Central India

Much of central India is a large plateau consisting of a variety of landscapes from magnificent mountain ranges to meandering rivers and acres of lush green forests. It is also home to several spectacular national parks. The largest of these is the Kanha Tiger Reserve, known as one of the best parks in the country for its wildlife safari. Here you will find a strong tiger population as well as Indian wild dog, leopard, guar and sloth bear amongst others. There are around 300 species of birds found here as well as some more rare creatures including the endangered pangolin, honey badger and striped hyena. Kanha really is a park to explore and as you venture into the forest with your guide you will experience a more authentic and intimate wildlife experience

In the Vindhyan mountain range lies the beautiful Panna National Park. Made up of thick forest, plateaus, gorges and the River Ken, this is an enchanting national park home to a variety of different species. The tiger population here has suffered dramatically over the years but there is currently a programme underway to reintroduce them from other parks in India. Tigers are not the only large cat found here and visitors could be lucky enough to spot leopards as well as wild dogs and hyenas. The best time to visit is just after monsoon season when the landscape is at its most spectacular. The vegetation is at its most verdant, with cascading waterfalls and rivers full of crocodiles.

One of the most popular national parks in India is Bandhavgarh, home to the highest density of Bengal tiger in the world. The tigers are clearly the stars here but it is also possible to spot leopards, Indian wolves, sloth bears, Indian bison and wild dogs as well as over 150 species of birds. The wildlife is not the only attraction in Bandhavgarh thanks to the ancient cave paintings and the ruined fort which gave the park its name and dates back around 2000 years.