Explore Pench Safari

Jungle safari

You can book your jeep safari online from our website – to see various wildlife animals such as tigers, jackals, sloth bears, langurs, deers, and several species of beautiful birds.

There are in total 7 zones for jeep safaris for you to choose from:

Turia Gate, Karmajhiri Zone, Wolf Sanctuary, Rukhad Zone, Jamtara Zone, Teliya Zone, Khursapar Zone, and Sillari Zone.

Safari Zones in Pench National Park

Turia Zone

This zone is the most popular as in this zone tiger and leopard sightings are most common. This area is famous for its beautiful view of big ghost trees with nicely shaped rocks, and sparkling salai trees. A majority of hotels can be found around this part of Pench National Park.

Karmajhiri Zone

This zone is famous for spotting a variety of birds, tiger sightings, and wild dogs. One can find teak and timber trees here. If you’re lucky then you can see Gaurs, Sambars, and barking deer in this zone. This gate is less busy as there are not many accomodations available here

Jamtara Zone

This is a very popular zone for spotting sloth bears and having Banyan and Shindoori trees. This zone offers a limited area to visit, however, when the river is dry, you can go to other zones via Chendia Ghat and reach the breakfast point of Alikatta.

Rukhad Zone

This zone comes under the buffer area of Pench, well-known for tiger sightings, Jamun, Bamboo, and Arjun Trees, flowing streams, and many butterflies. Tiger sightings have become common in this zone after the construction of a newly elevated highway.

Sillari Zone

This zone is popular for Garari, Bamboo, and Teak Trees; however this area is closed on Wednesdays. This one is the main gate of Pench in Maharashtra. This area is filled with a lot of water bodies and waterfalls. Tourists can spot wild dogs and sloth bears in this zone.

Khursapar Zone

A great place for tiger sightings and various bird species. This is another gate of pench in Maharashtra. You must visit this zone in a day safari as there are maximum chances of spotting wild animals like Chowsingha, Chinkara, tigers, and Gaurs in their natural

Madhya Pradesh Safari zone in Pench National Park

Touria Zone (CORE):

This zone is closest to the borders of both states and is close to National Highway 7. This area is famous for its beautiful view of big ghost trees with nicely shaped rocks, and sparkling salai trees. The main spots or touria zone are Baginnalla waterhole, JodaMunara, Junewani waterhole, Pyorthadi, Alikatta, Kala Pahad. Among these spots, Kala Pahad is the highest point of Pench. A majority of hotels can be found around this part of Pench National Park. You can see mixed vegetation, scrublands, and streams in this part of the forest. The area is known for its dynamic views of rocks, surrounded by the gigantic Ghost Trees and sparkling Salai Trees. apart from leopards, you can see Chital (Spotted deer), jackals, and beautiful birds here.

• Zone tiger sightings are most common.

• Famous for seeing tigers and leopards.

• The famous tourist spot Baginnalla waterhole is found here.

Karmajhiri Zone (CORE):

This zone is famous for spotting a variety of birds, tiger sightings, and wild dogs. One can find a huge amount of teak trees here and this part was used for timber production before it was changed to tiger reserve area. If you’re lucky then you can see Gaurs, Sambars, and barking deer in this zone. This gate is less busy as there are not many accomodations available here. Although, you can get a forest rest house here. The tribal people of this region call this zone Bodhanalla which means male gaur stream. The main spots in this zone are Bodhanalla, Sitaghat, and Alikatta.

Jamtara Zone (CORE):

This is a trendy zone for spotting sloth bears and having Banyan and Shindoori trees. This zone offers a limited area to visit, however, when the river is dry, you can go to other zones via Chendia Ghat and reach the breakfast point of Alikatta. The main spots of this zone include Chendia Gate, Tikari, and Alikatta.

Khawasa Zone (BUFFER):

This zone is famous for sightings of wolves, foxes, and nocturnal birds. This zone is also known as the wolf sanctuary. Night safaris are best in this area (night safaris can not be booked online). The area of this zone is mostly forest with open faces, and animals like wolves, foxes, porcupines, and owls like to live here. Touria Gate is quite close to this area.

Khumbpani Zone (BUFFER):

This zone is newly opened, only 10 jeeps are allowed in this zone, 5 jeeps are allowed for the morning safari and another 5 for the evening. This zone is quite close to the Khwasa zone, you can find various wild animals here. You can spot tigers, deer, birds, etc.

Masurnala Zone (BUFFER):

If you didn’t get the chance to get a ride in the Rukhad zone, then this is another option for you. This area is well known for the sighting of gaurs, tigers, and bamboo trees. This is the new gate, recently set up for jungle safaris. During summers this is a great zone for spotting tigers.

Rukhad Zone (BUFFER):

This zone comes under the buffer area of Pench, well-known for tiger sightings, Jamun, Bamboo, and Arjun Trees, flowing streams, and many butterflies. Tiger sightings have become common in this zone after the construction of a newly elevated highway. Now you might be thinking how an elevated highway is the reason behind it, so, between this corridor, underpasses have been made for tigers. You can roam around in this zone by raking a jeep or cycle. This area is good for those who are staying in forest rest homes.

Teliya Zone (BUFFER):

This zone is located 4 km away from Touria gate. Tourists can spot wolves, panthers, leopards, barking deer, chowsingha, and blue-bull antelope in this zone. This new zone is specially opened for its sighting of Black Panthers also known as Melanistic Leopard.

Kolitmara Zone (CORE):

This zone is around 80 km from Nagpur. This is the only zone in which you are allowed to go on your safari. The main attractions of this zone are boating and dense forest areas. Khursapar village is the entry point of this area. It has calm waters from Pench Reservoir that attract lots of birds and animals. You can do jungle safaris here and also take a boat ride on the reservoir. The forest here is thick, unlike Sillari and Khursapar.

Khubala Zone (CORE):

Another name for this zone is Saleghat. This zone is 83 km away from the Khwasa zone. The entry gate of the Kubala zone is at Surewani village. In this dense forest area, you can find a variety of flora and fauna. This is home to species like tigers, leopards, and sloth bears.

Sillari Zone (CORE):

This zone is popular for Garari, Bamboo, and Teak Trees; however this area is closed on Wednesdays. This one is the main gate of Pench in Maharashtra. This area is filled with a lot of water bodies and waterfalls. Swarg and Bamboo ban are the main spots here. Tourists can spot wild dogs and sloth bears in this zone. This area is located at a distance of 40km from Touria gate but there are not many accomodations available.

Chorbahuli zone (CORE):

This zone is closed on Monday. If you’re traveling from Nagpur to Jabalpur, this zone is the first that you will come across. This zone is not very famous among tourists so you can spot wild animals in peace. You can see various species of birds here while boating.

Khursapar Zone (CORE):

A great place for tiger sightings and various bird species. This zone is around 12 km away from Khwasa zone. This is another gate of pench in Maharashtra. You must visit this zone in a day safari as there are maximum chances of spotting wild animals like Chowsingha, Chinkara, tigers, and Gaurs in their natural habitat. This place is also a great spot for bird watchers as you can see many species of birds here. Important spots in this zone are Bandra Talab and Chitgohta.

Surewani Zone (BUFFER):

This zone is also known as Nagalwadi Zone, you can spot various types of flora and fauna here. 14 jeeps are allotted for this zone, with 7 in each shift. This zone is quite close to Sironji village. You can opt for a night safari in this zone.

Maharashtra Safari zone in Pench National Park

For riding on your safari, you have to follow some rules and regulations of the government of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. Rules are as follows:

1. Tourists must have a permit to enter the park premises.

2. Blowing horn, shouting, or using any tape recorder, transistor, or radio is strictly prohibited.

3. Tourists must have to obey the rules that are informed by guides or written on notice boards and brochures.

4. Tourists must keep their identity cards with them when visiting the park. Exceptions are children below 5 years.

5. If you want to experience the adventure of the full national park, then you must choose the safari ride for both states.

6. Visitors are not allowed to get down from the safari during your ride, if you want to walk between the jungle, then you can do Runi-Jhooni Trail.

7. There are some designated routes for safaris, and they are fixed, those routes will not be changed even after the requests from visitors.

8. For different zones and different types of rides, there are different rates. Some go alone, some book rides for a whole day, and some book rides for the full national park, so, charges will change as per the booking done by the customer.

9. During unexpected circumstances, like weather conditions or fire, in those cases the concerned authorities reschedule the rides, during that time visitors are requested to support the decision taken by concerned authorities.

10. The Forest Department of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra is solely responsible for any rescheduling or cancellation of permits. The decision of the forest department will be considered full and final.

11. You should visit Pench National Park between October to June. The park remains open from 1 October to 30 June. This park is closed during monsoon because this season is considered as a breeding time for animals.

Additional Information for Tourists

• Permits are provided for particular zones, tourists can not enter other zones with the same permit.

• Entry and exit gates for jeep safaris are the same, thus you don’t have to worry about where will your ride end.

• Tourists are advised to book their safaris 120 days before their visit, as permits are not easily available.

• Visitors have to follow all the rules and regulations that are mentioned.

• Visitors are required to carry their IDs such as driver's license, passport, PAN card, voter card, etc. If the visitor is a foreigner then they have to carry their passport with them.

Safari Rules

Do's & Don'ts in jungle safari

When going on a jungle safari in Pench Tiger Reserve, following certain guidelines ensures a safe, enjoyable, and environmentally friendly experience. Here’s a list of key do’s and don’ts:

### Do’s

1. Wear Neutral Colors: Wear earthy tones like green, brown, or beige to blend in with the surroundings. Bright colors can startle wildlife.

2. Stay Quiet: Minimize noise to avoid disturbing animals. It also increases your chances of spotting wildlife.

3. Listen to the Guide: Guides are experienced and know the jungle’s dos and don’ts. Follow their instructions for a safe and fruitful experience.

4. Carry Essentials: Bring water, snacks, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and binoculars for comfort and to enhance your experience.

5. Stay Alert: Keep an eye out for wildlife on all sides. Many animals, like leopards and monkeys, are elusive and may be high in the trees or blending with the environment.

6. Respect Animal Habitats: Observe animals from a distance. Keep your hands inside the vehicle at all times.

7. Follow Safari Timings: Stick to designated safari times as they are set to ensure minimal disturbance to animals and a better chance of spotting wildlife.

### Don’ts

1. Don’t Litter: Dispose of waste properly, either in designated bins or back at the lodge. Trash can harm animals and pollute the environment.

2. Avoid Flash Photography: Flash can disturb and even agitate animals. Use natural lighting or turn off the flash to capture photos.

3. Don’t Feed the Animals: Feeding wildlife disrupts their natural diet and behaviors, which can be harmful.

4. Don’t Get Out of the Vehicle: Except in designated areas, stay inside the safari vehicle at all times to ensure safety.

5. Avoid Strong Scents: Avoid wearing strong perfumes or deodorants, as strong scents can alert animals or cause discomfort.

6. No Loud Music: Playing music or making loud sounds not only disturbs wildlife but also ruins the experience for others.

7. Do Not Touch or Damage Plants: Plants and trees are part of the animals' ecosystem. Respect their habitat by leaving flora undisturbed.

Following these do’s and don’ts helps protect the environment and ensures a memorable safari experience for all visitors.

Best Time to Visit Pench National Park

Summer (March - June)

The summer season is a nice time to visit Pench National Park. The months of March, April, May, and June come under this season. This season is considered a great time to visit this park because many animals come near water bodies to drink water. The temperature during the summer season is hot, ranging between 28° To 45° which can be a problem for some people. But if you wear comfortable clothes, and bring water bottles and sunscreen then you can enjoy the beauty and thrill of this park. You can spot various kinds of wild animals during this season. If you’re a bird watcher then you should visit this park before the end of April.

Winter (Mid October - February)

November, December, January, and February are the months that come under the winter season. During winter the temperature is between 10° To 28°. Winter is the best season to visit Pench National Park as the weather is nice for sightseeing wild animals, you can also go on walks during this season. This season is the busiest season for Pench National Park, a large number of tourists come here during this season. It is a great time for visiting the park but make sure that you bring warm clothes with you as the temperature can go as low as 6°c during night time. Bird watchers are advised to visit this park after December because the best time for bird watching here is between January to late April.

Monsoon (July - Mid October)

During monsoon season, the weather is not nice. Heavy rainfall is possible during this time and the paths between the parks become slippery. Most of the national parks remain closed during monsoon season. Pench National Park is closed in July, August, and September.

NOTE : The park is shut during the monsoon season from July to September.

Wildlife Gallery

Explore stunning images of wildlife from Pench Tiger Reserve safaris.

The jeep safari at Pench Tiger Reserve was unforgettable! We saw tigers, sloth bears, and beautiful birds. Highly recommend booking online for a seamless experience!

John Doe

★★★★★