Tiger Tours in Kanha National Park

Tiger tours in Kanha National Park take wildlife enthusiasts to one of India’s top national parks to see the majestic big cat in the country’s rural heart. Kanha National Park is so rich in wildlife that it is possible to spend an entire visit in the park, observing the animals alongside a profusion of mammal and bird species in a spectacular setting on a plateau in the Maikal Range. A visit to Kanha also provides the possibility of a day-trip to Agra, site of the Taj Mahal, as well as extensions to the nearby Bharatpur and Ranthambore reserves.

History of Kanha National Park

The national park was formally created in 1955, in an area where two sanctuaries — Hallon and Banjar — had previously been situated since the 1930s. In 1974 the Kanha Tiger Reserve was created with Kanha National Park (now 940 kilometres square) at its core, surrounded by a 1,067 kilometre square buffer zone and the neighbouring Phen Sanctuary (110 kilometres square), all a part of the Project Tiger. Tours in the national park benefit enormously from the conservation work done over the past decades.

Kanha’s most famous success is for the Swamp Deer (Barasingha), which was saved from near extinction by the park. The only population — of approximately 300 animals — lives in the park; it's a significant improvement on the population of 70 in the 1970s and a unique highlight.

Tiger tours in Kanha National Park

The population of Tigers in Kanha is sufficiently established that sightings are virtually guaranteed on excursions led by expert naturalists. The park is considered one of the best places in India to see the elusive cat. Travelling by jeep and elephant in the early morning and evening, wildlife enthusiasts will be treated to sightings in an array of natural habitats — as well as numerous other animal species.

Mammals flourish in Kanha National Park, including the iconic Swamp Deer and other deer species such as the Sambar and Spotted Deer. Visitors will also be treated to possible sightings of Leopard, Dhole (Indian Wild Dog), Gaur and Sloth Bear, as well as Wild Boar, Golden Jackal and many monkeys. Birds are found in profusion in many habitats, from the open country Indian Roller, Painted Francolin, Yellow- and Red-wattled Lapwings, to the forest-dwelling Black-headed Oriole and Malabar Pied Hornbill. Bird watching walks are possible beyond the bounds of the reserve or an extension to the nearby Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary.

Another excursion available on Tiger tours takes wildlife enthusiasts to the Chambal River, a tributary of the Yamuna River in central India. It features in Indian ancient history as the Charmanvati, a name meaning ‘the river on whose banks leather is dried’. It is also told of in the Mahabharata. Today it is home to Ganges River Dolphins, which are a pleasure to observe.

Marissa Ellis-Snow is a freelance nature writer. If you’re looking for Tiger tours, Naturetrek specialises in expert-led natural history and wildlife tours worldwide. Naturetrek brings over 25 years of experience to to wildlife tours to some of the most spectacular regions on Earth.

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