Kanha National Park
Madhya Pradesh
A magnificent 772 sq. miles (2000 sq. km) of thick Sal Forest, Kanha National Park is set in the eastern part of the heart of India, Madhya Pradesh. This beautiful landscape inspired Nobel Prize Laureate, Sir Rudyard Kipling to write the Jungle Book. Home to the biggest Tigers in India, experts predict, that if the Tiger faced extinction, Kanha will be among the last strong footholds for their survival. With a special bond with its sister parks, Kanha has helped them manage wildlife crises and flourish with species that were on the brink of extinction.
Ruled by the Gondwana dynasty in the past, this land was home to the tribes of Gond and Baiga. These tribes continue to reside around the park, painting the perfect example of how wildlife and human life can co-exist in harmony. They understand the jungle and its importance to the environment and themselves too, helping reduce any man–animal conflict one could think of.
Best Time to Go
October – May
Flights
Raipur (RPR)
Avg. Climate
27°C – 42°C
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About Kanha national Park
Parking itself around the Banjar and Halon rivers and a perfect setting for the Tiger, Kanha National park is an evergreen forest with tons of undergrowth that provides ambush. The rolling grasslands and meandering streams provide food for herbivores; and if the prey has food, the predator will always follow. This national park happens to be one of the best-managed forests in terms of wildlife tourism.
Reintroducing the Hard Ground Barasingha was one such achievement. Also called the “Jewel of Kanha”, these Barasinghas were put under special enclosures to encourage breeding and avoid extinction. The result was quite evident when their population skyrocketed. From merely 66 in number, Kanha was now home to 600-700 Barasinghas. The department’s efforts paid off when Kanha was awarded the best tourism-friendly national parks, by the Government of India.
Geographical Details
Altitude: Altitude 600m – 900m above mean sea level
Vegetation: Moist Peninsular Sal Forest, Southern Tropical Moist Mixes Deciduous Forest, Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Mixed Forest
Water Resources: Banjar River, Halon River
Core Area: 940 sq. km
Buffer Area: 1134 sq. km
Coordinates: 22.3345° N to 80.6115° E
Rainfall: 1443mm
Temperature: 27.8 – 41.8 degree Celsius
Kanha National Park Tiger Safari Tours
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One associates Central India with being a water-stricken and rather hot area – however, the opposite holds true for Kanha. Chilled winters, availability of water around the year, and coolness in the early morning and evening in peak summer characterize the uniqueness of this place.
Being in the tribal belt of South-eastern Madhya Pradesh, it has retained its rich old forest tracts which form corridors for animals, especially migrating tigers, to other forests in Madhya Pradesh such as Pench as well as sanctuaries such as Achanakmar in Chattisgarh. Without these corridors, the medium to the long-term survival of tigers hangs in the balance.
Popular Fauna at Kanha National Park
His majesty, the national animal of India. The Royal Bengal Tiger is considered by many naturalists as one of the most powerful apex predators. You catch a glimpse of this big cat in action at the Kanha National Park.
The gaur also known as the Indian bison, is a bovine native to South and Southeast Asia, and has been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1986.It is the largest species among the wild cattle and the bovidae.
Barasingha or the swamp deer is a dear species with conspicuously large antlers. Overall, this mammal has as much as 12 antlers. In fact, the name of this species has Hindi origin and means ’12-antlered deer’.
Safaris at Kanha National Park
Jeep Safaris
Kanha National Park conducts two types of jeep safaris. A full day safari and a half day safari.
Morning Safari:
A morning jeep safari in Kanha National Park begins around 6:00 AM, depending on the sunrise, and lasts for approximately 4.5 to 5 hours. Early morning safaris offer the best opportunity to witness wildlife activity as animals are most active during the cooler hours. After the safari, guests return to their lodge or resort to freshen up, enjoy a leisurely lunch, and relax before preparing for the evening safari.
Evening Safari:
The evening safari commences in the late afternoon and lasts for about 3 to 3.5 hours, concluding just before sunset. As temperatures drop, wildlife activity increases, enhancing the chances of spotting tigers and other species. The softer light during the evening creates ideal conditions for photography. After completing the safari, guests return to the lodge for dinner and can enjoy a peaceful evening at leisure.
Full-Day Safari:
A full-day jeep safari offers an extended and exclusive experience in Kanha National Park. The vehicle enters the park 15-20 minutes before regular safari jeeps and remains inside until 15 minutes after all other vehicles have exited. Guests spend the entire day exploring the park, with lunch served amidst the forest. Full-day safaris are particularly beneficial during pleasant months like October–November or February–March and are often preferred by professional photographers or documentarians focused on tracking specific wildlife or documenting unique behaviours.
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Guest Testimonials
Our efforts have time and again been recognized by all our guests on TripAdvisor. With reviews that are 100% genuine, you can read them here or head on to our official TripAdvisor page to browse through in detail.
Posted on Manique GVerified Seamless Experience Nature Safari India arranged our safari to Kanha and Pench Tiger Parks in April 2026. My husband and I did not have to worry about anything everything was seamless and professional. Abishek was contactable and responded to queries promplty. Choice of accommodation was very good. Special mention of our naturalist in Kanha Mahesh who ensured that we had the best views of the sightings but equally considerate of others which we liked. His knowledge of the wildlife made the safaris interesting. Nature Safari was also able to arrange an additional safari for me at short notice. I have used Nature Safari before and will certainly use them again.Posted on Erin KVerified Amazing experience! We were amazed how many puzzle pieces it takes for this adventure to come together. Everyone we interacted with from Nature Safari helped make our trip memorable. From Pritam who greeted us to Alam, one of our guides, to Gulab who helped complete our journey. Everyone was friendly and super knowledgeable. The travel from one park to another is an experience unto itself and we felt completely safe with every driver! They even handled a flight change that happened while we were travelling and it did not affect our vacation at all!!! This is vacation for anyone; from children to grandparents, I guarantee everyone will be impressed!Posted on Toh JCVerified The leader in tiger Safari Did the Just tigers and Golden Triangle tour with Nature Safari India (NSI) in april What a wonderful experience this had been. Pre trip, booking & communication with Ishana was excellent. All my queries were answered fast. The itinerary she put together for me was perfect. Airport transfer were seamless. Thank you pratim. For the golden triangle tour, the 3 stars accomodation option totally exceeded my expectations. The heritage hotel in Delhi and Jaipur add to the cultural experience. The Guides were great. Mr Ram, my private driver is hard working and diligent. Always on time, he navigate the insane traffic of India with ease, getting me from point to point safely. Thank you Mr Ram. Did 4 national parks (Corbett, Pench, Kanha and Bandhavgarh) and in total I got 30 tiger sightings over 22 Safari drives!!! A job well done to all the Naturalists and guides. The vehicles are kept clean, they know the forest inside out, and all have keen eyes to spot tigers hidden in the thick vegetation. Their professionalism and ethics are exemplified by the fact that they follow parks rules (No phones/no speeding) while others are not. You can tell that they enjoy working with NSI. Special mention to Ajwet and JP from Bandhavgarh. Their teamwork, chemistry and experience together got me 17 sightings in 2 days. Their ability to predict the tigers movement and behaviour ( close to 99% accuracy) astounded me. Got many exclusive quality sightings of tiger crossing my path. In a particular incident where we were enjoying a quiet moment with a lone male tigers on a narrow path in tala zone with 2 other vehicles, words got out and soon, things turned pretty ugly. 20 vehicles came speeding, front and back, surrounding us and the tiger. Drivers behind were shouting at us to get out of the way. Guides were cat calling to get the tiger attention to look in their direction. Other tourists were using their phones for photography. The tiger was just metres away and started growling. I felt uncomfortable with the situation. I requested Ajwet to forgo the sighting and get me out asap. We managed to get out safely and fast amidst the chaos. Other than the safari drive in Bandhavgarh, we visited other point of interest in the park like the fort. One particular site call "charger point" stood out. Ajwet shared stories of the tigers who had roam the park at "charger point" and it was a joy listening to them. It adds depth to the safari experience. Thank you Ajwet and JP In Corbett, I stayed in Gairal rest house. Facilities are basic and all amenities are provided by NSI. For the other safaris, 3 stars accomodation are good (jungle camp pench, jungle camp Kanha, tiger dens) and I could not find any fault with them. For any future safari trip in India, I will definitely use NSI services again. NSI is without the doubt the leader in tiger safari in India. I hope the safari ethics in India will improve with time, benefitting both animals and tourism.Posted on Phil and Janet OVerified Excellent and memorable safaris across 3 National Parks. Love those tigers! My wife and I booked with Nature Safari India on the recommendation of friends. Over a couple of weeks we had 9 days (18 safaris) 3 days each at Pench, Kanha, and Bandhavgarh National Parks. The tigers (our main focus) are wild animals, free to roam; they do not turn up to order. Nevertheless, we had some amazing encounters / sightings across all three National Parks. We saw tigers crossing and walking along the road, a tigress lounging in the middle of the road, and a tiger sleeping off a meal, the remains of the kill nearby. One tigress passed within 5 metres of our car, untroubled by us and intent on walking her territory. In addition to tigers, we lucky enough to have two leopard sightings in Pench where we also saw wild dogs. There were numerous deer and antelope, monkeys, and a myriad assortment of birds. We had knowledgeable guides and brilliant drivers at each park who helped us identify different species. Our accommodation was always of a high quality. Our whole trip was expertly planned and put together by Ishana. Ishana is an excellent communicator. We had an amazing experience and thoroughly recommend the services of this long established business.Posted on 894elkedVerified Wonderfull It was a pleasure traveling with Nature Safari. There were no worries throughout the entire trip, and you truly feel welcome—they listen to your wishes and do everything to ensure you have a pleasant journey. Before the trip, there was a lot of communication via WhatsApp to tailor everything to our preferences, and they were always available to answer any questions. During the trip, we also had the pleasure of having a fantastic driver who told us so much about the country, its culture, its customs, and even things you won’t find in a travel guide. The local guides also did their best to provide as much information as possible about the culture. We did find some to be better than others, but that’s not something Nature Safari can control. We were also lucky—thanks in part to their efforts—to spot two tigers, which made the experience even more special. If you’re planning a trip to India, I can truly recommend traveling with them.Posted on SydneyAdiVerified Another great wildlife safari Three years after our last trip we ventured to India once more to indulge in Wildlife - this time Lions of Gir, tigers of Corbett, Rhino’s etc of Kaziranga. We saw focus animals on each drive and none of them disappointed. Excellent naturalist guides in all three parks. The lions were fabulous, even saw young cubs, and thanks to a sharp eyed guide, a leopard (our first and only over two trips to India) in first half hour whilst it was still dark! Corbett was to also include some focus on Jim Corbett (his houses, Nainital) as well as tigers. We had the same guide as in 2023, who again was excellent. One hiccup was missing out on one safari because of a mismatch for the opening hours for the Jim Corbett museum and Nainital. Instead we were taken down to river for a birding walk, with an amount refunded. Nainital is a beautiful hill town, and very glad to have done that as we had not included any additional sightseeing to our itinerary. The Corbett museum was good though tired but could be a whole lot better - think museum studies uni students etc becoming involved. Jim Corbett national park and Dhikala lodge were excellent. Tiger sightings on each drive- including a tiger swimming/walking across the river and also a tiger drinking from a water source on the road in front of us. Those guides just know where the tigers will come out of the forest or grassland. In Kaziranga we saw sooo many rhino’s, and maybe 2 days would be sufficient, but we went to different locations and over the three days saw rhinos elephants, deer, monkeys, many birds, and even lucky to see “the golden tiger”. Our hotel was wonderful, food was delicious and we even organised a couple of massages in our room. All in all another successful trip organised by Nature Safari India.Posted on Gary BVerified Tiger safari and tours of major cities. Absolutely perfect. Everything was planned and arranged with precision and care. We first toured Kanha National Park and saw tigers - lots and lots of tiger sightings - while never guaranteed, our success rate was high. We then explored Bandhavgarh National Park with our guide Ragu (32 years of experience in the Park) and our tiger sightings and wildlife viewing was even better. Finally, we toured Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. All accommodations were incredible as were the transfers between all locations. If you are considering a wildlife/tiger safari to India or touring the major cities/attractions, you should use Nature Safari of India, without a doubt.Posted on Navigate34004106819Verified Trip of a lifetime Our trip to India was amazing, truly unforgettable. Nature Safari India took care of everything, and Ishana made the whole process smooth and stress-free. We loved the mix of city life, culture, and wildlife: Mumbai with its stunning views, safaris in Pench, Kanha, and Bandhavgarh (saw incredible wildlife), and the Golden Triangle with Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur. Every hotel was comfortable and welcoming, and the guides and drivers were not only professional but genuinely kind. India itself completely stole our hearts, the energy, the chaos, the colors, and especially the warmth of the people. We came home with memories we’ll treasure forever. Big thanks to Ishana and the team. We’ll definitely be back!Posted on MElliott_51Verified Memorable time in India. This compnay did an amazing job of making our trip memorable. The organised everything to suit our requests. We had exceptional accommodation and service. Our safaris were successful with wildlife sightings. I would recommend them with our hesitation.Posted on Alessandro PaolucciVerified Fantastic Tiger Safari We had a great time in India across three different National Parks (Pench, Kanha, and Bandhavgarh). Ishana at Nature Safari India organised a great trip, was very responsive and helpful throughout the booking process as well as when we were in India, and went above and beyond in helping us deal with some last minute changes after everything was already booked. Truly a great service. In every National Park we had an experience guide and a driver who knew a lot about the local wildlife and helped us see and identify a lot of animals and birds. Overall we saw nine different tigers, including some very close encounters. The hotels recommended were incredible: the Pench Jungle Camp had a great jungle vibes, the Meru Vann in Kanha is run directly by Nature India Safari and has the most amazing staff (shout outs to the manager Okmar and our guide Mahesh), and Untamed Bandhavgarh is truly an immersive experience being really at the border of the safari area. All staff was super helpful and the food was great. Would definitely go back and book again with Nature India Safari.