Tour Duration: 11 Nights/ 12 Days
Central India tiger tour is designed for those who wish to see this big cat called ‘The Royal Bengal Tiger’ in its natural habitat. Central India undoubtedly is the hinterland of tiger activities and according to the National Tiger Conservation Authority tiger census report of 2018, central India boasts of largest tiger population in the country. In our tour ‘Central India Tiger Tour’ we will cover the three most celebrated tiger reserves of Central India i.e. Bandhavgarh, Kanha, and Pench which are considered the best places for seeing tigers in the wild.
Traverse through the forest on open safari jeeps in search of this solitary and elusive cat, the king of the jungle, the biggest and the most beautiful of all the cats with our experienced drivers and naturalists. Their knowledge of the jungle will increase your chances of seeing the tiger.
Apart from the tigers, these jungles have a lot more to offer to wildlife enthusiasts.
Day 01 – Arrive Delhi
Arrive Delhi, met by our representative and transferred to the hotel (room held from noon of this day).
Overnight at hotel.
Day 02 – Delhi to Jabalpur and Bandhavgarh National Park
In time transferred to the airport to board the flight Jabalpur. Arrive Jabalpur and drive to Bandhavgarh (170 Km/ 4 Hrs. approx.). Arrive Bandhavgarh and check in at the hotel.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 03 – Bandhavgarh National Park
Morning and afternoon game viewing drive in Bandhavgarh National Park.
Bandhavgarh National Park: Situated on the northern edge of Maikal range in the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India, Bandhavgarh remained game preserve (Shikargarh) of Maharaja of Rewa until it was declared a National Park in 1968 and Tiger Reserve in 1972 under the Project Tiger and Wildlife Protection Act. Spread over an area of 1537 Sq. km. landscapes here is mostly dominated by a mixture of low-lying flatland and hills with flat top altitude varying from 200 to 1000 mts. Hills are rocky and mostly dominated by forest whereas flatlands are dominated by the grasslands.
A rich ecosystem vegetation here is mixture of tropical moist deciduous forest type dominated by Sal and Termenelia in the higher elevations. Dense clumps of bamboo, interspersed with meadows and marshes are found in the lower elevation. Around twenty big and small streams and rivers drains the forest here.
Apart from being a tiger reserve, Bandhavgarh has historical importance too. Bandhavgarh Fort which stands almost in the middle of the national park has a reference in the mythological era. The place is dotted with unique temples, caves etc. In fact, the tiger reserve got its name from the fort. It is here in Bandhavgarh that the white tiger is first discovered. In fact, the name Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve got its name from the very fort.
Bandhavgarh is home to 42 species of mammals that includes predators such as Tiger, Leopard, Dhole or the Wild Dogs, Wolf, Jungle Cat, Leopard Cat, Striped Hyena, Golden Jackal, Indian Fox, Ratel, Palm Civet, Mongoose etc. Other mammals recorded here are Chital, Sambar, Barking Deer, Nilgai, Indian Gazelle, Wild Boar and the Chausingha (the only Four-Horned Antelope in the world) Sloth Bear, Pangoline, Porcupines, Langur, Rhesus Macaque etc.
Around 250 species of birds have been included in the checklist of Bandhavgarh National Park.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 04 – Bandhavgarh National Park
Morning and afternoon game viewing drive in Bandhavgarh National Park.
There are three core safari zones in Bandhavgarh National Tala, Magadhi, and three buffer zones Dhamokhar, Johila (Kalwa), and Panpatha (Pachpedi). Tala zone is the most scenic area of the park. It is defined by the historical Bandhavgarh Fort, hills, and grasslands. Famous Rajbhera and Chakradhara meadows fall in this zone. Magadhi zone is defined by grassland and mixed dense forest cover. Khitauli zone is defined more by dry-deciduous forest, though it is less preferred amongst the three core zones it is one of the best places to see Dhole (Wild Dogs) which is considered more elusive than the tigers.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 05 – Bandhavgarh National Park
Morning and afternoon game viewing drive in Bandhavgarh National Park.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 06 – Bandhavgarh to Kanha National Park
Morning drive to Kanha National Park (260 Km/ 06 Hrs approx.). Arrive Kanha National Park and check-in at the hotel.
Afternoon game viewing drive in Kanha National Park.
Kanha National Park: Nestled in Maikal range a bifurcation of Satpura Hills in Central India which is considered a hinterland of tiger activities in India, Kanha National Park, or the Kanha Tiger Reserve is one of the oldest wildlife reserves in India. Kanha has been immortalized by Rudyard Kipling in his 1894 book “The Jungle Book” wherein he talks about the adventure of the Wolf boy called Mowgli and the legendry of its wilderness. Rated as one of the best-managed national parks by one of the premier conservation institutes in the world “Wildlife Conservation Society (WSC)” – it was here the eminent zoologist George Schaller carried out the first-ever scientific, field study of the tiger.
Whereas dry woodland dominates the hills of the Kanha Tiger Reserve, Sal forests, bamboo, and evenly spread grasslands support the lowlands.
Kanha National Park is the last refuge for highly endangered Hard-ground Barasingha or the Hard-ground Swamp Deer.
Kanha National Park certainly is one the best places to see Tiger in its natural habitat and it is the main predator here. Leopard, Striped Hyena, Grey Wolf, Dhole or the Indian Wild Dog, Jungle Cat, Indian Fox, Common Palm Civet, Small Indian Civet, Jackal, Common and Ruddy Mongoose are the other predators recorded in Kanha Tiger Reserve. Prey base here are Sambar, Chital, Blackbuck, Nilgai, Chousingha (Four-horned Antilope), and Barking Deer. Other mammals recorded here are Sloth Bear, Indian Bison, Common Giant Flying Squirrel, Indian Flying Fox, Crested Porcupine and Pangolin. Primates like Common Langur and Rhesus Macaque are seen here.
Kanha Tiger Reserve boasts around 300 species of birds which includes residents, migrants, and passage migrants.
Day 07 – Kanha National Park
Morning and afternoon game viewing drive in Kanha National Park.
Kanha Tiger Reserve has four Core and four buffer zone. Core zones are Kanha, Kisli, Mukki, and Sarhi and buffer zones are Khatia, Sijhora, Phen, and Khapa. Whereas Kanha, Kisli, and Mukki zones are mostly defined by Sal forests, open picturesque grasslands, and bamboo thickets, Sarhi zone boasts of dry deciduous forests with large meadows.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 08 – Kanha National Park
Morning and afternoon game viewing drive in Kanha National Park.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 09 – Kanha to Pench National Park
Morning game viewing drive in Kanha National Park. Early afternoon drive to Pench National Park (190 Km/ 04 Hrs. approx.). Arrive Pench Tiger Reserve and check-in to the hotel.
Afternoon game viewing drive in Pench National Park.
Pench National Park - one of the most picturesque wildlife reserves is located in in the southern ridge of the Satpura hills in central India. It forms the southern boundary of Madhya Pradesh and shares part of the forest with Maharashtra. Pench Tiger Reserve, is one of the youngest additions in the tiger conservation project “Project Tiger”. It is believed that the jungles of Pench is one of the locales that inspired Rudyard Kipling for his famous wilderness story collection “The Jungle Book”. Named after the Pench River that flow from north to south in the middle of the park is the main source of water for the park.
Pench Tiger Reserve covers a total area of 758 Sq km combining both core and buffer forest. Elevation ranging from 1394 to 2034 ft forms an undulating topography supporting a mixture of vegetation - from moist to dry deciduous forest type. Teak mostly dominates the forest here followed by other species like Terminalia, Mahua, Tendu, Bija, Amaltas and Palas. Presence of Bamboo is also there in some valleys.
Main predator recorded at Pench National Park is the Tiger followed by Leopard and lesser predators like Hyena, Dhole, Jungle Cat etc. Other mammals here consist of Gaur, Sambar, Axis Deer (Chittal), Chinkara, Muntjak (Baking Deer), Chausingha, Small Indian Civet, Palm Civet, Jackal, Sloth Bear etc.
Pench is quite rich in avifauna, over 285 species of birds have been recorded here which include residents, migrants, and passage migrants.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 10 – Pench National Park
Morning and afternoon game viewing drives in Pench Tiger Reserve.
Being a small tiger reserve Pench do not have safari zones however there are three entry gates to enter the park Turia, Karmajhari, and Jamtara gates. Turia gate is the most preferred gate for most enthusiasts – however, each gate has its own pluses.
Day 11 – Pench to Nagpur and Delhi
Early morning depart Pench National Park for Nagpur airport (90 Km/ 02 Hrs. approx.) to connect flight for Delhi.
Arrive Delhi and transfer to hotel with rest of the day at leisure or free for optional activities.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 12 – Depart Delhi
In time transfer to the international airport to board the flight for onward destination.
H-10 (Top Floor),
South Extension, Part I,
New Delhi-110049
India
