Kanha – Pench (218 km/ 05 hrs)
on this day, we shall depart for Pench and arrive by lunch. Pench Tiger Reserve is India's 19th Project Tiger Park & is considered one of the country's finest new tiger reserves spread over 750 square kilometers and consisting primarily of teak forest. The population of the game is also very high - it is considered the park with the highest density of prey (Spotted Deer, Wild Boar, Sambar, Blue Bull, and Indian Bison). It is also home to a very healthy population of Tigers, Leopards, Wild Dogs, and jackals, amongst other smaller predators. The Wild Life Institute of India is conducting a scientific study on wild dogs. This scenic reserve, covered in prime teak forest and grassland, nestles in the undulating terrain of the Satpura Range, drained by the Pench and Wainganga rivers. The wildlife found here includes gaur, sambar, chital, barking deer, nilgai, Chowsingha, wild boar, jackal, wild dog, wolf, hyena, sloth bear, jungle cat, leopard, and tiger, apart from exciting small mammals like flying squirrels, palm and small civet, common and ruddy mongoose and over 200 species of birds that include Malabar pied hornbills, painted storks, black-headed and black Ibis, Wooly-necked storks, barbets, leaf-birds, crested serpent eagles, oriental honey and white-eyed buzzards, grey-headed fish eagles, osprey, long-billed, white-rumped and red-headed vultures to name just a few.
Wild India Camps' BAGH VAN LODGE, just 5 minutes from the entrance of the Reserve at Turia and 15 minutes from the turn-off on NH7 at Khawasa, is hidden away amongst the thickly wooded banks of a seasonal stream which, in the dry season, serves as a pathway for tiger, leopard and other animals inhabiting the fringe of the forest. Overnight at bagh van lodge.