Pugdundee Safaris

With intimate jungle lodges in Kanha,

Bandhavgarh, Pench, Satpura,

Panna and Tadoba, Pugdundee

Safaris banks on its team comprising naturalists, Nature guides, boatmen, and wildlife trackers to ensure travellers get to experience a slice of the wild.

“Wildlife holidays are now becoming a regular norm of the evolved Indian traveller and are slowly getting a share of fondness just like annual mountain and beach holidays,” says Manav Khanduja, director, Pugdundee Safaris, adding how social media and easy accessibility of good photography equipment have further fuelled the interest, as “everyone wants to try their hand at clicking their favorite cat!”

Having said that, there is a safari for everyone. “For tiger sightings, Bandhavgarh and Tadoba are recommended. Kanha is the most scenic and indemand, Satpura is popular for its holistic experiences such as night walks, coracle rides, etc. that make for an active holiday, whereas Pench is ideal for spotting leopards,” explains Manav.

He adds, “We cannot guarantee a tiger sighting, and it definitely needs some luck!” Which is why he recommends guests travel for a minimum of fourfive days. “We stopped oneday bookings a few years ago. The longer your stay, the higher the chances of spotting a tiger as you can take multiple safaris.”

If you aim to sight the big cat, their Great India Tiger Safari (covering Tadoba, Kanha and Bandhavgarh) and Tiger Tour (comprising Bandhavgarh, Kanha and Pench) could be on your itinerary. For the bird enthusiasts, there is a Central India Birding Tour that takes tourists to Satpura, Pench and Kanha National Parks.

If you would like a blend of it all, the Wildlife Trails Programme covers the top four parks of Central India: Panna, Bandhavgarh, Kanha, and Pench.

In addition, Manav says bespoke experiences are

“always in demand”. These include a bush dinner in the wild, sunset walks, cycle rides between national parks, walking trails, canoe rides, etc.

Season:

October to June

Price:

Accommodation starts from ₹20,000, inclusive of meals and taxes