Image by Nick, Unsplash
The probability is very high, but tiger sightings entirely depend on several factors, including luck. The best thing is to enjoy the beauty of nature while inside the jungle. Therefore, a tiger sighting should be treated as a bonus experience.
Kanha National Park is situated in Madhya Pradesh. It is full of lush green trees, widespread meadows and elusive wildlife, including the endangered barasingha, leopard, tiger and gaur. Kanha is one of the finest locations to go for a wildlife safari, and a nature lover can also go for watching birds in this national Park. The Park covers an area of 940 sq. km.
If you want to explore the mystery of the jungle, a jeep safari will be best. You will be going through the dense woods, across the streams and over the hills. Observing animals from a close distance and at the same level is an experience of a lifetime. For photographers, it's the best option to capture wildlife moments and for tourists' lifelong memories.
One of the best attractions about Kanha is the number of bird species. You can spot them during jungle safari or even from your hotel and surrounding areas.
Tourist Zone of Kanha National Park
There are four core safari zones open for tourists. Kanha, Kisli, Sarahi, Mukki. There are also four buffer zones, Khatia, Sijhora, Phen and Khapa.
Currently, the park administration is expanding the national Park with robust planning and effective implementation. As a result, animal density in buffer areas is also growing in good numbers. Hence, buffer areas will also become key tourist hotspots soon. Because of their hard effort, they have successfully increased the Barasingha population.
While on safari, don't focus only on tiger sightings. In this race, you may miss hundreds of other memorable experiences. The sound, the scent, the environment, everything will be different compared to your everyday experience. You need to be sensitive to understand the song of the jungle.
Image by Hans-Jurgen Mager, Unsplash
Kanha Zone
Grasslands in the meadow and dense vegetation are key attractions of this zone. This unique contrast provides an excellent opportunity for landscape and wildlife photography. The possibility of tiger sightings is also very high in this zone. The entry gate of this zone is Khatia. However, you can use any one of the gates for a full-day safari. Apart from wildlife and landscape, you can enjoy Kanha Museum and Shravan Taal, where King Dashrath killed Shravan Kumar under the pretension of killing deer. However, you will not be allowed to leave your vehicle in Shravan Taal.
Sarahi Zone
This zone is natural hotspot with large meadows and dense forest. The high density of trees sometimes obstructs animal sightings. However, you can encounter Sloth Beer in this zone. The entry gate of this zone is Sarahi.
Kisli Zone
This zone was part of the Kanha zone; however, it was separated and introduced as the Kisli Zone. These zones are named after respective villages, which are relocated to build and expand this National Park. You will notice saal forest in this zone along with meadow areas. The entry gate of this zone is Khatia.
Mukki Zone
This zone is also known for high tiger sightings. Unless someone said so, you would not be able to distinguish between zones. There are no natural boundaries. It is the same jungle, and there is no barrier for animals and birds.
Safari Planning for Kanha National Park
Kanha is one of the demanded jungle safaris in India. Hence it would be best if you plan your travel well in advance. Booking starts 120 days in advance, and core zones are sold out very quickly. Hence you need to be very careful while planning your trip. There is a tatkal booking facility for jungle safari, but you will not be the only one who wants these seats. Moreover fear of uncertainty and involving in safari booking on site, will ruin your travel fun December to June is the Best time to Visit Kanha National Park.
Wildlife of Kanha National Park
Some of the frequently sighted animals of Kanha are Tiger, Chital, Sloth Bear, Gaur, Jackal, Jungle cat, Sambar, Langur and Barasingha. Kanha is also home to more than 300 species of birds.
How to Reach Kanha National Park
Kanha is 260 km away from Nagpur and 170 km from Jabalpur. Both these cities are well connected through Air, Road and Railways. From this location, you can hire a taxi to reach Kanha. You can also reach Gondia by train and then hire a Taxi for Kanha National Park. Please note that the distance between gates is significant. Hence, please book your accommodation after the finalisation of the safari only.
