Photo by Todd Fellenbaum
At the geographic heart of India lies enormous Madhya Pradesh (meaning “central province”), the 2nd largest state in all of India. Only slightly smaller than the state of New Mexico, the wooded rolling, shady hills, are broken up by patches of grasslands, meandering creeks, and scattered watering holes. A magical place, and the inspiration for Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book, the tourism industry here is happily growing today, in large part due to Earth’s biggest cat, the Bengal Tiger. At times reaching 600+ pounds and over 12 feet in length (nose to tail tip), India hosts 80% of the world’s total population, and there are more in Madhya Pradesh than anywhere else.
Nearly one third of the state is cloaked in jungle, a combination of Teak, Sal and Bamboo forest, accented by Mahua, Flame of the Forest, Frankincense, Indian Ebony and many others. Ten different national parks lie within its borders. We’ll base ourselves at Kanha Tiger Reserve and National Park for 4 nights, as we venture out in hopes of seeing the magnificent cat, while also taking in the many other animals and birds of the area. Waterfowl and waders are likely to be on the move, while the woodlands should host a suite of raptors, including White-eyed Buzzard. We’ll keep our eyes and ears open for the tiny Jungle Owlet, the state bird the Indian Paradise-Flycatcher, and the national bird the Indian Peafowl, among many others. We’ll need a little luck to connect with a tiger, but our chances are high, and combine that with chances for mammals like Chittal, Sambar, Gaur, Barasingha, Barking Deer, Indian Wild Dogs, Leopard, Sloth Bear, plus others and we have the makings of an excellent safari. Join us in the jungle!
Daily Overview
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Day 1: Transfer from Delhi to Kanha
We’ll catch a mid-late morning flight to Raipur, and then have a 4-hour drive to Kanha. While we may see a few birds along the way, this is largely a travel day. Night at Kanha.
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Day 2, 3 & 4: On Safari at Kanha National Park
One of the largest and most scenic National Parks in India, Kanha is an ideal reserve for both tigers and their prey. The lush Sal and Bamboo forests, the grassy meadows and the curving ravines here shelter a significant population of tiger, but also of Leopard, Sloth Bear, Indian Wild Dog and much more. Kanha’s mixed forests are cut through and across with stretches of meadows, known as maidens, which are great grazing areas. Here we hope to find the Barasingha, a rare deer once far more widespread across the Subcontinent, but now with only scattered isolated remnant populations. Kanha is among the best places to see this species, and the only place to see the southern form (R. d. branderi), which numbers fewer than 1000 individuals. A huge conservation effort has been undertaken to protect these animals here.
Watering holes, ponds and lakes also concentrate birds and wildlife at this season. We’re here at the end of winter, just before the Monsoon season, at what is usually the driest time of year. So birds and animals often are near what water remains. Sometimes we’ll stake out a watering hole, and see if a tiger comes to drink or bath, and as we watch we might see birds like Bar-headed Geese, Cotton Pygmy-Geese, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Crested Serpent-Eagle, Gray-headed Fish-Eagle, or Crested Tree-Swift.
Kanha Jungle Lodge, established in 1987 to provide a sophisticated and environmentally friendly experience, is in the midst of a rich Sal forest. Well camouflaged and tucked away in the forest, it is tastefully developed and low impact. Our fantastic hosts know the wildlife here intimately, and always provide a friendly, informal relaxed environment with lots to observe, understand and learn about conservation in the area. Located right near the entrance gate to the park, we can hear jungle sounds all the time, day or night. It is possible even to hear alarm calls of deer right here, or even an occasional roar of a Tiger. Most of our time will be in the park at Kanha, but we will take mid-day breaks during both our full days here for lunch and a siesta. Sometimes there are owls on the grounds too and we might set up a black light at night to examine the insect life as well.
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Day 5: AM Birding, transfer to Raipur, flight to Delhi
After a morning stroll for birds near the lodge, we will bid our friends in Kanha good bye and move on, carrying a packed lunch for the road, as we have a good drive to get to Raipur and then catch our flight back to Delhi. We’ll have dinner in Raipur or a later dinner in Delhi depending on flight timing, before he head our separate ways. Night in Delhi.
PRICE & BOOKING INFO
Tour Price/person*: $2320
Deposit: $1000/person
Single supplement: $290
Final Payment Due: 18 November 2025, or at registration if after.
Group size: 6 to 12 guests
*Based on double occupancy at lodgings, with a group size of 6 to 12 registrants. Maximum groups size is 12 registrants, plus guide(s) and driver(s). If there are fewer than 6 registrants, this tour may be cancelled or re-negotiated. Note that if you want a roommate we can try to find you one, but we cannot guarantee all guests a roommate. If none is available, you will be charged the single supplement.
The tour price (fee) includes services from Day 1 from Delhi International Airport (DEL) until our return to our hotel in Delhi on Day 5, including:
· All meals from dinner on Day 1 through lunch on Day 5.
· All accommodations from Day 1 through until Day 5.
· All transport from DEL on Day 1, and including transport back to DEL. It also includes the internal flights (to and from Raipur).
· All guiding services, access permits and entrance fees to birding/safari areas.
Excluded from your tour fee are:
· International flights.
· Alcoholic beverages, laundry services, charges for phone calls, and any other items of a personal nature.
· Expenses associated with travel such as insurance, visa fees, airport taxes, airline baggage fees, COVID tests, vaccinations, etc.
· Tips for lodge staff (guides & hosts)
Please, review Hillstar Nature’s Terms & Conditions of Booking found at the bottom of our homepage. All guests must complete (sign and date) a copy of these before participating in the tour.
Documents
All travelers must have a current passport, valid for six months beyond the start date of this tour, with at least one blank page for visas. A visa is required of US citizens entering India.
Cancellation Policy
We strongly recommend all guests purchase travel insurance, including coverage for medical evacuation services and trip curtailment, in advance of this tour. It is important to protect against financial losses in the event that a registrant becomes unable to participate in the tour. Note that such coverage is often non-refundable so please check with the Hillstar Nature team before purchasing it, to confirm the tour is to proceed as planned.
If a guest/participant cancels registration:
● 120 days or more prior to the start of the tour, a refund is issued minus a $250/person processing fee.
● Between 119 and 90 days prior to the start of the tour, half of the tour fee will be returned to the registrant.
● 89 days or less prior to departure, no refund of payments or deposits are issued.
The team at Hillstar Nature reserves the right to refuse service to any registrant/participant who acts disruptive, routinely disrespectful, or in a manner inconsistent with the goals of the company. All guests are expected to comply with the rules and agenda set forth by the guide(s) of the tour, and to behave in a way that is considerate and conducive to a quality group experience.
Pace, Rigor, Climate & Pests
· Thrilling jungle safari, with amazing animals, and great birding too.
· Food and accommodations are excellent.
· No rigorous hiking required. Transit drives of ~ 4 hours, and some long safari jeep rides.
· Early mornings, up before dawn. Usually back to hotel by 7pm or earlier before dinner.
· Equal focus on mammals and birds, with good photo opps.
Packing
Please limit yourself to one suitcase/duffel and another daypack/backpack for daily outings from the lodge. Group travel dictates we consider our fellow traveler’s comfort, and this includes not over-packing. Laundry is available in Delhi and at other points on our journey. A pair of trail shoes is good for days featuring roadside birding. Power outlets in India are 230V/50Hz.