Central India's premier wildlife in its finest lodges — Banjaar Tola and Mahua Kothi A Taj Safari, with expert-led safaris for intimate tiger encounters.
Tour Highlights
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Day by Day Itinerary
Arriving in Mumbai today you'll transfer to your hotel for a chance to freshen up, before taking a short, guided tour of the city this afternoon. The tour will take in some of Mumbai's cultural highlights including one of the city's historic landmarks, the Gateway of India. Time allowing you'll also take in Mumbai's impressive High Court buildings and its scenic Marine Drive, visit the Hanging Gardens and the Dhobi Ghat and have some time to explore its vibrant markets and bazaars.
Fly to Nagpur this morning, from where you'll continue the journey to Tadoba by road. Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve — Maharashtra's oldest and largest national park — covers over 625 square kilometres and is home to tigers, leopards, sloth bears, wild dogs, marsh crocodiles and nearly 200 species of birds. Check in to your lodge this afternoon.
Maharashtra's oldest and largest national park, the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve covers over 625 square kilometres. One of India's renowned Project Tiger reserves, the park is home to a rich array of wildlife including wild dogs, marsh crocodiles, leopards, sloth bears, nearly 200 species of birds and one of the largest populations of tigers in India. Today you'll enjoy both morning and afternoon jeep safaris in the park.
Another early morning game drive will be followed by breakfast and a chance to relax back at the resort. After a leisurely lunch you'll then be taken back into the park for your second game drive of the day, providing another chance hopefully to catch sight of some of Tadoba's magnificent Bengal tigers.
Transferring by private vehicle, you will spend the day enjoying a scenic drive on to Kanha today, traversing a mix of forested roads and lush hill country as you make your way into landscapes that provided the inspiration for Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book stories. Breaking the journey for tea and refreshments in Rookhad and Mandla en route, you'll arrive at your lodge later this afternoon.
Another of India's famed tiger reserves, Kanha National Park is home to a significant population of Bengal tigers, as well as leopards, wild dogs, swamp deer and Indian guar, which are the largest of the park's wild animals. Today you will enjoy morning and afternoon game drives through the lush sal and bamboo forests of what is the largest national park in Central India.
Another day of morning and afternoon game drives on shared basis in the park. Aside from its more famous residents, the park is also home to hyenas, sloth bears, jungle cats and even Indian wolves, although these are an increasingly rare sight amongst the grasslands and ravines these days.
Transferring by shared jeep between lodges in the early morning, you'll make your way via the National Highway to Bandhavgarh. Checking in to your lodge this afternoon, take some time to relax by the pool and take in your jungle surroundings before an early dinner and bed.
Spend the morning and afternoon on a game drive in the park, each time of the day provides a different perspective as the numerous prey species — Sambar deer, langur, wild boar and barking deer — come out of hiding, luring the mighty Bengal tiger and the elusive Indian leopard. You'll journey through the broken hilly terrain, grassy swamps and forested valleys that provide ideal concealment for this most predatory of beasts.
Another day of morning and afternoon game drives in Bandhavgarh, the finest park for tiger sightings. The broken hilly terrain, ancient fort ruins and the presence of three lakes provide extraordinary backdrops for wildlife encounters.
A final full day of game drives through Bandhavgarh National Park before departing for Delhi.
Transfer to Jabalpur airport for the flight back to Delhi. Free evening in Delhi.
After breakfast the tour concludes. Onwards flights can be arranged.
About This Journey
Experience Central India’s extraordinary wildlife in style — visiting the remarkable tiger reserves of Bandhavgarh and Kanha National Park, both home to high concentrations of Bengal tigers, on this tailor-made luxury wildlife journey. Arriving in Mumbai before travelling by train to the heart of Central India, this 13-day private journey combines exceptional wildlife viewing with some of India’s finest jungle lodges.
Highlights
Track Bengal tigers on multiple game drives through Bandhavgarh — one of India’s top tiger reserves. Visit Kanha National Park, inspiration for Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book. Stay at some of Central India’s finest wildlife lodges — Svasara, Kings Lodge and Kanha Earth Lodge. Experience the remarkable ecological diversity of Central India’s forests — tigers, leopards, sloth bears, wild dogs and over 200 bird species.
Accommodation Used On This Tour
Mahua Kothi Taj Safari
The first of the Taj Safari lodges, Mahua Kothi sits in 40 acres of forest at Bandhavgarh. Its twelve kutiyas (jungle village huts) are built in traditional Central Indian style with mud walls and thatched roofs, and its naturalists are among the finest in India.
Khem Villas
An intimate jungle camp on the edge of Ranthambore National Park, Khem Villas was created by the family behind the tiger conservation movement in Ranthambore. Accommodation ranges from luxury tents to stone cottages set in 12 acres of regenerated wilderness with its own lakes attracting birds, chinkara and the occasional leopard.
Accommodation displayed here should be taken as a guide only. Please refer to the detailed itinerary of your individual departure for more information.
Where You Stay
What's Included
Frequently Asked Questions
No reputable operator can guarantee tiger sightings — these are wild animals in natural habitat. However, the parks on this itinerary have among the best sighting records in India, and multiple game drives significantly increase your chances. Even without a tiger, the wildlife and birdlife encountered on every drive make the experience richly rewarding.
October to April is the main season, with March to May offering the highest sighting probability as animals concentrate around water sources — at the cost of higher temperatures. Most parks close entirely from July to September for the monsoon.
Neutral-coloured clothing (khaki, olive, brown), a warm layer for cold dawn drives in winter, sun protection, and binoculars. Camera equipment with zoom lenses is worthwhile; most lodges can arrange charging between drives.
Yes — extra safari days, different lodges, private vehicles and additional destinations can all be arranged. Contact us to tailor the journey to your interests.
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