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As seasoned travellers, we don't expect everything to be perfect when visiting remote places in the world. However, our recent trip to central India (Satpura and Kanha National Parks) couldn't have been better (if we ignore the weather!). Everyone who was involved tried their utmost to make our holiday a success. The wildlife we saw was fantastic, the accommodation very comfortable and the guides extremely knowledgeable. The thing that sets Naturetrek apart from other tour operators is their attention to detail. Some people may be offended when the pre-joining instructions suggest clothing to take, medicines etc. but we found it invaluable. The visa information was excellent. In summary, the instructions and other information supplied by Naturetrek meant that we were fully prepared for our holiday in India even though we had never visited the country before. We were so impressed, we booked another trip to India with them in November.
B.Q. East Sussex, Jan 19
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The Wildlife of Satpura - Best of Central India
Tour Code: IND45A 10-day holiday to the most scenic and peaceful of central India's Tiger Reserves, the little-known Satpura National Park, in search of a classic selection of birds and mammals, inlcuding Leopard, Sloth Bear, Dhole, Gaur and Indian Giant Squirrel. An optional extension to Kanha National Park is available.
£3,995 (Inc flights)
£3,495
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
Satpura National Park is one of the most spectacular and rewarding of India's Tiger Reserves. It is little-known and attracts relatively few visitors, having only two (excellent) tourist lodges. Mammalian highlights during a visit to Satpura are likely to include Leopard, Sloth Bear, Gaur, Dhole (Asian Wild Dog) and Indian Giant Squirrel, while birds such as Indian Skimmer, Bar-headed Goose, Grey Junglefowl, both Red and Painted Spurfowl, hornbills, babblers and bee-eaters are among its avian specialities. As well as traditional jeep safaris in Satpura, walking safaris are permitted in designated areas of the park, and you can explore the shores and inlets of Tawa Reservoir by boat or canoe. We stay in a superb wildlife eco-lodge during our visit to Satpura and for those who wish to stay longer and go in search of Tigers we recommend an extension to Kanha National Park.
- Stay in luxury lodges within central India’s most scenic & peaceful Tiger Reserve
- Leopard, Sloth Bear, Asian Wild Dog, Gaur & Indian Giant Squirrel
- Sambar, Chital, Blackbuck, Rhesus Macaques, Mouse Deer, Nilgai & Chousingha
- Birds include Tawny-bellied Babbler, Blue-bearded Bee-eater & Malabar Pied Hornbill
- Explore on foot & by canoe
- Visit the 10,000-year-old rocks at Bhimbetka
- Led by expert local guides
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Optional extension to Kanha National Park for Tiger-watching recommended
Grading
This is a wildlife tour that includes walking safaris, canoe, and Jeep safaris.
In the rugged heart of India lies one of the most spectacular and rewarding of Tiger Reserves, Satpura National Park. A haven for wildlife, thankfully it is little-known and attracts relatively few visitors, having only a few tourist lodges. Yet it is one of the key players in the chain of central Indian Tiger Reserves designed to protect one of India’s most extensive Tiger landscapes. Satpura is, quite simply, classic Tiger country. Here, open woodland, dense forest and grassy meadows rise from the shores of the Tawa reservoir in a series of hills, plateaux and sheer red sandstone cliffs to the Pachmarhi plateau and the peak of Dhoopgarh — the highest point of central India. It is a stunningly beautiful landscape — gnarled, eroded and fissured, with plunging gorges, rushing streams, ruined temples, ancient cave art and Stone Age rock paintings, plus a wealth of biodiversity unmatched in central India. Indeed it is thought that the Satpura Hills once formed the montane corridor between the eastern Himalaya and the Western Ghats before the softer rock on either side of Pachmarhi eroded to leave an isolated ‘highland island’ supporting many species of plants and animals that have long since disappeared elsewhere in central India. Indian Giant Squirrels and Indian Mouse-deer, for example, still occur, and the skies are often patrolled by Black Eagles and Mountain Hawk-eagles.
With such a range of habitats and altitudes, Satpura offers a wealth of wildlife-viewing that is amongst the best in India. Nowhere else are Gaur (the giant Asian Bison), the much sought-after Sloth Bear and the elusive Dhole (Asian Wild Dog) so abundant and easily seen. These species, together with the beautiful Indian Giant Squirrel and the Leopard (which is relatively common here), make up Satpura’s ‘big five’. Sambar, Chital, Muntjac, Nilgai, Blackbuck, Wild Boar, Rhesus Macaques and Common Langurs, Marsh Mugger Crocodiles, and even the elusive Chousingha, may also be seen, while Indian Skimmer, Bar-headed Geese, Grey Junglefowl, both Red and Painted Spurfowl, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Blue-bearded Bee-eater and Tawny-bellied Babbler are amongst Satpura’s avian specialities.
What we hope you will not see here is a Tiger! It is true that there are plenty of them in Satpura (at least 40 within its 1,503 square kilometres), but these are wild Tigers — fearful and wary of you. They are not habituated to man, as the Tigers of Ranthambore, Kanha and Bandhavgarh have become. They will not stroll amongst your jeeps, but they will watch you from afar, and endeavour to avoid you. At least, that is what we hope; for once Satpura’s Tigers lose their natural shyness, this fabulous Tiger Reserve will be swamped with tourists, and the tranquillity of this most spectacular of Tiger Reserves will be lost. So, if you should be so lucky as to see a Tiger here, enjoy a rare and natural sighting and keep it to yourself!
But there is so much more that is special about Satpura. Here, unlike in any other Tiger Reserve of north or central India, you may walk in designated areas of the park, and truly absorb the sounds, sights, smells, signs, tracks and so on of so thrilling an environment as ‘Tiger country’. Here you may explore the shores and inlets of Tawa reservoir by boat or canoe, paddled by local fishermen, in search of a rich spectacle of waterbirds and other wetland wildlife. With just 19 jeeps currently permitted to enter the park at any time, game drives in Satpura will be as rewarding and enjoyable as they get!
What’s more, Satpura is easy to reach. It lies just a 3-hour drive from the modern airport of Bhopal, and allows a visit to the fascinating 10,000-year-old rock shelters of Bhimbetka en route. Best of all, in this clean, peaceful and scenic part of rural India, just three luxury lodges service Satpura. They are amongst India’s leading ‘eco-lodges’, so good that we stay in one of these lodges for six nights. We are confident that you will love Satpura and, if you are really concerned that you may not see a Tiger, we offer an optional extension to Kanha National Park, where the Tigers are rather more obliging!
Outline Itinerary
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation: A luxury, historic 'palace hotel' in Bhopal, and a fabulous wildlife lodge in Satpura. All rooms have private facilities.
- Food: All included in the price.
Reviews
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We travelled to India with Naturetrek in December 2017, staying at the wonderful Reni Pani Jungle a short drive from Satpura national park. Each day we would rise early and bundle up against the pre-dawn chill and drive about 30 minutes to the national park entrance. The park is very special in that it allows only 12 safari vehicles in each day. We would spend a couple of hours on a game driving stopping for a delicious picnic breakfast at a ranger station. The Reni Pani Jungle Lodge was a delight to stay in. The staff were very welcoming and passionate about wildlife and their surroundings. Our cottage overlooked a seasonal nulla (stream) and we were able to view Sambhar deer from our verandah. The food was superb and each evening we would gather around the fire in the lounge for pre-dinner drinks and to talk about the day and what tomorrow would hold. Another very enjoyable holiday from Naturetrek.
J.A. London -
I can recommend this trip to anyone wanting a really great wildlife experience. The two lodges were both excellent and our guides, David and Aly, both extremely knowledgeable and informative. Under their guidance we saw both bears and a wonderful leopard besides great birding.
M.D. Derbyshire -
The guides at Satpura were outstanding. Dilip Saini was a good trip leader, well organised and knowledgeable, and I would happily go on a trip led by him in the future. I enjoyed the whole experience at Satpura, with the 'eco' accommodation, enthusiastic guides and lodge staff, and the sheer variety of activities: canoe safari, boat trip, evening/night drive, half day and whole day game drives, walk in the core zone, short walk to see the rock paintings at Churna, walks from the Forsyth Lodge. The variety of mammals, birds, butterflies, dragonflies, trees and other fauna/flora encountered all contributed to the enjoyment and interest of the trip. The relatively small number of visitors to the park, the short boat ride across the river to reach the core zone, the friendly villagers including children who photographed us with their mobiles as we drove past, made for a very special experience.
J.R. Berkshire -
We were very lucky to have experienced exceptionally good sightings of everything feathered and furry! Wonderful.
G.B. Worcestershire -
Satpura is a very special place, it is a beautiful National Park. I had a great holiday, with a lovely group.
R.B. Warwickshire -
This is a brilliant holiday for people who have a wide range of zoological/botanical interests, not just spotting Tigers etc. The leaders and other staff went out of their way to make this holiday enjoyable.
D.H. Hertfordshire -
Brilliantly organised. Cannot praise the taxi company from Bhopal more. Staff at the lodges did everything to make us feel welcome. Excellent tour guides. Fantastic food. Best coffee in the world. Unforgettable Christmas lunch and dinner.
O.K. Surrey -
Everything went extremely smoothly, and Naturetrek did a wonderful job in paying great attention to detail as usual. The lodges were superb, especially Forsyth's Lodge, and the tour leaders were incredibly knowledgeable, and did their best to locate the wildlife we were searching for. It was my first visit to India, and Satpura was the perfect introduction. Many thanks to Rajan for his help arranging our trip beforehand, and to our excellent leaders Aly and David.
N.H. Hertfordshire
Extensions
Kanha extension
Bori Wildlife extension
Dates & Prices
2025
2026
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Naturetrek has nearly 30 years of experience leading Tiger watching holidays to the Indian subcontinent. With a 100% record of success on our top tours, we’ve shown Tigers to more people than any other wildlife specialists.
Arguably the most iconic and charismatic species on the planet, this enigmatic big cat is a vision of natural perfection. The opportunity to observe the animal in its natural habitat on a dedicated Tiger watching tour is at the top of many people's wildlife wish lists. With almost three decades of expertise leading in India, and the widest range of itineraries available, we have a Tiger tour to suit all interests.
We visit some of the most wildlife-rich reserves in this astonishingly diverse country. Accompanied by the best local naturalist guides and enjoying the security and intimate experiences that come with small group travel, participants enjoy the ultimate thrill of encountering these magnificent wild animals in their own environment.
Superb Tiger Watching with Naturetrek
As the leading operator of natural history tours in India, Naturetrek has a long and proud tradition of enabling clients to experience the very best wildlife viewing opportunities in the subcontinent. Over the past three decades, many hundreds of nature lovers have enjoyed the benefits of our renowned small group itineraries to gain multiple sightings of this beautiful animal in the wild.
Our professionally organised tours take in some of the most famous and wildlife-rich reserves in India, including Pench, Kanha, Bandhavgarh, and Panna National Parks. Our expert naturalist guides provide the best opportunities for sightings of a wide range of species in these spectacular natural environments.
Two other fantastic national parks – Tadoba and Satpura – can be visited on optional extensions to several of our top Tiger tours. Tadoba is an excellent Tiger watching destination, while Satpura is renowned for intimate encounters with Sloth Bear, Leopard and Dhole (Indian Wild Dog); the park also offers walking safaris and night game drives.
Some of the reasons our tours are so successful:
- 100% sightings on our four top safaris in the last five years
- Small groups escorted by India’s best naturalist guides
- Up-to-date information from wildlife reserves
- Scrupulous attention to detail in choosing a high standard of accommodation
- Excellent local guides monitor the animals’ movement daily to ensure the best sightings
What can I expect on a typical Naturetrek Tiger holiday?
- A comfortable lodge within a convenient distance from the reserve
- Twice-daily excursions by vehicle (or by foot in Satpura) into the reserves
- A focus on sightings of this wonderful big cat, while also enjoying culture and other wildlife
- The enjoyment of like-minded travelling companions in a small group
Further information on when, where, and how to see Tigers can be found here.
Our specialist recommends...
"I’d recommend our Tiger Marathon tour, which takes you straight into the heart of the jungle on a 13-day safari that combines Pench, Kanha, Bandhavgarh and Panna National Parks, four of India's finest reserves. Since we began the tour we've had 100% sightings! Alternatively, our Tiger Direct itinerary encompasses less travel and also has 100% success rate.”
Rajan Jolly - Operations Manager
Birding Tours Led by Expert Naturalists
The majority of our wildlife tours focus primarily on birds, allowing us to offer a huge choice of bird holidays. On most of our birdwatching tours we aim to see a wide variety of species, while taking time to enjoy other wildlife as well as cultural highlights and architecture.
Naturetrek Birdwatching Tours
We have one of the largest selections of professionally organised, small group birdwatching holidays around the world and all of our birdwatching tours are accompanied by at least one professional ornithologist leader with detailed knowledge of the area.
The majority of our bird tours have a relaxed, flexible approach which allows more time for photography, detailed wildlife exploration, leisure time and the region’s people, culture, history and architecture, while allowing the group to see a wide range of bird species.
Here is a small selection of our many bird holidays:
- Southern Morocco – an exploration of the birdlife in Morocco’s southern deserts, oases and mountains
- The Camargue in Spring – a short break to enjoy the spring birds of the Rhône Delta and Camargue wetland
- Wallcreepers & Cranes in Northern Spain – a 2-centre holiday focusing on Lammergeier, Wallcreepers, raptors, Cranes, bustards, sandgrouse and more!
- Madeira & Desertas Islands – A Seabird Extravaganza! – a short break focusing on special breeding seabirds, including a night on the remote Destertas Islands
- Peru – Macaws & Machu Picchu – searches for boobies, macaws and Inca Terns
- Spain & Morocco: Birding on Two Continents! – watch the spectacular spring bird migration from both sides of the Straits of Gibraltar
Our Bargain Birdwatching Selection
Our Bargain Bird Tours are intensive birdwatching holidays suitable for the serious birder. They are led by expert English-speaking local guides (and not accompanied from the UK by a tour leader). You can expect a higher-paced tour and to spend long hours in the field.
Our specialist recommends...
Byron Palacios - Tour Leader
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Mammal Watching Holidays
Many of the world’s mammals are instantly recognisable to us. Animals such as Lions, Tigers, elephants and bears capture our imaginations from an early age. At Naturetrek, we take great pleasure and pride in helping people to fulfil their lifelong dreams of seeing these iconic species in the wild. We also enjoy introducing our clients to some of the world’s more unusual mammals, many of which are just as fascinating.
Naturetrek Mammal Watching Tours
Many of our tours have a primary focus on mammals and we offer the widest choices of mammal-watching holidays across the globe, from the poles to the tropics. Our holidays are guided by at least one professional naturalist tour leader and usually benefit from additional guiding by expert local naturalist guides. We have holidays to see an incredible range of the world’s most sought-after mammals, such as orangutans, lemurs, bats, polar mammals, big cats, and mammals of the African savannah. A significant number of tours also targets some of the planet’s more unusual and elusive species, from pottos and pangolins to slender lorises and obscure cetaceans.
Here’s a selection of our mammal tours:
- India’s Kanha and Pench Tiger Reserves
- A cruise to Spitsbergen in search of Polar Bears
- A chance to see the ‘Big Five’ and much more in South Africa’s Kruger National Park
- Search for Blue, Fin and Sperm Whales in the Azores
- Close-up views of Brown Bear and Wolverine in Finland
- Enjoy the mammals of Kenya’s Masai Mara, while staying in luxury camps
- Search for elusive nocturnal mammals, such as Aardvark, Black-footed Cat and Aardwolf, in the Kalahari Desert
Bargain mammal selection
We offer a range of action-packed bargain holidays for the dedicated mammal enthusiast, which are exceptional value for money, from Belize to Zambia.
Our specialist recommends...
Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager
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Big Cat Safari Holidays
Big cats are among the most admired and sought-after mammals on the planet, and we are proud to offer a broad and comprehensive range of big cat safari holidays. We offer inspiring and truly memorable wildlife tours to enjoy sightings of all of the world’s iconic species in their natural habitats, including Tigers in India and Nepal, Jaguars in the Pantanal, Pumas in Chile and Snow Leopards in India and Mongolia and we certainly do not neglect the smaller cats either.
We offer a range of itineraries around Africa and encounter the continent’s high-profile species like Lions, Cheetahs and Leopards and also the lesser known species such as Caracal, Sand Cat, Black-footed Cat, Serval and African Wild Cat. We also have wildlife holidays that catch sightings of the Asiatic Lion in India and the elusive Leopard in Sri Lanka.
We also offer a pioneering tour to try to see the most difficult of all big cats the Sunda Clouded Leopard in Borneo with Leopard Cat, Marbled Cat and Flat-headed Cat all having being seen on our Borneo holidays. Closer to home, we offer holidays in Europe to go in search of Wildcat and both Eurasian and Iberian Lynx.
We have run these holidays for many years with great success, working with the best local contacts and guides and staying at the very best locations with carefully crafted itineraries which allow the optimum amount of time to achieve sightings.
Our specialist recommends...
Tom Mabbett - Operations Manager
Why Naturetrek?
At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:
- The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
- Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
- Outstanding value and exceptional customer service
Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!
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