The Tiger, Up Close ... At Pench National Park ... The Jungle Book Fame Destination !

The beauty of Pench National Park is so enchanting that it has sparked one of the best creations of Rudyard Kipling- The Jungle Book.   

The third of Madhya Pradesh’s trio of well-known tiger reserves, Pench is made up mostly of teak-tree forest rather than sal, and so it has a different flavour from nearby Kanha or Bandhavgarh. It also sees fewer tourists; you’ll often feel like you have the whole forest to yourself. Even if no tigers appear, there'll be a variety of other wildlife, and the forests are beautiful in their own right.

Pench Tiger Reserve has a total area of 1921 sq km – 60% in Madhya Pradesh, the rest in Maharashtra. The majority of its tigers are on the MP side, specifically in Pench National Park (part of the tiger reserve's core area), which has around 50 of the big stripeys. By far the easiest reached and most used of the park's three entry points is Turia gate, 12km west of Khawasa on the Jabalpur–Nagpur Hwy 44.          

Nearest airport is Nagpur [95 kms]          

Housed in the Seoni and Chhindwara districts of Madhya Pradesh, Pench National Park owes its name to the river Pench which cuts a path through the forests. It is so vast that it straddles the realm of Madhya Pradesh and the neighbouring state Maharashtra.            

Laden with rocky trails, wooded hills, glassy rivers, and gushing streams, the park lures in large herds of visitors every year, and is a nature lover’s wildest dream! The beautiful, lush woods foster over 300 varied species of flora and fauna, something no other place in India can boast of! There are also flocks of resident and migratory birds that live here.          

The park also shelters the iconic Royal Bengal Tiger and is India’s finest sanctuary, Pench Tiger Reserve. It offers splendid opportunities for tiger spotting, especially in the summers.

The Pench National Park Safari is the best of its kind in the entire country. Besides that, activities like nature trails, elephant safaris, boating, bonfires, bird watching, wildlife spotting, and cycling rides add magic and excitement to your stay. 

Types of Safaris in Pench National Park          

Jeep Safari     

Your Pench Adventure would seem to be incomplete without a thrilling Open jeep Wildlife in Pench Tiger Reserve. The Pench transports you from one comfortable, luxurious experience to another different, adventure filled, forest jaunt.        

Open jeeps make the Pench Wildlife a very thrilling experience, and sighting of animals and birds in their natural habitat is an unforgettable adventure. The King himself, The Tiger, awaits and beckons you at this glorious Pench Tiger Reserve.

Jungle - Open jeep escort the guests from the resort in Pench to the park. There are 2 main entrances to the park -Turia Gate, Karmajhiri gate. 5 other gates are Khursapar, Sillari Gate, Wolf sanctuary, Rukhad and Jamtara.    

Accompanied by Experienced naturalist to take you to the excursions and brief on the flora and fauna of Pench national        

Night Safari     

Daytime safaris and walks are pretty great, but nothing compared to the splendor and thrill of exploring the forest after dusk, especially at night! Wolf Sanctuary Zone is the only area where night safaris take place.     

It surprises you with sightings of rare nocturnal creatures in all their glory. The temperature becomes cool and pleasant, making your ride more enjoyable. The first few minutes may seem a tad intimidating, owing to the darkness, but the soothing caress of mother nature quickly pales your fear. If you’re lucky, you may even spot beautiful tigers in the night!        

Types of Flora and Fauna in Pench National Park       

Flora

Receiving heavy rainfall, Pench National Park is lined with beautiful Sal trees throughout. The leaves of Sal are good quality fodder, while the fruits are heavy on the nutritional value. Besides Sal, the park is home to the rare Crocodile Bark, also known as Saja or Ain.     

Terminalia Arjun can also be found here in large numbers near water sources and is distinguished by the thick girth. Numerous other species like Terminalia Chibula, Billerica, and Axle Wood or Dhaoda are also shaded within the bounds of the park.     

Find stunning, vibrant flowers like Amaltas and Flame of The Forest (Butea frondosa), while the trees of Baja, Haldu, and Jamun (Black plum) stand guard.          

Fauna

The park is home to a large variety of fascinating animals like Bison, Cheetal, Sambar, Nilgai, Wild Dog, and Wild Pig. Other animals that the park shelters are predators like Leopard and Wolf, while species like Barking Deer, Chinkara, Hyena, Porcupine, Jungle Cat, Palm Civet, Fox and countless more can be spotted here.        

If that sounds impressive, have a look at the species of various birds that grace the interiors of the park- Malabar Pied Hornbill, White-eyed Buzzard, Grey-headed Fishing Eagle, and Indian Pitta. It is a true paradise for bird watchers and nature lovers alike.           

Migratory birds like the Brahmini Duck, Coots, and Bar-headed Geese, and endangered species of vultures greet you. There are more than 50 species of fishes, 30 reptiles, numerous kinds of butterflies, moths and amphibians in the park.           

Buffer Zones in Pench National Park   

Turia Zone                  

The most elegant zone in Pench National Park, the Turia gate is located 10km away from The riverwood Forest Retreat. The entry gate sits adjoining a wildlife museum, which holds information of the various flora and fauna in the park.       

Khursapar Zone           
Another zone sheltered in the Maharashtra part of Pench National Park. It harbors various natural water bodies, which draw many species of birds and wild animals to it.

Karmajhiri Zone
Another premium entry gate of Pench National Park, Karmajhiri shares part of Turia zone, including water bodies like Bodanala, and Sitaghat.        

Jamtara Zone
Jamtara zone is a lovely expanse, famous for sightings of Sloth Bears. It Falls in the Chhindwara district of MP.  

Rukhad Zone
Alternatively known as Bison retreat. The zone houses beautiful dense trees and is a wild whispering to nature lovers who flock here in search of beauty, respite, and solitude.

Wolf Sanctuary
Wolf Sanctuary is famous for its rugged, rocky terrain, and is home to Blue Bulls, Wolves, and Leopards. Night Safari is allowed particularly for this zone, and numerous nocturnal species can be sighted here.    

Sillari Zone
Sillari zone invites entries throughout the year but is shut on Wednesdays. The zone is replete with trees of Garari, Teak, and Bamboo.        

Things to Carry while at Jungle Safari

Binocular
Hat, Sun Guard
Sunglasses, Sunscreen lotion, Mosquito Repellent
Walking Shoes
Windproof Jacket & Ear Muffs
A light, compact raincoat if it is likely you will encounter rain
Personal Medication, if any
Cameras, Lenses, Memory Cards & Film & extra flash batteries and lens cleaner
Cotton Trousers and shirts / T-Shirts Clothing in neutral colours : khaki, light brown/green, tan. Avoid bright colours & white for improved game viewing.