Night Safari at Kanha National Park in Central India

Nightlife is not meant only for urban agglomerations it is to be enjoyed in the jungles as well. Night is a different place in the jungles whence the sun goes down completely and the moon rises. This is linked with romance but the thrill of nocturnal experience is far greater.

In every ecosystem there are creatures of habit or instinct. Some hunt, graze or move during the day time while many hide. They emerge in the darkness felling safe and seeing well. The predators go after the night creatures taking advantage of echolocation, strong vision and their stealth to pounce upon the victim. There many characteristics that makes creatures nocturnal. While some emerge during twilight or predawn many strictly become active during total darkness.

In Central India Kanha National Park a well preserved ecosystem has creatures that are nocturnal as well as diurnal. Animals like the deer and the tiger are both while the leopard and sloth bear are nocturnal rarely seen during the day. Big cats can see nine times better than man in the night hence this sharp nocturnal vision enables hunting in the dark. Although the prey too can see better in the darkness they are no match for tigers and leopards. Some animals like porcupine, civets, hare, wild cats, pangolin, ratel, wolf, hyena and rodents are specifically nocturnal and can be seen only in the night.

Unlike day safari at Kanha the night safari is organized in very low numbers. Maximum five jeeps can enter the buffer zones from seven to eleven in the company of forest guards. The permission has to be taken at the entry gate at least a day before the ride. Subject to availability the permission can be granted two hours before the ride. The gate and guide fee is less comparable to day round.

Only those tourists who are wildlife enthusiasts prefer the night rounds and go often. Sighting tigers and leopards is rare but it does happen, occasionally a sloth bear can be seen as well. The sighting of herbivores including bison is more common along with antelopes like Nilgai and four horned antelope or chausinga. The latter is only animal in the World with four horns. Porcupine sightings are most targeted along with hare and birds like savannah and grey nightjars.

Unlike the core area experience the buffer safari at night is an entirely different experience. Incomplete darkness the jeep is guided by headlights and the vision is possible only in its halo since search lights are not allowed. Most enthralling are the bight sounds of animals especially those of deer whence a leopard stalks them.

There number of jungle roads which go through varied habitats and the forest guards look for animals that are found there. They are a big help since they no the locations where different animals can be seen. But the biggest surprise for tourists though rare is the sight of the tiger ambling along the road or sitting nearby sighting this predator in the night is entirely a thrilling experience and at times scary.

The best time for night safari at Kanha National Park is in winter. The availability of water attracts a large number of animals who usually dwell in the core. These nocturnal rounds are slowly getting popular as people realize the sights of night creatures is as enticing. At present the rounds are held at Batwar from Khatia Gate, Sarhi and at Khapa at Mukki end. The booking can be done at respective gates.

Uday writes often on Indian wildlife especially about the tigers. He works as a naturalist and is fond of travel. Uday also provides search engine optimization service and website contents in English.