After one more morning safari in Bandhavgarh National Park, we drive to Kanha (6 hours). Our drive takes us through rural countryside doted with colorful towns and villages. Stop in the sleepy town of Mandla – the sacred city for the Gond tribes – where the Narmada River, second holiest to the Ganges, is the center of activity.
En-route enjoy a picnic lunch and arrive in Kanha this evening.
Set on The Chhota Nagpur Plateau in Madhya Pradesh, Kanha
provides breath taking vistas of grassy plains and strands sal forests. This 366 sq mile preserve was set to save two endangered species, the tiger and the Barasingha. One of the largest and
most scenic National Parks in India, Kanha is an ideal habitat for both tigers and their prey. The lush sal and bamboo forests, grassy meadows and ravines of Kanha shelter a significant population of rare species such as tiger, leopard, Sloth bear, Barasingha, and Wild
dog to name a few. Kanha’s mixed forests are interspersed with vast meadows known as maidens. Perennial streams run through a number of such meadows, providing a source of water for the wildlife even in the hot summers. Kanha meadow, with its
hundreds of chital grazing on a carpet of green grass against the backdrop of the majestic Sal forest, has been aptly referred to as ”the Ngorongoro of India”. Kanha is particularly well known for its endangered swamp deer, or hard water barasingha, which populate the large open tracks of grass amidst the forests of teak and bamboo. Brought back from the brink of extinction, these handsome animals are a remarkable conservation success story for Kanha.
Sal trees and open grasslands dominate the lowlands of Kanha. These grasslands, are results of once relocated villages under Project Tiger. This is was a country wide project launched in 1971 to
protect the tigers and its habitat. One of its initiatives was to control man animal conflict by moving villages from core areas into the buffer, so that corridors can be linked once again. Hence, these maidens are live examples of successful relocation of villages
which have now turned into grasslands allowing a successful growth of prey base for predators.
After lunch, we will take the opportunity to stretch our legs and walk down to the Banjar River while our naturalists identify the local flora and fauna and make your familiar with the surroundings. The termite mounds, flying squirrels, butterflies, etc will fascinate you. This is where Rudyard Kilping got his inspiration to write The Jungle Book.
A little about your host family:
– A man who balances his passion for nature with his entrepreneurial spirit, Tarun has twenty years of experience in wildlife tourism. As the manager of the Kanha Jungle Lodge, he
is responsible for ensuring that your stay is as comfortable and memorable as possible. He goes the extra mile by not only taking care of your logistical needs, but he takes pleasure in accompanying
you on park safaris. An encyclopedia of knowledge, with a particular interest in tigers and birding, he is an incredible source of information. With wildlife in his blood, it is no surprise that Tarun’s
own family represents a manifestation of his love for the natural kingdom. At first glance, one merely sees a twelve year old boy, interested in talking to new people, playing cricket in the afternoon and trying out new games. But there’s more to Jai than meets the eye. The little naughty naturalist has been born and raised at the Kanha Jungle Lodge, receiving an education in warning calls, tracking skills and how to identify the abundant flora and fauna that no classroom in the world could teach him. For recess he doesn’t play on the swings, but explores Mother Earth in all her glory. Kanha’s real life Mowgli is truly at home in a wildlife park.
– The lady of the lodge is a self-taught naturalist known for her
never-ending interest in learning new things. And whatever
Dimple learns, she loves to share with her guests. The first person to publish a book on Kanha wildflowers, she continues to research and
document information on common butterflies in the area. When she isn’t taking you on bird and butterfly stroll, she is showing
you the wonders of the stars through her telescope, teaching you how to savor the flavors of Indian cooking and relax your mind and body through yoga. The woman’s touch at Kanha Jungle Lodge, you will be inspired to discover all there is to learn in your own backyard.
Our evening will be spend orienting ourselves with the national park. We will look at some maps, understand what is a buffer area and core area and get a good understanding of the areas we will do our safaris in. Your expedition leader would know all the national parks you are visiting very well. Together with the naturalists of the camp, they will answer any questions that you may have. A focus in this park is to also study the return of the Barasingha. A swamp
Deer that almost went extinct, and has been brought back by successful breeding program inside the national park.
