Safari with Suyash to Kanha National Park

Kanha National Park is spread across an area of 1,949 sq. km, with a dense vegetation and several rivers. This makes it one of the best habitats for wildlife in India. The prey density in Kanha is incredibly high, making it very good to tigers, wild dogs and leopards. It is also one of the last remaining strongholds of the Hardground Barasingha, which numbered just 66 in 1970 and today there are more than 500. Kanha is home to nearly 300 species of birds.

Kanha’s lush Sal and bamboo forests provided inspiration to Rudyard Kipling for his famous narrative, “The Jungle Books”.

Kanha is located in the Central Indian Highlands, which are part of the extensive tableland that forms India’s main peninsula. These were once an unending stretch of forests that formed a significant part of the country’s wilderness and wildlife habitats. These forests are now fragmented into parks such as Panna, Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Pench and Sanjay.

It is home to over 1,000 species of flowering plants and about 300 species of birds and one of the best park for a safari in India.

Your Tour Itinerary

Our tour will be for 3 nights and 4 days, with four safaris, one walking safari, hands-on learning and lots of fun, laughter and adventure. And what better place to do this than in one of the best National Parks in India!

This will be followed by a delicious dinner, good old-fashioned conversation and thrilling safari stories.

NOTE: Being a photographer or having an interest in photography is not mandatory on this tour. This tour is for YOU and you decide what you want from it. Other focuses of this tour is learning about conservation, tracking, birding, identifying different species, reading the forest, learning animal behavior and most importantly, have a good time

Day 1 - Arrival

Enjoy a fresh welcome drink and settle into your rooms by the afternoon followed.

We will meet as a group in the evening for a presentation on Kanha National Park in the evening where you will learn about its flora and fauna, how to track animals and understand the jungle, predict behavior and along with that, what you can expect on a #SafariWithSuyash experience.

For people interested in photography: Prior to the trip you will also get access to my Online Masterclass which includes everything from camera settings to composition, storytelling and editing. This will set you up for the upcoming safaris, where you will delve deeper into the core principles, tips, and tricks of photography – all the while receiving hands-on training from me. Don’t worry if you do not own a camera. You can take some incredible shots with your smart phone and I will show you exactly how. During the entire trip, I will share the best way to approach and photograph the subjects and give deeper insights on their behavioral aspects.

Reaching Kanha

By Flight: Closest airport is 4 hours away at Jabalpur with daily flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Hyderabad
By Flight: Other choices are Raipur and Nagpur which are about 5-5.5 hours away and have daily flights from most cities
By Rail: You can take a train to Mandla or Gondia and then reach Kanha by road
Drive: You can drive down to Kanha if you wish. The roads in Madhya Pradesh are very well maintained
Please see the FAQ section for details on booking the pickup & drop-off

In between safaris you will have time to relax or sit with me to go over the day’s happenings, photographs and receive feedback on them. My entire focus will be on you all, so you can literally bother me with anything and everything you like.

Before the dinner, we will meet over snacks as a group to go talk about the day, enjoy some good old safari stories and also review photographs.

Day 2/3

Every morning, we will leave for our first safari by 5:45 AM … I know it’s early, but I promise it will be worth it… it’s BIG CAT TIME!!

Breakfast will be served during the morning safari, inside the national park. We will stop at the “Center Point” where people are allowed to step out of the jeep and even enjoy hot tea and coffee.

You will return from the safari around 11:45 AM and have some time before we have to leave again for the afternoon safari around 2:15 PM. On day 2 of the tour, you will have a long walk around the property.

Activities

Four jeep safaris and one walking safari
Afternoon at leisure or one on one session with Suyash (your choice)
Pre-dinner photography review session (optional)
Action packed adventure stories by Suyash along with extremely silly jokes - like it or not.
Night Safaris are also available in Kanha and can be organized at an added cost (see FAQ)

For a full list of inclusions and exclusions, along with a packing guide, payment terms, cancellation policy etc. Please refer to the FAQ section below.

Departure

Morning safari and checkout after breakfast, and onward transfers.

Transfers to and from Kanha to airport/train stations are not included in the package but can be arranged at an added cost. The cost for transfers to Jabalpur/Raipur airport is INR 6,500 each way.

We can coordinate with you for transfers to/from the airport/railway station. We generally do carpool for guests arriving at around the same time so everyone can split the costs..

Checklist for your last day

Step 1) Say goodbye to the tigers and your new friends
Step 2) Sad goodbyes to Suyash 😔 – but they only mean that he would love to see you again.
Step 3) Book another Safari with Suyash as soon as possible!!!

Your Accommodation

Your accommodation for the tour will be Kanha Jungle Camp- a very comfortable stay located very close to one of the core zones of the park. Spacious rooms, delicious food and the courteous staff of the lodge will make sure you have a very pleasant and comfortable stay.

Kanha Jungle Camp

Amenities

Kanha Jungle Camp is spread over 40 acres of reforested land and is located very close to the core zone of the park, giving you a true sense of living in the wild. The luxury cottages are built with indigenous materials and decked out with native prints, making for the perfect raw aesthetic. The lodge offers a delectable spread of a set menu for the meals. While between your safaris, you may choose to chill by the pool area or indulge yourself in the large collection of wildlife books.

Spacious air conditioned rooms along with 24/7 power backup
Delectable spread of varied cuisines
Lounge area and viewing deck to relax between and after the safaris
Nestled in the forest, with walking forest walking trails around
Open air swimming pool

Epic moments from #SafariWithSuyash

Waiting for tigers...

Fight tiger sighting for this lucky guest.

Pointing out a leopard hiding in a tree

Guest enjoying a sundowner experience

Breakfast in the middle of the jungle during the safari

Fun photoshoot before a safari

Guest enjoying another sundowner experience

Walking safari, hike and birding with guests

Guest photographing a tiger

Guest interacting with local tribeswoman during a village walk

Frequently Asked Questions

Here is a list of questions that may help you in planning your trip. If you have any additional questions, feel free to email me on SafariWithSuyash@gmail.com

Important Disclaimer

Any future hikes in Government Taxes and Safari Fees levied by the Forest Department are not accounted for in the package but will be informed to you as and when communicated to us by the authorities.

Single Occupancy vs Twin Sharing Rooms

There are two categories of rooms:

1. Single Occupancy: Where you get the entire room to yourself

2. Twin-Sharing: Where you are paired up with another member of the group and share the room with them

The cost of the tour is per person.

Payment Terms and Cancellation Policy

Payment Terms and Cancellation Policy:

- 50% is non-refundable once the payment is done.
- The remaining amount will be refunded if cancellation is done 60 days prior to the photo tour start dates.
- No refund if cancellation is done between 0 – 60 days of the event.
- Your spot on the tour is only guaranteed once the full payment has been made.
- Please note that the date of written communication (e-mail) of intent to cancel will be the date considered for the calculation of the cancellation fees.

What is included and what is excluded?

Inclusions:

Accommodation and all meals for the duration of the tour.

4 Safaris (3-4 guests per jeep), jeep rental and forest entry fee. Private jeeps can be booked at an additional cost before booking the tour.

Naturalist and guide fee.

1 Walking Safari

Access to all content on Safari with Suyash – TV

Access to online photography masterclasses

Exclusions:

Flight/train tickets

Alcoholic beverages

Tips, laundry, personal snacks etc.

Transfers to and from Kanha are not included in the package but can be arranged at an added cost. The roundtrip cost for Jabalpur/Raipur to Kanha is INR 6,500 one-way.

We can coordinate with you for transfers to/from the airport/railway station. We generally do carpool for guests arriving at around the same time so everyone can split the costs.

All other expenses not mentioned in “inclusions” above will have to be borne as additional expenses by the participants

What are my payment options?

You can book directly through this website. For other payment options and related queries mail us on SafariWithSuyash@gmail.com

Is this tour for photographers only?

NO, this tour is for everyone who is interested in exploring the beauty of our natural world, take back experiences and memories of a lifetime, make new friends who share a similar interest and most importantly connect with nature.

You can arrive without a camera, and just take back memories and experiences.

THIS TOUR IS FOR YOU!

How do I reach Kanha?

Jabalpur is the closest airport to Kanha (approx. 3.5-hour drive) and Raipur is about 4 hours away
We can coordinate with you for transfers to/from the airport/railway station. We generally do carpool for guests arriving at around the same time. Please note that all such transfers will be at an additional cost. Jabalpur to Kanha one way is INR 6,500 per vehicle.
You can also drive to Kanha if you wish. The roads in Madhya Pradesh are excellent

Ideal Flight Timings

We recommend that you book any flight which arrives in Jabalpur/Raipur before 11:00 am on the day that the tour begins and any flight that leaves after 6:00 pm on the day that the tour ends.

Weather/Temperature:

Central India has a variable climate and weather conditions across the year.

The parks are open from October 1st to June 30th

October to Mid-November: Mild weather but mornings can be cold and afternoons can get warm some times

Mid November to February: Are peak winter months with temperatures going as low as 4 decrees celsius on some days, but usually remain between 10 and 20 degrees celsius with incredibly plasent afternoons where temperatures can go up-to 25 degrees. Guests should layer up during these times of the year and shed the layers as it gets warmer.

Mid February to Late March: Cool mornings and nights, but warm afternoons.

April – June: The weather is mild in the early mornings and late nights but afternoons can get very hot. They remain dry in April and May but when June rolls around, the weather gets humid and mid June onwards there are chances of rain.

What to pack?

Practical colors to wear to the park are khaki, beige and white in all seasons. Please avoid bright and flashy clothing and strong perfumes/deodorant. It is advisable not to wear sandals or shorts during nature walks

Here are some of our packing suggestions:

Light cotton trousers & cotton shorts
Light cotton shirts (long & short sleeved)
Cotton socks & comfortable walking shoes
Sandals
Shower proof rain jacket/ windbreaker
Hats, sunglasses & scarves
Sunscreen
Camera
Binoculars
Insect Repellents

For winters, pack extra:

Heavy woolen clothing
Woolen hats
Scarves and gloves
Fleece

Equipment Recommendation

If you are simply coming to enjoy the beauty of the national park and learn more about wildlife from Suyash, then you don’t need to bring any equipment with you.

If you are coming on this trip to learn photography then you are strongly recommended to bring your own camera. We suggest brining a combination lenses, such as a zoom lens as well as a wide-angle lens. Super telephoto lenses are also excellent. If you would like to rent any equipment, please contact Suyash in advance.

Smartphones are also very handy these days and Suyash can train you on the best way to use them.

You can also rent equipment from Suyash, please email him on SafariWithSuyash@gmail.com to reserve your equipment

Access t0 internet

The camp has basic internet connection in the lobby and the best connection for mobile connectivity is JIO in this area.

Food Allergies:

If you are allergic to any food items, kindly inform at the time of the check in. A freshly made spread of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food is served at all the camp. A light breakfast is served in the park, during the safari itself.

Photo Identity:

Please ensure that you are carrying a Government issued photo ID with you at all times during your travel.

For foreign nationals, a valid passport and visa is required for travel to India and entry into the National Park

Medical Facilities

Kanha National Park is located in a very remote region of India with the nearest hospital being 4 hours away in Jabalpur and Raipur.

Important Note:

Please carry your personal medications.

Expecting mothers, patients with heart conditions and any other health ailment that require constant medical attentions are advised not to travel.

Can I extend my stay?

YES, you can contact us directly on SafariWithSuyash@gmail.com and we can plan it out

Night Safari

Parks across Madhya Pradesh now offer night safaris in the buffer zones. This is a fantastic way to explore the beauty of the night sky and also see some of the shy and nocturnal creatures such as sloth bear, civet cat, jungle cat, bengal fox, nightjar and if you are lucky then the leopard and tiger too. We have had many instances where guests on #SafariWithSuyash have seen big cats along with the rare civet cats and bengal fox.

Night safaris are subject to availability and cannot be booked ahead of time. They will be arranged at an additional cost during the tour itself, and the cost is split between the participants.