Wildlife Learning Expeditions
Docendo Discimus - We learn by teaching

Discovery Journeys® - Introduction
The Discovery family has been engaged in organising tours for over a century and in its new avatar as Discovery Journeys since 1991. Being innovative, it reinvents itself with changing times and this characteristic excellence to adapt itself to meet new challenges ensures a high degree and quality of services in all spheres of tour organisation. Now, furthering the age old legacy of exceptional services to its clients the Discovery family launches its new venture for the discerning traveller - the Discovery Journeys Wildlife Learning Expeditions®.

Perceptive Traveller
It has been observed that experienced travellers seek to fulfil specific desires rather than take a country or region by storm and absorb as much as possible, as quickly as possible. The growing demands of the experienced traveller for all things cultural, exotic, and untrammelled by fellow tourists has created enormous demand for specialty trips and tours. The most popular specialty tours are related to nature oriented outdoor activities.

Increasingly growing global awareness on environmental issues has had its effect on the tourism industry as well, resulting in the emergence of "ecotourism". Concerned with depleting natural environments, an "eco-tourist" wants to visit Rwanda to catch sight of the last of the mountain gorillas; the African savannahs for its magnificent Lions; and the Indian subcontinent for the elusive Bengal Tiger.

Our own experience in the tourism industry has shown that quicksilver travel of any sort fails to encapsulate the variety and magnificence of any culture. In fact, all tours provide merely a glimpse into the spectacle of any country, highlighting some of the prominent features. All this results in a rather haphazard dissemination of information, which although substantial in content is not systematically provided, creates a rather blurred vision of events. Our Learning Expeditions attempt to rectify this.

Docendo Discimus - We learn by teaching
Discovery Learning Expeditions have been designed to create a better understanding of our natural world through a series of activities. By doing so we stimulate the thinking processes of the individual and make way for enlightening interactions between ourselves.

Knowledge is infinite and nobody knows all the answers; sometimes we seek answers by ourselves and sometimes together with someone. Teaching someone is also a link in this immeasurable course of pursuit of knowledge. In this manner a learner asks questions and the teacher must answer them. The teacher may not know all the answers and must solve them. Thus, while teaching, he also becomes a learner, in this endless cycle of "sharing knowledge"; he, therefore, also "learns by teaching" - Docendo Discimus. Discovery Learning Expeditions follow this philosophy.

Learning Expedition (LX) - A quest for understanding
A learning expedition is an in-depth exploration of a topic. The expedition team members all research the same general question, though their individual research questions vary. The goal is to find out what is in the library and then to go beyond that, adding new information to the record. Expedition members begin by finding out what is already known, and then they move out to bring new knowledge back to the community, based on interviews, observations, or experiments.

Learning expeditions support critical literacy, promote character development, create a sense of adventure, spark curiosity, and foster an ethic of service.

Sharing knowledge & "Enhanced Learning Experience" (E.L.E.)
Every organisation has a reservoir of "explicit" and "tacit" knowledge. Discovery's new venture shares this knowledge with each of its fellow travellers to add qualitatively to their pool of information. Every journey is a learning experience and so are all 'Discovery' tours. But what makes a "Discover Journeys Wildlife Learning Expedition" different from the others is that it is a travel / holiday experience that incorporates the values of a Learning Expedition to enhance the "learning experience" using certain methods / tools to explain and elucidate the intrinsic theme of the tour. This process we call ELE or "Enhanced Learning Experience" for the traveller.

Q. What is a Discovery Journeys Wildlife Learning Expedition?
A. A Discover Journeys Wildlife Learning Expedition is a holiday / travel experience aiming to provide valuable insights into the ecology of the Indian Subcontinent. Though the general theme is wildlife, Discovery Journeys Wildlife LX is a structured programme exploring, specifically, the ecosystem of the Bengal Tiger, from its evolution to its current conservation status.

Every nation has a treasure trove of natural wealth that Mother Nature has created; every element on our planet is linked together, so are we, through this complex web of natural associations. Everything belongs to everyone, and everyone is equally responsible for its upkeep and preservation. The Tiger belongs to all of us; we, Indians are merely custodians of this magnificent animal, just as Rwandans are of the Mountain Gorilla, Australians of the Kangaroo and Chinese of the Giant Panda.

The vision of a Discovery Learning Expedition is greater awareness about our earth through responsible tourism. It seeks to remind everyone that "we have not inherited the earth from our parents, but borrowed it from our children" and thus must preserve it in all its glory.

Our mission is to create an exceptional learning experience for our guests. Experiences that are beyond the ordinary and that surpass expectations, that they provoke lasting, fundamental, and positive change for all those we serve through our latest enterprise.

Discovery Journeys and Conservation
Since its inception Discovery Journeys has supported various environmental issues from saving the chinar (Palantus orientalis) trees and cleaning of the Dal Lake in Kashmir; to saving and protecting the Olive Ridley Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) breeding on the Malabar Coast in Kerala. The company is member of Travel Operators for Tigers (TOFT) an international initiative in collaboration with Global Tiger Patrol to save the big cat from extinction. Apart from this, Discovery is associated with Bombay Natural History Society, Himalayan Environment Trust and Indian Wildlife Club; it is also a corporate member of the Oriental Bird Club.

Some of Discovery's future projects include establishing bird ringing stations in Neeleshwar (Kerala) and Mukteshwar (Kumaon Himalayas), under the supervision of BNHS, as well as socio-economic development of local communities based on environmentally sustainable practices in and around Corbett National Park.

Discovery Journeys Wildlife Learning Expeditions - The Core Team

Rahul Sharma, 42 - Discovery's Tiger Guru
Discovery's Tiger Guru Rahul is part of its think tank and has been its earliest associate member. He has spent many years exploring the jungles of the Himalayan foothills and has great knowledge of its wildlife, especially the Bengal Tiger, and also of the legendary Jim Corbett. His tryst with Corbett lore began at a very tender age and he has won the prestigious "Jim Corbett Memorial Essay Writing Competition" while still at school. Awarded a "Certificate for Ornithology" from the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS); he is also an alumnus of the respected Himalayan Mountaineering Institute. For Discovery Journeys he has led several tours and treks throughout North India. Rahul is a member of the Oriental Bird Club and Life Member of WWF-India and BNHS.

Hemraj Meena, 32 - Naturalist par excellence
Born near Ranthambore National park, Hemraj has been the recipient of the Best Trekkers award by the Ranthambore Forest department, and the Best Birdwatcher Award by Rajasthan Tourism and has been also assisting forest departments, in the annual census of Tigers. He has led and guided many of our groups through central and south India: a keen photographer who has great love for animals. Hemraj is one of Discovery's ace birding guide.

Kunwar Singh, 37 - Himalayan Birdwatcher & Game Tracker
Kunwar is an extremely experienced self-styled Naturalist associated with Discovery for donkeys' years and has been providing critical support to the company since 2000. Born and educated in Ramnagar, near Corbett National Park, Kunwar has worked as a wildlife guide in Corbett for more than fifteen years and is a naturally gifted tracker. His knowledge of Himalayan birds is phenomenal and he has trained several budding naturalists for Corbett NP as part of the National Park's eco-development programme.

Hem Chandra Bahuguna, 37 - Mr Fix it
Hem is one of the most resourceful people associated with Discovery: a hawk-eyed birder and tigerphile who knows the forest like the back of his palm. Hem organises Elephant Safaris for Discovery and is well conversant with jungle lore. Along with Rahul and Kunwar, Hem has also been assisting the Park authorities in the annual census of Tigers at Corbett National Park.

Apart from "The Core Team" we have a backup of local guides in every National Park who are trained in jungle lore and act as the core team's eyes in the forest.

Discovery Journeys Wildlife Learning Expeditions - Aims
1. Holistic learning experience integrating field visits, talks and activities
2. Fostering a love and support for the environment and its constituents
3. To develop a sense of belonging to the natural world
4. Encouraging participation in global conservation campaigns

Core Values of Discovery Journeys
1. Service with a smile
2. Goodness in Human Being
3. Teamwork
4. Exploration & innovation
5. Courage & perseverance
6. Positivism & success