Jessica Dolan
Sample Itinerary
Day 1
New Delhi Arrival — Your Adventure Begins
Welcome to India! Upon arrival, meet our representative at your gate, then head through immigration and customs together. Collect your luggage and head to your nearby hotel. Take the evening to rest after your travels and prepare for your adventure!
Overnight JW Marriott Aerocity
Day 2
Delhi to Bandhavgarh — Home of the Tiger
After breakfast, return to the airport for your flight to Jabalpur. Upon arrival, you'll have a four-hour transfer to Bandhavgarh National Park. Check into your lodge, Samode Safari Lodge, and take the evening to settle into your luxury villa. You can also opt to take a nature walk. Your lodge, located in the Bandhavgarh buffer zone, spans 30 acres and is committed to conserving and rewilding this land. Enjoy dinner tonight at the open-plan fireplace restaurant, by the poolside, or on the spacious wooden deck overlooking the forest.
Set in the Vindhya Hills of Madhya Pradesh, Bandhavgarh National Park spans a landscape of sal forests, bamboo, grasslands, and deciduous woodland, centered around the ancient Bandhavgarh Fort, which rises atop the region's highest hill and is believed to date back over 2,000 years. Once the private hunting reserve of the Maharajas of Rewa, where the famous white tiger Mohan was captured, the area was designated a national park in 1965 to protect its forests. Today, the park boasts one of the highest tiger densities in the world, along with a wide range of wildlife, including leopards, wolves, deer, and over 250 species of birds.
Overnight Samode Safari Lodge
Day 3 - 4
Into the Jungle — Safari in Bandhavgarh National Park
Wake up to a hot tea or coffee brought right to your door. Misty mornings and the sounds of birds chirping make for an ideal start to the day! As soon as dawn breaks, you'll depart on your first jungle safari, accompanied by a resident naturalist and forest park guides. In winter, you'll have blankets to keep you warm. Wind your way through the dense forest, looking out at the flora and fauna that call the park home. Dawn is a time of peak activity for animals, and you'll learn about their habits from your guide. It's possible to spot Royal Bengal Tigers, leopards, sloth bears, and so much more!
In the afternoons, enjoy lunch at camp, followed by time for relaxation. Take a dip in the pool or book a rejuvenating spa treatment. Then, set out for an afternoon safari for more wildlife spotting opportunities.
Overnight Samode Safari Lodge
Day 5
Bandhavgarh to Kanha — Meet Passionate Conservation Experts at Camp
This morning, enjoy a final safari in Bandhavgarh. Then, depart on a five to six-hour drive to Kanha National Park. The drive takes you through the rural countryside, with colorful towns and villages dotting the landscape. Stop in Mandla, known to be a sacred city for the Gondi People, where you'll witness the holy Narmada River. Enjoy a picnic lunch en route before arriving at your lodge.
Kanha Jungle Lodge, located near the Mukki Gate of the park, was designed to blend into the surrounding landscape, ensuring minimal interference with the natural environment, and is run according to eco-friendly principles. Upon arrival, you'll meet Tarun, the lodge's Manager, who shares his deep knowledge of tigers and birdlife with guests. His grandfather, Kailash Sankhala, was the founding director of Project Tiger, the initiative that led to the creation of India's tiger reserves. That legacy of conservation continues to shape the lodge today. You'll also meet Dimple, a self-taught naturalist who has published a book on Kanha's wildflowers and continues to research local butterflies while leading birding walks, stargazing sessions, cooking experiences, and yoga.
In the evening, gather with the lodge's naturalists to orient yourselves with the national park, reviewing maps, understanding core and buffer zones, and learning about the safari areas, with time to discuss conservation efforts such as the successful reintroduction of the barasingha, or swamp deer, once on the brink of extinction.
Overnight Kanha Jungle Lodge
Day 6 - 7
Safari in Kanha National Park — Witness the Success of Conservation Programs
Spend two days on safari in Kanha National Park, guided by a knowledgeable naturalist and forest guide. Your early mornings will be spent looking out for leopards and tigers sneaking through the grasses, wild dogs trotting nearby, and sloth bears foraging through the undergrowth. Pause for breakfast in the middle of the jungle, followed by more wildlife spotting! Return to camp for lunch and then enjoy afternoon safaris.
Kanha National Park spans 366 square miles of grassy plains and sal and bamboo forests, creating a habitat perfect for tigers and their prey. One of the largest and most scenic parks in India, it is home to species such as leopard, sloth bear, wild dog, and the barasingha, or swamp deer. The landscape is defined by a mix of dense forest and open meadows, known as maidans, interspersed with perennial streams that provide water even during the hot summer months. These grasslands are the result of successful village relocations under Project Tiger, a nationwide initiative launched in 1971 to protect tigers and restore their habitat by reducing human-wildlife conflict and reconnecting natural corridors. Today, these former village sites support a thriving prey base for predators. Kanha is particularly known for the remarkable recovery of the hard ground barasingha (Swamp Deer), once on the brink of extinction and now a leading conservation success story within the park.
Overnight Kanha Jungle Lodge
Day 8
Kanha to Pench — A Journey through Conservation Strongholds
This morning, you'll depart on a five-hour drive to Pench, looking out for wildlife along the way. As you drive, you'll travel through the Satpura-Maikal region, a vast landscape of seven tiger reserves and five wildlife corridors stretching across Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh. This region forms one of central India's key conservation strongholds, linking protected areas through forested corridors that support species such as tiger and hard ground barasingha. The Kanha-Pench landscape, in particular, plays a crucial ecological role and is considered an important model for wildlife conservation in India.
Upon arrival at Jamtara Wilderness Camp, take time to settle in. This low-impact luxury safari camp was designed to blend into its natural surroundings. Built with locally sourced materials, it operates with a strong focus on sustainability. Guided by a conservation-first approach, experiences emphasize responsible wildlife viewing while supporting the surrounding communities. Dinner will be at camp tonight.
Overnight Jamtara Wilderness Camp
Day 9 - 10
Safari in Pench National Park — Teak Forests and Rich Wildlife Density
Spend two days on safari in Pench National Park. You'll have both early-morning and evening game drives to take advantage of the times of peak animal activity. In between, relax at camp, enjoying the surrounding forest's tranquility while taking a dip in the pool or relaxing on your private patio.
Pench National Park, located in Madhya Pradesh, is the 19th Project Tiger Reserve. The area, with its open canopy of mixed forest (predominantly teak!) and grassy patches, provides a backdrop for its rich animal life, and the park's undulating terrain boasts the highest herbivore density of any Indian park. Leopards, tigers, jungle cats, dholes (wild dog), wild boars, and sloth bears all frequent the park, which is celebrated for its biodiversity. Notably, Pench National Park is recognized as a key inspiration for Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book!
Overnight Jamtara Wilderness Camp
Day 11
Pench to Satpura — Luxurious Camp with Comfortable Wildlife Viewing Opportunities
Enjoy a final morning safari in Pench National Park before driving 5.5 hours to Satpura National Park. You'll have the afternoon to settle into your luxury cottage, complete with a large and comfortable viewing deck.
Reni Pani Jungle Lodge, located in a forest typical of the Satpura Tiger Reserve, is named after a neighboring tribal village. The 'GolGhar,' or meeting place, has a unique design and includes a dining area, bar, library, and lounge. Set within seasonal nallahs, teak forest, and rugged hillocks, it reflects the terrain of Satpura. It supports abundant wildlife, including sambar, chital, nilgai, wild boar, barking deer, black buck, and leopard, with sloth bears also drawn to the area's berry trees.
Overnight Reni Pani Jungle Lodge
Day 12 - 13
Satpura National Park — Wildlife Spotting by Jeep, Boat, and on Foot
Take two days to immerse yourself in Satpura National Park. Your lodge offers a variety of activities designed to take you deep into the park, including morning and afternoon game drives, walking safaris, boat safaris, bush walks around the camp, and village walks. Jeep safaris are the best way to explore large areas in search of wildlife, while boat safaris offer the chance to explore the river by canoe or motor boat, with the chance to spot aquatic birds and crocodiles. Walking safaris in the buffer zone provide an interesting way to explore the forest on foot, especially with a skilled naturalist, who can show you lesser-seen fauna such as geckos, butterflies, frogs, and birds.
Satpura National Park is located in the south of Hoshangabad district, Madhya Pradesh. The 524 sq km park forms the core area of the Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve, which includes Bori Wildlife Sanctuary to the southwest and Pachmarhi Wildlife Sanctuary to the northeast. The park ranges in elevation from 320 to 1,352 meters, and is characterized by tall sandstone mountains, ravines, waterfalls, narrow gorges, streams, and dense forests. The area is home to sal and teak forests, along with a wide variety of ferns, mango trees, butterflies, and birds.
Overnight Reni Pani Jungle Lodge
Day 14
Satpura to Delhi — Cap Off Your Adventures with a Final Morning on Safari
Start your morning with a hot coffee or tea as you take in the crisp air and jungle rhythms for a final time. You can enjoy a morning safari and lunch at camp.
Then, it's time to drive approximately four hours to Bhopal Airport for your flight back to New Delhi. Upon arrival, return to your airport hotel. You'll have the evening at leisure.
Overnight JW Marriott Aerocity
Day 15
Departure Day – Leave Having Experienced the Wild Heart of India's National Parks
After a final breakfast in India, you'll have a transfer back to the airport in time for your international flight home. Depart India with memories of astonishing wildlife sightings and a detailed understanding of the important conservation work taking place to protect these deeply moving landscapes for future generations.
