Kanha National Park Tiger Extension

(Please Note: Extra baggage, including your cold-weather gear from Ladakh, can be left at our hotel in Delhi and picked up upon your return, at the end of the extension.)

In the morning, transfer to the Delhi airport for your flight to Raipur in central India. Upon landing, take a scenic drive of about five hours through a region of lush rice terraces below the Maikal Hills, the eastern spur of the Satpura Range, to Kanha National Park. Transfer to Kanha Jungle Lodge, set near the Mukki gate entrance to the park. Kanha is one of the oldest, largest, and most scenic national parks in India and an ideal habitat for both tigers and their prey. The lush sal and bamboo forests, grassy meadows, and ravines shelter a significant population of tiger, leopard, sloth bear, and Indian wild dog, to name a few of the species found here, along with fantastic avian life.

The Royal Bengal tiger, India's proud symbol and an integral part of Indian mythology and culture, is the big draw at Kanha, and Kanha is the best place in India to see them. Bengal tigers are solitary animals who hunt nocturnally, traveling long distances to feed on buffalo, deer, and other mammals. Female tigers have litters of two to six cubs, which they raise with little help from the males. Cubs begin to hunt when they are about 18 months old and remain with their mothers for two to three years, after which they find their own territory. Kanha National Park is vast—350 square miles of mixed forests interspersed with meadows watered by perennial streams that provide a source of water for the wildlife. The park is particularly well known for its endangered swamp deer, also known as barasingha, found only at Kanha. They populate the large open tracks of grass amid the forests of teak and bamboo. Brought back from the brink of extinction, these handsome animals are a remarkable conservation success story for Kanha. On arrival, we'll enjoy a 4WD jeep safari with a resident naturalist and forest guide, returning to our lodge for dinner...BLD

Special Note: All national parks in Madhya Pradesh (Central India) are closed on Wednesday afternoons, including Kanha, meaning game drives will not be available. If we are here on a Wednesday, we will enjoy activities at our lodge, including nature walks and cooking demonstrations, or visit a nearby school in the afternoon.

Each day, our early morning wake-up call is a friendly knock on the door as coffee or tea is delivered to our rooms. The misty morning and sounds of birds calling make for an unforgettable start to the day. When dawn breaks, we head out on safari by 4WD jeep (hiking is not allowed in the national park), accompanied by a resident naturalist and park guides. Dawn is the best time to see wildlife, including tigers, and the light is absolutely beautiful at this hour. A picnic breakfast will be served al fresco in the field, after which we return to our lodge by late morning. In the middle of the day, the wildlife is not as easy to see, as most animals and birds rest and sleep during the hotter hours, so we enjoy time at camp for nature walks, visits to a nearby village or school, or participating in a cooking demonstration at the lodge. In the late afternoons, when it cools down, we head out again by 4WD vehicle, following tracks and rivers in search of tigers! Evenings are time for relaxed dinners and stargazing, as well as talks by our expert naturalist guide about efforts to ensure the survival of this extraordinary creature, and recent developments in conservation and habitat protection...BLD each day

On Day 16, we drive from Kanha to Jabalpur airport (approximately 5 hours) for our late afternoon flight to Delhi. You can depart this evening after 10:00 pm, or spend the night and depart on Day 17 (all transfers are included to/from the Delhi airport)...BL (Day 16), B (Day 17)

Special Note: The use of mobile phones during park safaris is prohibited in all national parks in India’s Madhya Pradesh state, including Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Panna, Pench, and Satpura, as to not disturb the wildlife. Mobile phones can still be carried on safaris, but must remain switched off or in airplane mode at all times and cannot be used for calls, photos, or videos. Guides may collect all devices in a common bag before the safari and return them afterward.

A visa is required for U.S. citizens visiting India. Your visa must be obtained prior to arrival.