Get up close and personal with a wide range of wildlife on this 15-day journey through Central India. If you want to see tigers and leopards in their natural environment in the Satpura National Park in Madhya Pradesh, visit Bandhavgarh National Park, Kanha National Park, and Pench National Park. Explore the vast, untamed landscapes and protected habitats of central India. While staying at your rainforest lodge, take a 4x4 vehicle tour with a naturalist and a forest ranger. Diverse studies have been done in the area around these protected parks and reserves to find out how important they are to the environment and biodiversity of the area.
Highlights
Explore Bandhavgarh, home to a variety of endemic wildlife
Ride in a safari 4x4 open jeep with a resident naturalist and forest guide
Visit scenic Kanha National Park, one of the largest tiger habitats
Experience game drive safari in Satpura National Park
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Delhi, the capital of India, is a city that offers a glimpse of both ancient and modern-day India. It is the third-largest city in India and one of the fastest-growing in Asia. This city is rich in culture, always changing with time but never hiding its splendid past. The various ancient ruins seen in the city are silent witnesses to its magnificent history.
Day 2: Fly Delhi to Jabalpur | Bandhavgarh National Park
After breakfast, transfer to the airport to board the flight to Jabalpur. Upon arrival in Jabalpur, drive to Bandhavgarh (160 km/3 hrs drive).
The Bandhavgarh National Park takes its name from the Bandhavgarh Fort, which is located on the top of the highest (800m) hill in this region. Bandhavgarh is home to more than 25 species of mammals, more than 250 species of birds, 80 types of butterflies, and several reptiles. Apart from the tiger, the mammals living in the Bandhavgarh include panthers, wolves, hyenas, wild dogs, gaur, cheetal, sambhar, barking deer, sloth bears, and many more. Bandhavgarh has always been an excellent tiger habitat and is known for the highest density of tigers in the world.
As soon as dawn breaks, leave for your Jungle Safari, accompanied by a resident naturalist and forest park guides in 4x 4 Jeeps. In the winter months, morning safaris require warm clothes and woolen caps, and gloves to keep you warm from the wind chill.
After morning Jungle Safari, continue your adventure in Kanha National Park. A 6-hour drive from Bandhavgarh.
Kanha National Park: Set on The Chhota Nagpur Plateau in Madhya Pradesh, Kanha provides breathtaking vistas of grassy plains and strands of sal forests. This 366 sq mile preserve saves two endangered species of Tiger and The Barasingha. One of the largest and most scenic National Parks in India, Kanha is an Ideal habitat for both tigers and their prey lushes of sal and bamboo forests, grassy meadows, and ravines of Kanha shelter a significant population of rare species such as tigers, leopard, sloth bear, Barasingha, wild dog to name a few.
Spend the morning and lunch on safari in a 4x4 jeep accompanied by a resident naturalist and forest guide.
Stay with the family whose heritage dates back 3-generations in Tiger Conservation. Kailash Sankhala was the founder-director of Project Tiger, under which the inception of the Project Tiger Reserves in India took place. Their Grandchildren run and manage Kanha Jungle Lodge and own the travel company you are traveling to within India. Have a first-hand opportunity to interact with them and spend an evening watching the Award-winning documentary TIGERLAND. Made by Discovery Channel and premiered at Sundance Film Festival, the film focus on two passionate people trying to save the Tiger. One of them is Kailash Sankhala.
After the morning safari, be ready for a (240 km/ 4 – 5 hr drive)drive to Pench National Park.
The Satpura-Maikal region is consists of seven tiger reserves and five corridors stretching through three states (Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh) of central India. The area is one of the country’s strongholds of wildlife protection and natural resource-based livelihoods. Within this large region sits the Kanha-Pench landscape, which includes the Kanha and Pench Tiger Reserves and the forested land between the Mandla, Balaghat, and Seoni districts in Madhya Pradesh. The Kanha-Pench landscape has been the focus of extensive and diverse research conducted in the region. It has active government support to establish the region as a wildlife corridor, making it an ideal case study for other areas in the Satpura Maikal region and throughout India.
Pench National Park is located in the Central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh and is the 19th Project Tiger Reserve. It has been one of the best-kept secrets among wildlife enthusiasts who have been acquainted with and by its immensely varied flora and fauna. No wonder the area provides a backdrop for its animal character dominated by a fairly open canopy of mixed forest, predominantly teak, and with open grassy patches. The park and its undulating land boast the highest density of herbivores in any Indian park. It has a large diversity of wildlife, including Leopard, Tiger, Jungle Cat, Dhole (Wild Dog), Sloth Bear, Wild Boar, Mongoose, Gaur, Cheetal (Spotted Deer), and Sambar. Upon arrival, check in to Pench Jungle Camp.
After the morning jungle safari, drive to Satpura for a 220 km/ 5hrs drive.
Satpura National Park is located in the south Hoshangabad district in Madhya Pradesh. 524 Sqkm Park is the core area of the Panchmarchi Biosphere Reserve that includes Bori wildlife sanctuary to its south-west and Panchmarhi wildlife sanctuary to its north-east. The park has an elevation of 320-1,352m with tall sandstone mountains, narrow gorges, ravines, waterfalls, streams, and dense forests near the Mahadev hills in the Pachmarhi plateau. The area boasts two unique species of tree – the sal and the teak besides wide varieties of ferns, mango trees, butterflies, and birds.
Indulge yourself with morning and afternoon game drives, walking safari, Boat Safari, and bushwalk around the camp and village.
Jeep Safaris: This is the best way to explore large areas looking for wildlife.
Boat Safaris: The Park offers exploring the areas along the river by using boats. Again one has the option of using either a canoe or a motorboat. Boat safaris are excellent if one wants to get close to aquatic birds or even crocodiles.
Walking Safari: Exploring the forest on foot is an interesting experience, especially if you have a highly skilled naturalist that could bring alive the lesser fauna such as geckos, butterflies, frogs, and birds that one sometimes misses during other safaris.
Enjoy your last day in the park in a morning Jeep/Walk/Boat safari. After lunch, drive to Bhopal airport (120 km/ 3-3 ½ hrs) to board the flight for Delhi.
Day 15: Delhi, India | Return Home
1 Breakfast
After your morning breakfast, transfer to the international airport to board the flight for home/onward Journey.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Initial deposit is 25% (20% is non-refundable at the time of booking), and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days (10 weeks) prior to departure by bank transfer, check, or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and a maximum of $20,000 charge
For full cancellation policy details, please contact us for a quote.
Included
14 Breakfasts, 12 Lunches, 12 Dinners
14 Nights Accommodations
10 Days Locally Hosted Guide Service
Accommodations as listed
Ground transportation as listed
Activities as listed
Meals as listed
Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
Mandatory Government Service Tax.
Shared Jeep safari at Kanha & Bandhavgarh National Parks by 4X4 Open jeep inclusive of the entry fee to park, resident naturalist services, and local onsite naturalist.
Shared Safari at Satpura National Park
Excluded
Gratuities
Travel Insurance
Personal Expenses
Flight costs (please request a quote)
Additional excursions during free time
Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
Internal and International Airfare
Electronic Visa upon Entry
Personal Expenses (such as laundry, telephone, tipping, etc.)
Map
When to Go
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Good to ideal period to travel, and many people choose to visit at this time.
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen
TrustScore 4.8 | 174 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 174 reviews on
1 day ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
2 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
