Join our relaxed two-centre small group tour, visiting Bandhavgarh and Kanha National Parks, to see India’s most iconic mammal in its natural habitat – the magnificent Bengal tiger.
Our Ultimate Tiger Safari begins in India’s bustling capital city, Delhi, before flying south to Jabalpur to access Bandhavgarh National Park. The former hunting preserve of the Maharaja of Rewa, Bandhavagrh reputedly has the highest density of tigers in India, and we spend four nights here. We then continue by road to our next park and one of India’s most beautiful reserves, Kanha. This has been a stand out location for tiger sightings in recent years.
Whilst the Bengal tiger will be the main focus, India has an incredible variety of wildlife and during our time we hope also to see sloth bear, leopard, chital, sambar deer, grey langur, Indian gaur, nilgai, common and ruddy mongoose, golden jackal and in Kanha we may see some of the sole remaining population of hard-ground barasinghas. Birdlife is equally impressive with woodpeckers, rollers, hornbills, leafbirds, babblers and raptors all likely to be seen.
Typical Itinerary
Day1: Depart UK
Depart the UK on an overnight flight to Delhi.
Day2: Arrive Delhi
We arrive late morning into Delhi and transfer the short distance to our hotel located near the airport.
Accommodation: Holiday Inn Aerocity, 1-night
Day3: Fly to Jabalpur, transfer to Bandhavgarh National Park
Returning to Delhi airport this morning, we take a domestic flight to Jabalpur, located in the state of Madhya Pradesh. After enjoying lunch in Jabalpur, we continue by road to Bandhavgarh National Park, arriving in the late afternoon. Depending on our arrival time at the lodge, we take a short birdwatching walk in the lodge grounds.
Accommodation: Bandhav Vilas Lodge, 4-nights
Days4-6: Safaris in Bandhavgarh National Park
We have three full days to explore Bandhavgarh National Park, with our days typically following a similar routine of morning and afternoon drives. Using four-wheel-drive safari vehicles with a maximum of four clients per vehicle, our drives usually last around three and a half hours as we search for the largest and most striking of the world’s felines – the tiger.
Aside from watching for tigers, our drives will enable us to view other incredible Indian wildlife and, during our time between drives, there will be the chance to relax or explore the grounds of the lodge for the varied birdlife which can be found here.
Day7: Transfer to Kanha National Park
After a final safari this morning, we depart Bandhavgarh and drive south to Kanha National Park. Our journey will take around five and a half hours and will provide a fascinating insight into rural life. Along the way we may be fortunate to see a few birds including rollers, bee-eaters, drongos and kingfishers.
Our three full days we spend in Kanha National Park will follow a similar pattern to our time in Bandhavgarh, with a programme of morning and afternoon safaris. Much larger than Bandhavgarh, Kanha encompasses a far wider range of habitats and, with luck, we may be fortunate enough to see tigers in slightly different environments, along with other wildlife of this beautiful park.
Day11: Fly to Delhi
This morning there will be time to enjoy a final safari before transferring to Raipu airport for an evening flight back to Delhi, where we transfer to our overnight accommodation located near the airport.
Accommodation: Holiday Inn Aerocity, 1-night
Day12: Fly back to the UK
Please note: To continue your Ultimate Tiger Safari, we offer a 4-day extension to Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve. For more information, please contact one of our wildlife travel experts to discover more about one of India’s most exciting and best protected tiger reserves.
Key info
Duration and price including flights from/to UK: 12 daysfrom £4,495 pp
Duration and price excluding international flights: 11 daysfrom £3,895 pp
Kanha National Park offers some of India’s finest tiger viewing. The setting for Rudyard Kipling’s ‘The Jungle Book', the undulating grassland and deciduous forest also supports a further 22 species of mammal and its waterholes create tranquil spots for bird watching in the surrounding jungle.
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Where: Madhya Pradesh State
Ideal for viewing: Asiatic jackal, barasingha, Indian gazelle, nilgai, tiger
Excellent for: Walking safaris, Photography tours With Nick Garbutt, Vehicle safaris, Tiger safaris
Bandhavgarh National Park has the highest known density of Bengal tigers in India, and over the years has maintained an excellent record of sightings. Its rocky hills, grassy swamps and forested valleys create a diverse ecosystem that is home to other predators and mammals, as well as 250 bird species.
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Where: Madhya Pradesh State
Ideal for viewing: chital, leopard, sloth bear, tiger, white-breasted kingfisher
Singinawa Jungle Lodge offers unique accommodation in the heart of Kanha National Park, with 12 tastefully designed cottages, set in 40 hectares of grasslands, together with a spa and swimming pool. Enjoy jeep safaris with the in-house naturalist guides in search of India’s spectacular wildlife.
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