WILD CANOPY RESERVE IS CURRENTLY CLOSED, due to ongoing issues with the owners of the private reserve near the Masinagudi Wildlife park.
We recommend that you try the Safariland Treehouse Resort located nearby: http://www.uhotw.com/SafarilandTreehouseResortThe site was visited by your UHOTW team in Feb 2008, where UHOTW met with Poornima and Ramesh (who have run the WCR business successfully for many years) to discuss options to move their business to a new reserve about 2 hrs away near Ooty. This reserve will be under their own ownership - so issues with the estate can be finally under their sole control.
The surrounding Mudumalai wildlife sanctuary and National Park and Bandipur National Park that UHOTW visited were very impressive and park management held Ramesh in high esteem. While wildlife sightings are seasonal and cannot be guaranteed (this is not a zoo!) UHOTW saw wild elephants, visited the elephant sanctuary and had an elephant ride during our short visit. We hope to be able to visit again and report on progress.
UHOTW have trust in Ramesh and Poornima and wish them success in their continued wildlife and treehouse endeavours.
Anyone who has tried to create a trip will attest that there are both good and bad agents - and their knowledge and commitments will both make - or break a trip. This is ever more the case in India.
UHOTW recommend:
Where possible try and contact the property direct (all UHOTW inquiries are direct to Hotels - not via agents), as many agents make promises that cannot reasonable be delivered by hotels. Where there are difficulties more often than not, the property and guest are both innocent parties, with the agent taking advance payments for unsubstantiated promises. Use the inquiry facility on the UHOTW site to confirm details with hotels direct!
Some hotels may ask for an advance to confirm bookings, and 10-30% is not unreasonable. UHOTW property members are usually happy to receive final payment upon completion of the visit... so anyone who is required to make a payment IN FULL through an agent before their trip should exercise caution...
If the agency is reputable, the risk is minimal, however, where there is no previous history or reputation CAVEAT EMPTOR! (buyer beware).