Until quite recently, scenic Satpura National Park remained virtually unknown. Even now, only three lodges provide accommodation in its picturesque surroundings.
A wildlife experience here is truly wonderful, and not unlike Kanha or Bandhavgarh twenty years ago before they were popular spots on the typical tourist trail in India.
The main park area is surrounded by water on three sides, protecting its land from encroachment by the villagers and keeping the woodlands pristine. In actual fact, the residents and wildlife live together quite harmoniously throughout the park. You can expect pristine forests and plenty of wildlife, even in the buffer zone. It is not uncommon for leopard and Indian wild dogs to approach the lodge areas, which is always a thrill.
Naturalists are slowly treating the park and the animal territories with much more respect in recent times, and as a result, tiger sightings are definitely improving, but it’s the wild dog, leopard and bear sightings that make this area a special treat for visitors. Satpura is also the only national park in the county to make canoeing, boating, and elephant safaris possible, in addition to the usual walking safaris. For the ultimate enjoyment, you can opt for a three day, two-night trek through the forest’s buffer zone, leading to the old Pachmarhi hill station. We would highly recommend this option for getting up close and personal with the incredibly varied fauna and flora species in the unspoilt forest.
The best time to visit is between November and May and mid-October to mid-March, when temperatures are milder, though the middle of December through till the end of January should be avoided due to cold, misty mornings. For the real wildlife enthusiasts, the prime time to visit from March to the end of May when the weather is extremely hot, drying up watering holes and making wildlife sightings more common.
