camp Forktail Creek is located close to the ridge where Jim Corbett shot the infamous 'man-eater of Mohan' in the early  1900's. With trained staff and a naturalist from Camp Forktail Creek, guests can retrace the trail Jim Corbett walked on.

Another lovely hike in the winter months is from Camp to Nainital via Pangot. This forest trek offers huge diversity in bird and mammal life. And last, the most cherished walks while being based at Camp, are the long day hikes, sometimes from sunrise to sunset in the forests adjoining the Camp.

Mahout Training Programmes
Mahouts, people who train and care for elephants, have a mystical relationship with the animals they live and work with. Camp Forktail Creek is probably the only outfit in the region to have created a Mahout Training Program for people who want a deeper understanding of elephants.

There will be one elephant for every two guests from the beginning till the end of the course. Guests should expect to spend most days with their elephant, gently building trust with it. They will be taught how to communicate (verbally and physically), feed, bathe and care for the mighty mammal. By the end of the program, guests will realize that each elephant has a distinct personality, moods, likes, dislikes and so on.

Camp Forktail Creek is in the middle of the jungle and does not have electricity so that it doesn't disturb any wildlife. Here's a handy list of things to carry that could help you enjoy your stay better.

• Clothing in Jungle colours such as beige, brown, khaki and green as they are least disturbing to the environment
• Flashlight/ torch with batteries/ extra batteries
• Shoes/ sandals made for easy walking
• Sweaters, jackets and warm clothes for the winter months
• Light cottons for the summer months
• Rain gear for monsoons
• Photo identity card (passport for foreign nationals and driving license or PAN for Indians)
• Binoculars
• Personal medicines (a decent hospital is far away)
• Personal toiletries
• Insect repellent
• Sunscreen, sunshade/ cap, sun glasses
• Camera, film rolls, batteries/ extra batteries
• A small backpack/ daypack for day hikes/ excursions
• Water bottle to refill filtered water from Camp

Tips For Responsible Travel to Corbett Tiger Reserve

• Do not buy, collect of trade in any wildlife products. It's frequently illegal and can lead to prosecution.
• Adhere to the national and local regulations both inside and outside protected areas.
• Your park guide is local and knowledgeable. Please ensure that your driver obeys him as he is upholding the park laws.
• Do not disturb wildlife or ask your guiding staff, mahout or driver to get you closer than is necessary or advisable to wild animals. Off road driving is illegal in the parks.
• Make as little noise as possible in the park areas, especially when watching wildlife. The quieter you are, the more you and others around you will see.
• Avoid dropping litter at all times.
• Use water sparingly and do not pollute with harmful detergents.
• Always turn of lights when exiting your room.
• Dress appropriately and in subdued colors when watching wildlife. 
• Do not be intrusive when taking photographs and always ask permission.
• Don't engage in overly aggressive bargaining for souvenirs. Don't short-change on tips for services.
• Enrich your experience and support the local economy by hiring local guides recommended by local tour operators.

Corbett Tiger Reserve is India's first and one of her finest Tiger Reserves. Named after the hunter and conservationist Jim Corbett who played a key role in its establishment. The Park covers an area of 1318.54 square kilometers and includes within it Corbett National Park (520.82 square kilometers), Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary(301.18 square kilometers) and Reserve Forest (496.54 square kilometers).

Nestling in the foothills of the mighty Himalayas, it lies mainly in the hilly districts of Nainital, Almora and Pauri Garhwal in Uttarakhand. Three distinct topographic zones lie within it - the hilly Shivaliks, Bhabar in the Patlidun valley and the swampy Terai. These support an incredibly diverse range of wildlife. Corbett Tiger Reserve is irrigated by three major rivers - Ramganga, Sonanadi and Palain.