CAMP OVERVIEW

The Outback Experience proudly presents its most special and unique offering, the Young Naturalist Wildlife Camp. This specially crafted two-day camp is a perfect opportunity for children between the ages of 10 to 16, to experience the best that nature and wildlife in Bannerghatta has to offer.

Located at The Outback Farm & Homestay, our own property on the edge of a gleaming lake, this is the perfect gateway to experiencing the joys of birding, wildlife tracking, angling and wildlife photography. What’s better, with award-winning wildlife photographer Phillip Ross as your camp leader, 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 tigersleopardswild dogssloth 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.

Come join us and enrol your child for this one-of-a-kind camping experience!

CAMP TAKEAWAYS

With an array of activities ranging from angling, wildlife tracking, birdwatching, singing around the campfire, stargazing and fun nature-based games, your child is sure to have an unforgettable camping experience. The specifics of the camp include:

  • Gaining a comprehensive understanding of wildlife
  • Good bird and mammal sightings
  • A very luxurious stay and delicious meals at The Outback Farm & Homestay, Bannerghatta
  • Learning exciting new skills
  • Fascinating activities such as angling and bird-hide photography
  • A fun-filled great holiday
  • Expert guidance from wildlife photographer Phillip Ross

CAMP ITINERARY

Dates : 27th to 28th December 2023

DAY 1:

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, Phillip will introduce the property while your child enjoys a refreshing welcome drink, and later we will get to know each other through a fun ice-breaking name game.

After the game, Phillip 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 hour we spend birding. Once back at the rooms, we’ll give in to the enticing smells coming in from the kitchen. Yes, lunch time has arrived and the chef will reveal the delicacies prepared.

After a delicious lunch, it’s time for the children to pull out their cameras and a presentation on nature photography will be conducted. Phillip will teach everyone about ideal camera settings for shooting wildlife, how to carefully approach and photograph wildlife in order to capture fantastic images and also the best ways to compose a beautiful image.

Phillip will now lead the group to the bird photography hide, where your child can practice what they’ve learnt from the photography lesson, and get to see and photograph birds like never before.

After the hide photography session, we’ll disembark on an exciting trek to a nearby hill 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 and, if lucky, sight some of Bannerghatta’s wildlife in the valleys below. It’s a great place to spend the evening and practice what they’ve learnt from the photography lesson earlier. On the way down, your child will learn about camera trapping and set up a camera trap, hoping that some of Bannerghatta’s nocturnal wanderers chose to walk by sometime during the night or in the wee hours of the morning.

Once back at the campsite, we will have a fun entertainment and sing-along session while enjoying the campfire, and hit the sack soon after a scrumptious dinner.

DAY 2:

We’ll awake to the sweet calls of the birds found within the campsite and walk out of our rooms to watch the mist rising over the lake and the sun rays lighting up the surrounding forests. It’s time to grab the fishing rods and bait, and head down to the water’s edge. Phillip will now introduce the art of angling to everyone, and your child will learn about the various fishing methods, types of tackle and species of fish found in the lake, and how to cast, set the hook and carefully retrieve the catch without hurting the fish. Please remember that all fish caught will be released back into the lake.

After a working up an appetite hooking onto some of the monsters in the lake, we rush back to the campsite to devour the breakfast buffet.

After a hearty breakfast, we’ll leave to retrieve the camera trap. What may have crossed the trap during the night? Once the camera trap is checked, we’ll continue on our birdwatching trail. This is a great opportunity for the children to learn how to identify and study the diverse birdlife and how to approach birds without disturbing them.

During the last hour of the camp, Phillip will 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 beautiful Bannerghatta. On the way back we’ll reminisce about all the highlights of the camp and return to Bangalore as young naturalists!

COST & TERMS

How much does it cost?

Individuals

INR 8,900/-

per participant(Exclusive of 5% GST)

Pals

INR 16,800/-

for two participants(Exclusive of 5% GST)

Outbacker

INR 7,900/-

per participant(Exclusive of 5% GST)

Outbacker: Participated in at least three previous The Outback Experience camps or workshops

Inclusions

  • Shared accommodation in luxury rooms
  • Road transfers from Bangalore, to and from the destination
  • All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and hot beverages (coffee and tea)
  • All camera and entry fees

Exclusions

  • 5% GST
  • Any extra meals and beverages ordered
  • Airfare, if applicable
  • Anything that is not expressly mentioned in the inclusions list

Payment Terms

100% payment in advance for confirmation of booking.

Payment can be made via bank transfer to our account. Please inform us of the reference number once the payment is made.

Cancellation Fees

  • 10% outside 30 days before the camp
  • 25% between 29 and 22 days before the camp
  • 50% between 21 and 15 days before the camp
  • 75% between 14 and 8 days before the camp
  • 100% within 7 days before the camp

Have questions about this camp?

We hope you'll find your answers here.

Who is this camp for?

Any child or teen between the ages of 10 and 16 is welcome to enrol for this camp. There are no other eligibility criteria.

My child is older or younger than 10 and 16. Can an exception be made?

The age group of the children has been carefully chosen keeping in mind the content and style of delivery. However, if your child is outside the age group and you’re interested in admitting him or her, please talk to us.

How do I make the payment?

We have multiple payment options available from which you may choose one as per your convenience. Details will be shared when we receive your enquiry.

How many participants can be expected to attend?

A maximum of 12 children are expected. The Outback Experience’s USP is to provide as much individual attention and quality time to each participant as possible and thus the camp strength has been kept low. We do not cater to very large groups per batch!

Where are we staying and what sort of accommodation and food can we expect?

We will be staying at The Outback Farm & Homestay in Bannerghatta. The farm & homestay is situated right on the periphery of the park and overlooks the jungle. All participants will be staying in ultra-luxurious and well furnished rooms or tents. The food served is a delicious buffet spread of local, Indian and Anglo-Indian delicacies.

What all items should my child bring to this camp?

Once you register and pay for the camp, the camp instructor will send out the camp advice and general guidelines to every participant. This document will contain all the necessary information, a checklist of items to carry, etc.

Will my child be safe during the camp?

Don’t worry at all! Your child’s safety is of paramount importance to us. The camp instructor is well trained with regards to child protection and health and safety.

How do I register my child?

Fill up the form in the ‘BOOK NOW’ section and we’ll get back to you with all the necessary details in a jiffy.

BOOK NOW!

Please submit your details, to enrol for this event.

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