Pench National Park is one of 12 national parks in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh (MP). Along with Kanha National Park, Pench serves as an important corridor for wildlife movement between not just Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra but also Chhattisgarh and beyond. The undulating landscape of Pench is dotted with grasslands and mixed forests supported by a round the year supply of fresh water. As such the region has one of the highest density of herbivores in any national park in India.
Leopard regurgitating fur-ball
The Park is spread over an area of approximately 800 square kilometers and comprises of the Indira Priyadarshini Pench National Park, Pench Tiger Reserve and the Pench Mowgli Wildlife Sanctuary which serves as a buffer. Between this large expanse of forest and Kanha National Park are the densely forested lands of Mandla, Balaghat and Seoni districts, all in Madhya Pradesh. If you ever find yourself driving between these two Parks you will be amazed with the dense forest cover that provides a safe haven to an incredible many species of flora and fauna, some of which are rare and threatened.
Nagpur is the closest airport to access Pench and depending on which hotel you’re staying at, it takes from 2-3 hours to reach from the airport. Nagpur is well connected by air and rail to all major cities especially Mumbai and Delhi. Because the distance between various safari gates of Pench is quite far we recommend our guests to check with us before they plan their safari holiday.
Tiger cooling off in the summer heat
Tiger cubs in Pench National Park
A section of the forest (Khursapar) of Pench also comes under the jurisdiction of the state of Maharashtra. Visitors can also do safaris from the Khursapar gate which is a short drive from the Turia gate of Pench National Park in MP. Like most Parks in India, Pench is closed from July 1 to September 30 (monsoon season) every year. No safaris are conducted in the core zones of Pench on Wednesday afternoons. You can however, do a day or a night safari in the buffer zones of the Park on a Wednesday. Night safaris are only conducted in the buffer zones of all national parks across India.
Besides the tiger, mammal species you may see in Pench but won’t in national parks in north India include the Indian Bison (gaur), hard-ground Barasingha and the Indian Wild Dog (dhole).
Indian Bison or Gaur
Mottled Wood Owl
With over 300 species recorded in and around the Park, Pench is a paradise for bird watchers. Depending on season, migratory birds along with resident species such as the mottled wood owl, black naped monarch, leaf birds, vultures can often be spotted during safaris and on walks.
Pench is also home to several species of reptiles and amphibians. During your safari or when on a nature walk keep a look out for the flashy (males sport a bright red color) peninsular rock agamas and the fan-throated lizards flashing away their cream colored dewlaps hoping to attract the ladies or to chase away competing males.
Fan-throated Lizard flashing his dewlap
Monitor Lizard
Also spotted during safaris are monitor lizards. Popping their head indifferently out of a tree hole observing the wild-wild jungle in front of them or basking on a rock on a cold winter morning, they’re always a joy to observe in the wild.
Guests who are not keen to do back-to-back safaris, can go on designated nature trails with our team of experienced naturalists. It is on these nature walks that you get to see the smaller forest beings often missed during a fleeting jeep safari. You can also visit local tribal villages many of whom have been living alongside wildlife for generations. See first-hand their way of life living on the fringes of the last few protected forests of India and their traditions, once that of a hunter-gatherer, today rapidly changing due to seeping modernization.
For a customized itinerary and quote for Pench and other national parks in Madhya Pradesh please submit your details by clicking on Contact Us below or you can also write to us at info@travelwith.in
Spotted Owlet on a Mahua Tree
