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In search of the carnivorous plants - October 2021

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  3. In search of the carnivorous plants - October 2021

General Information

Matheran is probably one of the most frequently visited weekend getaways for the Mumbaikars. Situated at an altitude of 2625 feet above the sea level, it is one of the most approachable hill stations being just 90 km away from the maddening crowd. With the onset of the monsoon, Matheran becomes a mesmerizing biodiversity hotspot for the wildlife photographer. Apart from the amazing Herpetofauna, Matheran also exhibits a mesmerizing floral diversity and one of the most exciting of all are Drosera indica, the insectivorous plant, a macro photographer’s delight. DCP Expeditions team is organizing a thrilling one night two days macro photography and biodiversity camp at Matheran, where, in addition to photographing the beautiful herpetofauna of the place, the team will also be led by our field biologists “in search of the carnivorous plants”.

Possible biodiversity

Common Vine snake
Common wolf snake
Checkered Keelback
Bamboo pit viper
Kokan Bush Frog
Fungoid frog
Wrinkled frog
Deccan banded gecko
Brook’s gecko
Spotted Gecko
Tarantula (Yellow Thigh Spider)
A wide variety of wild flowers

and the elusive “Drosera indica”                

and ofcourse, unlimited landscape opportunities with lush greenery all around.

Itinerary

Scheduled dates - 2nd-3rd October 2021

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.

Gallery
Getting Ready

The following safety kit is provided free to all registered participants

 

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.
DO's & DONT's
  1. Maintain social distancing with other participants.
  2. Use mask and face shield all the time.
  3. Sanitize your hand frequently.
  4. Alcohol is not permitted.
  5. Carry Personal medicines if any.
  6. Be humble fellow photographers.
  7. Do not litter the place.
Field Learnings 

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

 

DCP Expert

Yogesh Chavan, a graduate from JJ School of Applied Arts, apart from being a visualizer, a poet, a writer and an actor, he is a full time Yoga trainer and Acupressure Therapist. He is also a skilled outdoor adventure sports trainer. He has authored the popular book "Matheran - A Practical Guide". Many of his images have drawn considerable popularity in many publications including BNHS CEC and MTDCs quarterly magazine - Maharashtra Unlimited. He has sound knowledge of the biodiversity around and currently engaged at Saguna baug on an Agro-Tourism outfit. He is associated in the DCP panel as a Panel Expert.

 

Stay

We will be staying at Springwoods Heritage in twin sharing basis with all safety measures. Hotel is well sanitized before we check-in and in between. To avoid cross contamination and to keep social distancing beds are placed accordingly. Hotel staff are well-trained and keeping social distance. 

Package Cost

Rs. 7500 per head inclusive of all taxes (Accommodation - twin 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)

Cancellation policy

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

 

Registration
Please click on the 'Register for Workshop' tab on the top / bottom right corner of this page to register yourself. Once you fill in your details and click submit, you will be redirected to the online payment page. Your registration is completed and confimred only after a successful payment process. In case of any difficulty, please connect with us through any of the following route Land line: 022-61818464  Fax: 022-61214950 Mail: info@dcpexpeditions.com  Website: www.dcpexpeditions.com
 

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Contact info

  • Address:
    Regus Platinum Business Centre, 13 Platinum Techno Park, Sec. 30A, Vashi, Navi Mumbai - 400705
  • Phone number:
    +91 226 1818 464
  • E-mail:
    info@dcpexpeditions.com
  • Working hours:
    Mon. - Fri. 08.30 am - 06.00 pm; Weekend 08.30 am - 01.00 pm

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Testimonials

  • My association with DCP is about two years old. During this time the nurturing and attention that I have recieved from some of the top wildlife photo artists and photo journalists has been an unparallelled experience. The warmth of 'family' along wit... Read More

    Avatar Tanmay haldar
    2014-02-25
  • Though I purchased my 1st DSLR in March-2013 but the real fun began only after I acquired the basics from Caesar Sir.

    The mania and the madness started on 29/10/13 at 9.00am – event - Basic Photography Workshop by Dr Caesar Sengupt... Read More

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    2014-02-11
  • DCP is the first institution that I know of that's offering a course in wildlife photography. The faculty is a group of dedicated experts who love to share their knowledge without holding back. The teaching staff put their life and soul in passing on... Read More

    Avatar Rohinton mehta
    2014-02-07
  • DCP for me has been a welcome boon. I was always an avid traveler who captured those wonderful moments through my point & shoot. It was only when I joined DCP for its wildlife & macro workshop in 2013 (3rd batch) did I realize that there is more to p... Read More

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    2014-02-06
  • I was a student of DCP's first batch of Wildlife Photography Complete Learning Course (WPCLC), and those 8 weeks really changed the way I looked at Wildlife Photography. It gave me insights of making of best Wildlife Images. The course content was aw... Read More

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    2014-02-05
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