Satpura National Park Wildlife Safari Booking & Holiday Packages

Satpura National Park is the best place to go for a tranquil wildlife experience without tourists around. This hidden gem in Madhya Pradesh is not at all like the bustling, jeep-filling routes of their more popular parks. Underneath the canopy of trees, so peaceful is it that you can really hear wild sounds without competing with the roaring engines of tourists. The scenery is mesmerizing with dramatic hilly ridges, gorges carved over time and gentle running slow streams. Established in 1981, Satpura stretched across a vast protected area and is famous not only for how easy it makes spotting wildlife, but for the quality of the sightings. The park’s undiscovered mystique stems from its location in the heart of the ancient Satpura mountain range, revealing hidden treasures with every bend you take. Be it while venturing into its core zone, or placing your buffer of forest between you and the world, a rich tapestry of flora and fauna will provide a peaceful backdrop. For the travelers who long for a more authentic, solitude-tinged wilderness experience in India, Satpura is a rare peace-filled sanctuary all to himself to disappear to.

A Biodiverse Treasure in the Heart of India

Satpura National Park, known locally as Madhai, sits at the center of India's natural heritage and is much more than a tiger reserve; it is a vibrant, ancient landscape. Being one of the oldest reserve forests of the country , it is an essential part of the first biosphere reserve of Madhya Pradesh. Its name, which means “seven hills” in Sanskrit, reflects its rugged, diverse landscape of stunning sandstone formations, cascading waterfalls, dense sal and teak forests. This unique terrain forms a special basin between two great rivers and harbors a wildlife also rare for the area. Satpura is a favorite among birdwatchers and its reservoirs and grasslands are home to more than 300 species, including some colorful migratory visitors. The rich fabric of the park extends even beyond such famous mammals to include myriad medicinal plants and rare animals. It is this perfect blend of unspoilt beauty, ecological importance and abundance that makes a Satpura for all seasons and a Satpura for any nature lover and a Satpura for every nature lover.

The Entrance Gates of Jeep Safaris

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The Madhai Gate

The Madhai Gate is the entrance to the most important core zone of the park. To protect the forest, only a limited number of jeeps are allowed here and just 30 for the entire day, which are used for both the morning and evening safari drives. Besides the regular jeep tour, visitors at this gate can also enjoy other nature-friendly activities like riding an elephant, taking a boat ride, going canoeing, or trekking through the jungle.

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The Churna Gate

The Churna Gate offers a different kind of experience. Instead of having to book a park jeep, visitors to this zone are permitted to drive their own private vehicle inside for the safari. However, your vehicle must be a strong four-wheel drive, like a Bolero or Thar, that can handle the bumpy and uneven forest paths, and it should be pollution-free.

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Parsapani Gates

Access to the Buffer Zone Parsapani & Jamani Dev Gates: Buffer Zone Access For the Jamani Dev and Parsapani Gates towards the buffer zones at Madhai, a private vehicle is available to use as a mode of transportation in your safari. The park authorities limit the traffic to prevent gridlock, with 14 vehicles allowed in the morning and another 14 in the afternoon. This strict control makes for a more exclusive and calm encounter when trekking through the dense forest that surrounds the vital area. This route is well known for very good viewing of deer, antelope and many birds at an open air setting.

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The Pachmarhi Gate

The Pachmarhi Gate opens on to a scenic hill station within the park. The region is renowned for its beautiful waterfalls and breathtaking views. Driving your own private vehicle, you can visit all of these beautiful places as you wish, as this is a bit on the scenic side. The curves meander through cool misty rainforests and along sheer drops, and you get a completely different animal, add to that traditional jungle safari feel. This is the route for a leisurely, self-guided tour to enjoy the park's natural wonders and invigorating climate at your pace.

History The Legacy of Satpura National Park

It is said that in the 15th century the Gond kings ruled this area that makes the park have a great history of kings and queens. But also some locals say that there was a person named Taru who was killed by a tiger and in his honour near the Lake a temple was built. This is still worshipped and visited by the locals. The park was established in 1955, and later joined with Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary in 1995 to create the Satpura Andhari Tiger Reserve. You can still see ancient stone pillars built by the Gond kings along old routes which were once used for communication through bell signals.

Tiger Safari

Satpura National Park holds a special place when you unfold its history, longevity, and heritage story. Set away from the hustle and bustle of the city and experience wildlife landscape at its best. This tiger reserve has huge popularity due to the presence of the king and the queen of tigers. The safari holiday brings a lot of fun, and there is a huge story behind this scenic landscape, which will be true excitement for a history lover. Raw natural surroundings never fail to impress in the nearby Andhari part of the reserve named as Andhari River. The name Satpura is taken from the name of the god "Satpura" or "Taru", worshiped by the tribal locals who live in the dense forests of the Satpura. Satpura National Park is also known as the Tiger capital of India. The forest is divided into three ranges: Satpura North Range, Kolsa South and Mohurli Range.

Satpura Tiger Reserve Forest is divided into a core zone and a buffer zone, and in the core zone, no locals are allowed. There are also Tourism zones and Non-Tourism zones and in the Tourism zone only 20% tourists are allowed, while the 80 % area is Non-Tourism zone where the forest authorities are allowed to enter. The jungle has a good water resource where animals often come to quench their thirst.

Satpura jungle is beyond Tiger, as it seems like almost a different world altogether with majestic sightings of greater courcal, goose, songbirds, and many more. Satpura Lake is spread over 45 km and the place was declared a sanctuary in 1935.

The most popular wildlife destination in India

Satpura is the real gem of Maharashtra. This place never fails to impress, as there are three main tigers who are king of the heart of the tourists. Matkasur, Maya and Wagdoh. The viewing experience of silent wildlife via safari is ultimate and gives goosebumps while being in the jungle. Observing the majestic jungle and nearby locals will give you the new definition of the Satpura jungle and its beautiful safari. The wide landscape of flora and fauna boasts the highest number of tigers, and the black Leopard dwells in this Satpura jungle only in the Moharli range most of the time.

About Satpura

Satpura Overview

Satpura National Park is home to the legendary tigers and is known as the Satpura Andhari Tiger Reserve. The destination is in the Chandrapura location, entitled to offer India’s best tiger safari experience. This old and charming reserve was established in 1955 and was later united with Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary in 1995. The origin of its name is the tribal god “Taru” and the Andhari Reserve is where that river flows through the jungle. Earlier, Satpura National Park was not so popular, but now it is one of the best tiger reserves in Maharashtra. There are the best and multiple places to stay as well here in Satpura, as there is no dearth of hotels, cottages, and jungle resorts close to your Satpura safari gates. There are a good number of wild animals, and they are the popular attractions of the Satpura; in fact, they are the heart of the jungle. Whole credit goes to the effortless tiger spotting in almost all good and popular safari zones. A worthwhile journey in the open, safe, and pure air surrounded by the dense teak, open meadows, shiny, clear lakes, and lots of natural things, where you will breathe all the exoticness in this safari destination. Take yourself closer to the wildlife destination.

Tiger Safari

The most popular wildlife destination in India

Satpura is the real gem of Maharashtra. This place never fails to impress, as there are three main tigers who are king of the heart of the tourists. Matkasur, Maya and Wagdoh. The viewing experience of silent wildlife via safari is ultimate and gives goosebumps while being in the jungle. Observing the majestic jungle and nearby locals will give you the new definition of the Satpura jungle and its beautiful safari. The wide landscape of flora and fauna boasts the highest number of tigers, and the black Leopard dwells in this Satpura jungle only in the Moharli range most of the time.

Types of Safaris in Satpura

There are several safari options in Satpura Tiger Reserve to cover the prime and the offbeat areas of the jungle. Open jeep safari to canter safari; all types of safaris are here to offer unique experiences.

Core Zone Jeep Safari

Among tourists, this most popular and full-fledged core zone jeep safari brings the best chance to explore the landscape with all its wilderness. This 6-seater open gypsy safari is for the prime forest and for the offbeat location, which is quite comfortable. and keeps you connected with nature as well. This safari is conducted in Moharli, Kolara, Pangdi, and Navegaon for a better view of tigers and other specialized animals like tigers, mammals, and reptiles you aim to view. Basically, on Tuesday, there is no jeep safari in the core zone.

Buffer Zone Jeep Safari

Tourists are going for a buffer safari when all the tickets for the core zone are full. The buffer zone’s permit is easily available, and at the same time, it is equally rich to cover along with 200 villages where you can get along and unwind by seeing locals. This Gypsy safari carried 6 passengers and was conducted in Agarzari, Dewada, Junona, Alizanza, etc. It has been closed generally on Wednesday and is a good zone for sighting birds, big cats, and herbivores.

Geographical Details

Tiger Safari
  • 1. Total Area: 2,133 sq km
  • 2. Core Zone: 1,339.5 sq km
  • 3. Forest Type: Mixed Deciduous & Bamboo
  • 4. Major Rivers: Narmada, Chambal
  • 5. Mountain Ranges: Mahadev, Maikala, Rajpipla
  • 6. Temperature Range: 4°C (Winter) to 38°C (Summer)
  • 7. Annual Rainfall: 1400 mm
  • 8. Coordinates: 22.5705°N, 78.1438°E

Distance from Satpura

  • 1. Sohagpur: 30 km (40 min)
  • 2. Pipariya: 65 km (1.5 hr)
  • 3. Itarsi: 80 km (2 hr)
  • 4. Bhopal: 160 km (3.5 hr)
  • 5. Pachmarhi: 100 km (2.5 hr)
  • 6. Sanchi: 220 km (5 hr)
  • 7. Jabalpur: 260 km (5.5 hr)
  • 8. Pench NP: 270 km (6 hr)
  • 9. Indore: 300 km (6.5 hr)
  • 10. Ujjain: 350 km (7.5 hr)
  • 11. Bandhavgarh: 420 km (7.5 hr)
  • 12. Satpura NP: 440 km (8 hr)
  • 13. Maheswar: 380 km (8 hr)

Safari Zones in Satpura National Park

Satpura National Park is a very beautiful and wild looking park situated in Madhya Pradesh. It derives its name from the Satpura Range of hills. The park is renowned for its rugged terrain, dense forests and phenomenal wildlife. It is a secure home for a tiger, leopard, Indian wild dog, sloth bear, Indian bison (gaur) and a multitude of birds. The scenery is gorgeous, with high hills, deep gorges, and the placid Denwa River.

The best way to see the park is by jeep safari. These safaris take you to various areas of the forest, which are called zones. Satpura is unique because you can go on boat rides and walking safaris! Here you can trek through the jungle, which is really is an exciting adventure. Best time to visit: The great time to visit lies between October-end and April just because the weather is cool and good for beast-watching.

So, let's find out more about the different safari zones in Satpura.

What are Core Zones?

The Core Zone is the vital and safeguarded heart of the forest. It is the primary residence of the animals. In order to keep the animals safe from harm and in order to protect their home, human presence is minimal. Think of it as the animal's own home and we are just silent visitors. Satpura has three major core zones.

Madhai Zone

  • Most Popular Gate: This is the busiest and most famous entry point for safaris.
  • Best for Tiger Sightings: This zone is known for having the highest number of tigers in the park, making it a great choice for those hoping to see the majestic big cat.
  • Beautiful Landscapes: The land here has a bit of everything - open plains, small valleys, water bodies, and hills.
  • Limited Jeeps: To keep the forest peaceful, only 30 jeeps are allowed to enter this zone each day, split between the morning and evening safaris.
  • Boat Safari: A fun bonus of Madhai is the boat safari on the Denwa Backwaters, which is another way to spot animals coming to drink water.

Churna Zone

  • Also Called Bheemkund: This gate is also known by the name Bheemkund Safari Gate.
  • Good for Tigers Too: This area is also a very important home for tigers, so sightings are quite common here.
  • Western Part: It is located in the western part of the Satpura reserve.

Pachmarhi (Panaarpani) Zone

  • Near the Hill Station: This zone is close to the popular Pachmarhi hill station, which is a cool and beautiful place.
  • Very Few Jeeps: To protect this area, only 7 jeeps are allowed in the morning and 7 in the evening.
  • Weekly Closure: This zone is closed for the evening safari every Wednesday. This is a rule to give the forest a break.

What are Buffer Zones?

The Buffer Zone is the outer area that surrounds the Core Zone. It acts like a protective shield between the deep forest and the villages nearby. Some human activities are allowed here, but it is still a wonderful place for wildlife. While you might see fewer tigers here, you have a good chance of seeing other amazing animals.

Parsapani Zone

  • Private Vehicles Allowed: You can explore this zone in your own private vehicle (like a car or jeep you bring).
  • Vehicle Limit: Only 14 private vehicles are allowed in the morning and 14 in the afternoon.
  • Diverse Landscape: This zone has a mix of streams, ponds, grasslands, and dense forests, making the scenery very interesting.

Jamani Devi Zone

  • Very Scenic: This area is very pretty, with ponds, streams, and lovely forests.
  • Lots of Activities: Besides jeep safaris, you can enjoy camping, trekking, birdwatching, and even visit local villages here.
  • Private Vehicles Allowed: Just like Parsapani, 14 private vehicles are allowed per safari session.

Sehra Zone

  • South-West Location: This zone is found in the south-western part of Satpura.
  • See Rare Animals: While there are fewer tigers, this is a great zone to spot leopards, Indian Gaur (bison), and even rarer animals like the rusty-spotted cat.

Pathai Zone

  • Close to Madhai: This gate is very close to the popular Madhai Gate, only about 15 km away.
  • Easy to Reach: Its location near the town of Sohagpur makes it easy to access.
  • Good Wildlife: It offers a fantastic wildlife experience with a chance to see many different animals.

How to Choose Your Safari Zone?

  • For Best Tiger Chance: Pick the Madhai or Churna core zones.
  • For a Mixed Experience: Choose Madhai for its boat safari and varied landscape.
  • For a Quiet and Scenic Safari: Try the Parsapani or Jamani Devi buffer zones.
  • For Seeing Rare Creatures: The Sehra zone is an excellent choice.

At Seven Safars, we know these zones very well. We can help you choose the right one for your adventure and handle all the booking for you. Contact us today to plan your perfect Satpura safari and get ready to explore the wild!

Satpura Tour Packages

1 Night and 2 Days Tour Package Of Satpura National Park
1 Night and 2 Days Tour Package Of Satpura National Park
Known as a paradise situated at the center of India known for its beautiful rocky landscapes, valleys and the dense forests that is home to tigers, leopards and India Bidon. The Satpura National Park offers a special adventure with its jeep safari, b...
 2 Nights and 3 Days Tour Package Of Satpura National Park
2 Nights and 3 Days Tour Package Of Satpura National Park
Satpura National Park is a beautiful and wild paradise in Madhya Pradesh which is famous for its landscapes that include hills, deep valleys, and dense forests. Our 2 Nights and 3 Days Satpura Fun Tour Package is designed to give you and your family...
 3 Nights and 4 Days Tour Package Of Satpura National Park
3 Nights and 4 Days Tour Package Of Satpura National Park
This is the ultimate wildlife experience in the heart of the jungle with a 3 night and 4 days tour that will genuinely make all your experience priceless. From the best jungle safaris to local sightseeing and greetings to know more about the Satpura...
4 Nights and 5 Days Tour Package Of Satpura National Park
4 Nights and 5 Days Tour Package Of Satpura National Park
This 5 days / 4 nights Satpura National Park Package is designed for nature enthusiasts who are willing to get off the beaten path and live with the jungle. Situated at the heart of Madhya Pradesh, Satpura National Park is famous for its tranquil for...

What Is a Boat Safari in Satpura?

A boat safari in Satpura National Park is one of the most peaceful and unique wildlife experiences in India. Unlike the usual jeep safari, the boat safari takes you gently across the Denwa River and Tawa backwaters, allowing you to experience nature at a slow and calm pace. Surrounded by dense forests, hills, and open skies, the safari feels immersive and refreshing, making it perfect for nature lovers and those seeking a quieter adventure.

This safari is especially popular for birdwatching. As the boat glides through the water, you can spot a wide variety of resident and migratory birds such as kingfishers, herons, storks, egrets, and fish eagles. The stillness of the water and silence of the surroundings make it easier to observe wildlife closely without disturbing them. It is also common to see crocodiles basking along the riverbanks and deer or wild boar coming to the water to drink.

FAQs for Satpura National Park

It is difficult to compare between them as Pench offers a frequent and better opportunity to spot tigers while Satpura is less crowded that includes activities such as boating and walking, as well as a focus on the entire ecosystem rather than just tigers.

The best time is from October to April as the weather is pleasant for safaris. While the park is lush, post-monsoon and wildlife sightings are best from March to June as water sources dry up and animals come near the water source searching for it.

Tigers can be spotted here but are less frequent when compared to other national parks. Due to its dense forests sometimes it gets difficult to spot them.

Apart from tigers you can also spot leopards, sloth bears, Indian bison (gaur), and wild dogs. Also numerous deer species like sambar and spotted deer can also be seen.

An ideal trip to Satpura National Park can be done in 2 to 3 days where you can enjoy safaris on jeep, boat, walking and enjoy the beautiful landscape of the area.

Usually the safaris operate in two shifts: one in the morning from 6:30 AM to 10:30 AM and the other in the afternoon from 2:30 PM to 6:00 PM. The timings may vary according to the season so it is advised to get confirmed before going.

Update Travel News, Tips & Advice

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