Tiger Safari at Kanha National Park

Kanha National Park is a tiger reserve situated in Central India in the State of Madhya Pradesh.  It is one of the oldest parks and received conservation status as early as the 19th Century. The Halon and Banjar Valleys were closed for hunting during the British Raj, and thus this was a conservation initiative.

Tiger Family

In post-independent India, the area was declared a National Park in the year 1955.  Then it was notified as a tiger reserve in the year 1973, under the Project Tiger Program. In the year 2000, it was awarded as the most tourism-friendly park in India. Kanha is also recognized as the best-managed tiger reserve in India with high-profile VVIPs visiting every year.

Kanha National Park Conservation Profile

Kanha National Park comprises an area of over two thousand sq. km with 940 sq. km as the core. The core is a protected area that is inviolate and managed by the forest department. It is where the tigers and other wild animals breed the most.         

Tigress with Cub 

The park is home to over 100 tigers and the critically endangered hard ground Barasingha or the Swamp Deer (Cervus duavcelli branderi). It is also known as the Branderi Barasingha who first noticed the hardened hooves that evolved in absence of swamps to enable the deer to move on hard ground.  This was impacted by the changing geography of the region which was once a large crater full of marshy swamps.  The park is well known for saving the Barasingha from extinction by raising the population from just 67 heads to more than 500 at present.   

Over 150 guard huts are built to safeguard wildlife in the park with beat guards regularly patrolling the reserve.

Kanha National Park Tiger Safari

Tiger tourism as it is called is carried out in 20% of the core. It is divided into four zones:

• ·         Kanha Zone
• ·         Kisli Zone
• ·         Mukki Zone
• ·         Sarhi Zone

Each zone is reserved for safari for those with the permit. At Kanha, permit holders cannot trespass into another zone. This is possible only on a full-day safari which is priced much higher.  Tigers breed in each zone without any hindrance and offer an opportunity for tourists to see them in their natural surroundings. Though habitats may be diverse, the park provides each with a tiger safari permit an equal chance to track and chance upon the big cats.   

Besides other animals, tourists can see plenty of birds more so in winter when Pale Arctic migrants arrive. There are over 250 species of avian in the park.

Tiger safaris are organized in the buffer as well. They are cheaper, and without many restrictions but offer a little chance to sight the big cats.

These are:

• ·         Phen
• ·         Khatia
• ·         Sijhora
• ·         Khapa

If you do not book a tiger safari in advance the permits get exhausted. Your only chance is to visit the buffer zone or stay at the resort. Hence always book the tourism zones in the core in advance. Please make all the preparation for the tiger safari in India in advance.