Come Face To Face with the Tigers of Kanha

Seeing a Tiger in the wild is a very special wildlife experience and one that will stay with you always. India is the most popular country for Tiger tours, as it has several excellent reserves that are well managed and have dense populations – which equals maximum opportunity for sightings. In the wild, these creatures are truly magnificent and there is little else in the natural world that inspires more wonder than this incredible big cat. Tiger tours offer guests the opportunity to spend time in the habitat of the animal and watch them in their natural surroundings.

Where to Go In India

India has many options for Tiger tours, but Kanha National Park is one of the favourites. You could easily spend a week here exploring the wildlife and experiencing the Indian jungle. Purpose-built jungle lodges offer the perfect accommodation and, although simple, are comfortable and built in harmony with the beautiful surroundings. The lush forests that combine bamboo and sal, the grassy meadows, and the ravines in Kanha famously inspired Rudyard Kipling to write his fantasy story, the Jungle Book - when you visit here you can see why. The scenery, the sensory overload and the constant jungle noises evoke memories of the famous tale and you can appreciate how well the author reproduced the whole atmosphere.

The park itself was established in 1955 but became a reserve in 1974. Kanha is actually most famous for its efforts to preserve the survival of the rare hard ground Swamp Deer, the Barasingha, which it saved from near extinction. A leader in conservation projects, the park has strategies in place to protect its flora and fauna.

There is no denying the beauty of this place and a trip up to Bamni Dadar, known colloquially as ‘Sunset Point’, offers some wonderful photographic opportunities and magnificent views of the animals grazing in the distance. From Sambar and Spotted Deer to Wild Boar and even Leopard, this park is home to some of India’s most interesting wildlife. Colourful birds grace the skies, while on land your gaze will be interrupted by all manner of fascinating activity.

Woven into the itinerary of Tiger tours, game drives leave camp twice a day. These drives are accompanied by an expert guide, who will ensure the best chance of sightings. You can ask questions and glean much information from these local guides, who take great pride in educating visitors about their precious Kanha. Driving around the park in open-topped jeeps with plenty of stop off points for viewing is the best way to get the most out of your experience. If you book with a reputable wildlife travel company, you can ensure that you will join a small group, be well taken care of and be escorted to the best places for viewing.

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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