The Indian Jungle Book

Arrive in Delhi and transfer to your hotel. The remainder of the day is free to relax after your flight and prepare for the wildlife adventure ahead. As India’s capital, Delhi provides a brief introduction to the country before you head into the forests of Madhya Pradesh in search of Bengal tigers.

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Jabalpur before continuing by road to Bandhavgarh National Park. Once the royal hunting reserve of the Rewa Maharajas, Bandhavgarh is now one of India’s premier tiger reserves and is renowned for having one of the highest tiger densities in the world. Arrive at your jungle lodge and settle into the wilderness surroundings.

Embark on morning and afternoon private jeep safaris accompanied by an English-speaking naturalist guide. Beyond Bengal tigers, the park is home to leopards, langurs, macaques, spotted deer, nilgai, wild boar, and over 250 bird species. Every drive offers a different experience as you navigate forests, grasslands, and watering holes searching for wildlife.

Continue exploring Bandhavgarh with additional morning and afternoon game drives. Spending multiple days in the reserve significantly improves wildlife viewing opportunities, allowing time to track elusive predators and observe the rhythms of the forest beyond a single safari experience.

Depart Bandhavgarh and travel approximately five hours by road to Kanha Tiger Reserve. The landscapes gradually shift as you move deeper into central India. Kanha is internationally famous as one of the inspirations behind Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book and is regarded as one of India’s most beautiful national parks.

Enjoy morning and afternoon private jeep safaris in Kanha. The reserve is the only place in the world where the rare wild barasingha (swamp deer) has been successfully conserved after nearing extinction. Alongside tigers, visitors may encounter jackals, Indian wild dogs, chital deer, and a rich variety of birdlife throughout the park’s bamboo forests and grasslands.

Spend a second full day exploring Kanha’s vast ecosystems. The reserve’s combination of forests, meadows, and water sources creates one of India’s most photogenic safari destinations. Additional game drives increase the chances of memorable tiger sightings while also revealing the broader biodiversity that makes Kanha exceptional.

After breakfast, transfer to either Jabalpur or Raipur Airport for your onward journey. Your safari concludes after a week spent exploring two of India’s most celebrated wildlife reserves and following in the footsteps of The Jungle Book.