Kipling’s Wilderness Trail – Central India Tigers

ITINERARY

• 01 Delhi – Arrival & Orientation
  • Overview

  Arrive early morning at New Delhi International Airport, where you will be received and assisted before transfer to your hotel.
  The day is at leisure to recover from your journey. Depending on arrival time, your naturalist may offer an informal briefing on the wildlife landscapes of central India, setting the context for the days ahead.
  
  Overnight in Delhi.

• 02 Delhi – Nagpur – Pench National Park
  • Overview

  Morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Nagpur.
  
  On arrival, drive to Pench National Park, a landscape of teak forests and open woodland that inspired Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book.
  After check-in and lunch at your wildlife lodge, proceed for an afternoon jungle safari.
  
  Pench is known for:

  • Healthy tiger population
  • Leopards and wild dogs (dhole)
  • Abundant herbivore base including chital and sambar
  • Rich birdlife across dry deciduous forest habitat

  
  Return to the lodge by evening.
  
  Overnight at the resort.

• 03 Pench – Tiger Safari
  • Overview

  Morning and afternoon safaris in Pench National Park.
  
  With your specialist naturalist, focus on:

  • Tracking tiger and leopard movement
  • Understanding prey–predator dynamics
  • Observing dhole packs and their hunting behaviour
  • Birding opportunities in varied woodland habitats

  
  The relatively open forest structure of Pench allows for excellent visibility and extended observation.
  
  Overnight at the resort.

• 04 Pench – Kanha National Park
  • Overview

  Early morning safari in Pench.
  
  After breakfast, drive to Kanha National Park, one of India’s finest and most scientifically managed tiger reserves.
  
  On arrival, check in to your lodge.
  
  Depending on timing, an afternoon safari introduces you to Kanha’s diverse landscape of sal forests, bamboo thickets, and expansive meadows.
  
  Overnight at the resort.

• 05 Kanha National Park – Meadow & Grassland
  • Overview

  Full day dedicated to exploration of Kanha National Park with morning and afternoon safaris.
  
  Kanha is globally known for:

  • The successful conservation of the Barasingha (Swamp Deer)
  • Strong tiger presence
  • Large herds of gaur (Indian bison)
  • Diverse birdlife across meadows and forest edges

  Your naturalist will guide you through:

  • Habitat-specific wildlife distribution
  • Grassland ecology and herbivore behaviour
  • Advanced tracking techniques using alarm calls and field signs

  Overnight at the resort.

• 06 Kanha – Jabalpur – Overnight Train to Agra
  • Overview

  Morning safari in Kanha for final exploration and photography.
  
  Later, drive to Jabalpur to board your overnight train to Agra.
  
  Overnight onboard the train.

• 07 Agra – The Heritage City
  • Overview

  Arrive in Agra in the morning and transfer to your hotel.
  
  After breakfast, visit the Taj Mahal, one of the world’s most iconic monuments, followed by Agra Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site reflecting Mughal architectural grandeur.
  This cultural interlude provides a striking contrast to the wilderness landscapes experienced earlier in the journey.
  
  Overnight at the hotel in Agra.

   

• 08 Agra – Delhi – Departure
  • Overview

  Morning at leisure.
  
  In the afternoon, drive to Delhi to connect with your international flight for onward journey.