Rustik Travel

Satpura National Park – a tryst with the wild

  • Black Bucks in Satpura National Park
  • Butterfly in Satpura National Park
  • Leopard in Satpura National Park

Discover the land of Mowgli, Bagheera, Baloo, Shere Khan and other characters from Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book. The story supposedly set in the jungles of Madhya Pradesh is still unfolding every passing day in the Satpura National Park without the “man-cub” Mowgli, of course. The Satpura Nationa Park is very rich in biodiversity with wildlife. The fauna includes leopard, sambar, chital, Indian muntjac, nilgai, four-horned antelope, chinkara, wild boar, bear, black buck, fox, porcupine, flying squirrel, mouse deer, Indian giant squirrel, etc. There have been sightings of tigers, dholes, Indian gaur and barasingha, although these are rare.

Thou art of the Jungle and not of the Jungle.

Rudyard Kipling from Jungle Book

Overview

  • Destination: Madhya Pradesh
  • Location: Satpura National Park
  • Nearest City (Airport): Nagpur/Bhopal
  • Nearest City (Railway Station): Nagpur/Bhopal
  • Dates: On request
  • Months: October to May
  • Level: Easy
  • Children Friendly: Yes
  • Guide: Available
  • Price: On request

Experience

Satpura National Park (524 sq. km) derives its name from the Satpura range. The forest reserve was created in 1999, along with adjoining Bori and Panchmarhi wildlife sanctuaries with a total of 1427 sq. km area of unique central Indian highland ecosystem.
While the terrain is largely hilly, the erosion caused by numerous streams over many millennia has resulted in deep, narrow gorges and ravines-a landscape that perfectly suits the reclusive habits of the tiger.
The park is classified as part of the Central Highland’s moist deciduous forest eco-region, which forms part of a zone of steady transition between the forests of Eastern India and Western Ghats.

We have curated a sustainable wildlife experience for all ages through constant partnership with the park administration and the local community. Following is a range of activities for all ages and for different interests, with a sample itinerary that could be customised based on request.


JUNIOR RANGER’S PROGRAM

Watching wildlife requires a set of practical skills. Our naturalists run a fun three-day course where children and interested adults acquire the basics of jungle craft- how to use equipment, how to identify species, and how to be quick-witted with a camera-and a certificate to boot.


PANCHMARHI TRAILER

Explore the Pachmarhi valley in an unforgettable two- day excursion, as you soak in its botanical wonders and breathtaking landscapes. Come nightfall, laze into your tent which is placed right in the middle of the valley!


DRIVE IN A JEEP

Get a motor boost as the versatile maneuvering of a four-wheel-drive takes you across the expanse of Satpura National Park.


NATURE WALKS

This is every nature lover’s dream come true. Voyage into Satpura, discovering a vast array of species and eco- systems, as our passionate naturalists help you unravel the mysteries of the natural world.


CANOEING

The magic of being in a canoe is to paddle quietly along the shore, drifting into little inlets to watch birds and animals coming down to the water, unmindful of the boat-a wilderness experience to be savoured.


BIRD WATCHING

Watch the birds fluidly swoop across the skies and in between treetops in graceful movement. Our naturalists are trained birders who will point our feathery friends out and provide you interesting facts about them.


WALKING TRAIL

Walking around the lodge, spread across 44 acres, allows the beauty of the ambience to seep into you. Take in the panoramic views as you spend the morning or afternoon unlocking the scenic sights around you.


AMPHIBIAN ADVENTURE

Amphibian walks give you a chance to see the hidden gems and understand what part they play in the larger scheme of the ecosystem.


STAR GAZING

Huddle near a quiet and comfy bonfire, while our naturalists point out constellations and retell beautiful stories, engaging you in tales of Greek and Roman mythology. Kick back into a relaxed state of mind as you gaze at astronomical wonders.


Itinerary

Sample Itinerary

Day 1
Arrive at the Lodge preferably before 1pm. Assemble for Hi-tea and orientation. Later, you will set out, first for a short drive to the Satpura National park entry point and then on a short boat ride across the Denwa river to a drop-off point for your walking safari in the national park area. Satpura national park is among a very few parks where one is allowed to walk inside the park area and gives a really unique opportunity to see the pristine forest and its inhabitants really up close without any sound of the motor vehicle. It is completely safe as most of the animals are shy creatures and will evade human confrontation. But nonetheless it is an opportunity to see animals and big cats. This region also has a lot of Sloth bears and they are the ones who sometimes are curious enough to come closer but worry-not are experienced forest guides carry pepper spray and a blow horn to scare them away. The walk is also a great opportunity to see different small birds, raptors, owls, insects and butterflies which one misses in a jeep drive. The walk will be approximately for 2 hours and will give you a feeling of truly one with nature. Return to the lodge for dinner.
Day 2
This early morning, set out once again exploring the forests from Madhai entrance after a short jeep drive and boat ride to take the forest Gypsy to traverse the rugged terrain of the park equipped with 4x4 towards Jhin jhini Mahal. You will be driving through thick teak forests, grasslands and driving through nallas which change in to fast gushing streams in the monsoons. Keep attentive to hear any alarm calls from Spotted deer or Langur monkeys high up on trees, because that could mean a predator is on the prowl. Satpura presents an opportunity to see Gaurs, even some albino specimens, Four horned antelope, Blue bull and sloth bears that you might have come across in your last walk here. You can also see numerous bird species from the list of over 360, which have been seen in this region. So keep silent and get your cameras out because you don’t know what you will encounter on the next bend. You will stop for a bush breakfast in between the safari at a scenic location and then continue your drive back towards the park entrance, but the drive isn’t over yet so be on the lookout. Return to the lodge for a quick freshen-up before brunch. After a short rest you will assemble for Hi-tea and orientation. Later, you will set out for a dusk safari in the buffer forest. Late evenings are the best time to look out for nocturnal wildlife which you cannot sight during daylight. No other national park in India allows you to explore the forest at this time of the day. Great opportunity to look for owls, wild cats, bears, civets, etc. If you are lucky, you may see the world’s smallest wild cat- the Rusty-spotted Cat. It’ll be an approximately 2 hours’ excursion. The dusk drive ends with at the Lodge where hot/cold towels and a welcome drink await you to refresh you get you ready for a dinner in some part of the property. Always a surprise created by the staff we can't really tell you where. Dinner is served on a community table for people to mingle with other guests and share their stories of the wilderness. After a relaxed dinner, you turn in for the day, only to wake up to your next adventure at the crack of dawn.
Day 3
Really early in the morning you will be woken up by a knock on the door and your choice of beverage. Hopefully this will wake you up fully to get dressed and ready for the morning briefing for your next jeep drive, to a different part of the park today. You might go to the highest point in the park to soak in the vistas while you encounter the other denizens of Satpura or you might head to an old ruin called Jhinjhini Mahal. No matter what you see, the packed breakfast will only be enough to get you hungry for the brunch under the Mahua tree waiting for you at the Lodge, a traditional 'Dal Batti' meal will be just about ready when you arrive. Later in the evening, you will set out for a dusk safari in the buffer forest in a completely different landscape called Parsapani, an area which has been reclaimed into a natural forest after moving out villages from this area and stopping illegal timber trade. You will return to the lodge for a farewell dinner.
Day 4
You will start your day with a canoe safari across the calm, azure waters of Denwa. A great opportunity to see crocodiles and birds nesting on the banks and also occasional wildlife that might be coming to the forest edges for a drink. You arrive at a half-way point for a packed breakfast and then return to the lodge. Departure from Lodge.

Map

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