Kanha Jeep Safari, Kanha National Park - Timings, Safari Cost, Best Time to Visit

Photo Credit: Flickr

Distance (From MPMCH): 15 Kms

Trip Duration (Including Travel): 4 Hours/Half Day

Transportation Options: Cab

Travel Tips: The Kanha National Park remains closed from 1st July to 15th October every year. It is also closed on Holi festival and every Wednesday afternoon safari. The park management may also cancel the safaris due to floods and forest fires and no refund is provided to tourists.

At a distance of 15 km from Mocha, Kanha Zone is the oldest and the most popular safari zone of Kanha National Park. This zone is primarily visited through Khatia entrance gate, located near Khatia village.

Khatia Gate is the most popular of all the three gates of Kanha National Park, the other two being Mukki and Sarhi gate. Kanha Zone comprises of all kind of landscapes like valleys, plains, meadow areas, some hilly terrains, water bodies, etc. The density of tiger population in this zone is high. One can visit the Kanha Meadows, Shravan Tal, Bahamani Banjar, Dasarath Machhan and Kanha Museum in this zone during the safari.

Jeep Safari is one of the best ways to explore the exotic wildlife and thick woods of Kanha National Park. Khatia entrance gate falls on Mandla district and is easily accessible from Jabalpur & Nagpur. From here, one can explore Kisli, Kanha & Sarhi zones of Kanha National Park. If you are staying in a resort near Mukki entrance gate or Sarhi entrance gate, then you can visit this zone during morning safari round only as tourists will not be permitted through these gates during evening Kanha zone safari.

The Jeep Safari is done only with vehicles registered with the park administration as private vehicles are not allowed inside the park. The number of vehicles allowed to enter into this Kanha zone is 40 in the morning and 40 in the evening. Each jeep can take up to 6 travelers other than a driver and one naturalist. It is advisable to book the entrance ticket in well advance to avoid any chance of unavailability of safari seats. The safari entry and exit timings change according to the change of seasons. Afternoon shift is typically closed on Wednesdays. Morning & Afternoon both the shift remains closed on Holi festival.

One can book the entry ticket either online at www.mponline.gov.in or through travel agents or if available one can also get this from the booking window at the entrance gate of the national park. One can also book a single seat for jeep safari instead of paying the full vehicle at Kanha. Single-seat bookings are only offered online for core zones. The guide fee and vehicle hire fee are to be paid separately at the park before undertaking the safari and will be distributed equally between the tourists in the vehicle. All the visitors are required to carry their original identity document during safari drives as it is verified at the entrance gate. Safari tickets are non-transferable.

This zone is open for jungle safari drives from 15th October to 30th June. During the monsoon period i.e. from July to September, it remains closed for tourists.

Safari Timings: 6.30 AM - 11 AM & 2 PM - 5.30 PM from Oct - Feb and 6 AM - 10 AM & 3 PM - 6 PM from Mar - June, Closed on every Wednesday evening, on Holi, Diwali & during monsoon.

Safari Permit Fee: Rs. 250 for Single Seat in Jeep, Rs. 1500 per Whole Jeep (max 6 Persons). Jeep hiring cost & guide cost extra (around 2500 per jeep and 480 per guide).

Note: Safari cost changes frequently