Night Safari sounds adventurous, isn’t it? From time to time, people look for leisure and refreshment. Considering how deadlines drive, and how hectic this life is, taking a break is always a good decision.

If you are planning to take a break from the daily chaos of life then you should definitely seem into wildlife adventures and Madhya Pradesh is the state you should definitely head to. From its wide variety of National parks, Sanctuaries, and Tiger reserves, this state has a lot to offer. Here is our pick of the best five jungles of Madhya Pradesh which you should definitely explore to unfold the darkest secrets with Night Safari.

Bandhavgarh National Park

Safari Zone: Night Safari in Buffer Zone

Night Safari Timings: 06:30 PM – 09:30 PM

Bandhavgarh National Park is a beautiful place to visit if you want to see wildlife as the sun is setting. The night jungle safari takes you through the park’s dark forest, allowing you to spot nighttime wildlife lurking in the woods. Enjoy a safari amid the tropical forest with Sal trees and large meadows which will soak you in the sights, sounds, and fragrances of the jungle. You can also easily sight other wildlife such as white tigers, leopards, sloth bears, and deer here, as well as 250 varieties of birds including eagles, Great cormorant, and stork.

Must-knows of Bandhavgarh Park: Bandhavgarh Park is open from October 1st to June 30th. The morning jeep safari timings are 6.30 am in winter and 6.00 am in summer. While the afternoon safari starts at 2.30 pm during winter and 3.00 pm in summer. Other places of interest around the park are the Bandhavgarh Fort and ancient man-made caves and rock paintings.

How to reach Bandhavgarh National Park: 

The nearest airport to Bandhavgarh National Park is the Jabalpur Airport at 190 km and next is the Khajuraho Civil Aerodrome which is 250 km away. The nearest railway station is Umaria at 37 km and Katni which is 100 km away. All these places are well-connected by road, and cabs or state and private buses can be reached from these towns to reach Bandhavgarh.

Kanha National Park

Safari Zone: Night Safari in Buffer Zone

Night Safari Timings: 07:30 PM – 10:30 PM

The Kanha National Park is an extensive expanse of forests and grasslands, making it the biggest national park in Madhya Pradesh. The towering plateau of Bamni Dadar which is a flocking point for birds of prey also provides visitors with spectacular sunset views and a panoramic view of the Kanha forestland. While trying to spot the park’s wild animals, don’t be shocked if you hear owls and eagles calling late at night. Other animals that roam its wild trails are leopards, foxes, jackals, wild dogs, wild cats, and Indian gaur.

Must-knows of Kanha National Park: The Kanha National Park is open from October 16 to June 30. The morning jeep safari starts with sunrise, while the afternoon safari ends with sunset. Wednesday afternoons the safari remains closed. Some places of interest around the Park are the Kanha Museum and the Shravan Tal.

How to reach Kanha National Park: The nearest airport to Kanha National Park is the Jabalpur airport at a distance of 170 km. Other options are Nagpur Airport at 290 km and the Raipur Airport at 260 km. The nearest railway station is Gondia which is 127 km away. Jabalpur, Raipur, and Nagpur are also important railheads. From all these cities, cabs can be availed to reach Kanha.

Pench National Park

Safari Zone: Night Safari in Buffer Zone

Night Safari Timings: 05:30 PM – 08:30 PM

The Park is famed as the setting of Mowgli from “Jungle Book” and its most famous sightings are the Indian wolf (Akera), the sloth bear (Bhaloo ), and of course the Royal Bengal Tiger ( Shere Khan). Since then, the park has attracted the attention of both wildlife and literature enthusiasts. And it is considered one of the most visited jungles of Madhya Pradesh. It otherwise has a wide variety of animals such as wild boar, Indian leopard, fox, striped hyena, four-horned antelope, gaur, barking deer, among others, and about 285 species of home and migratory birds.

Must-knows of Pench National Park: The Pench National Park is open from October 16 to June 30. The morning jeep safari starts at 7.30 am during winters and at 6.30 am in summers. The afternoon jeep safari timings are from 3.00 pm during winters and 4.00 pm in the summer season.

How to reach Pench National Park: The nearest airport to Pench National Park is Nagpur airport at around 92 km. The next is Jabalpur airport almost 192 km away. Moreover, these two are also the most convenient railway heads. Further, Nagpur is connected by NH7 with Pench and is a two-hour drive away, while Jabalpur is 4 hours away by road.

Satpura National Park

Safari Zone: Night Safari at Buffer Zone

Night safari timing: 5 PM – 8:30 PM

The Satpura National Park is one of the known wildlife parks where you can see the rugged terrain is mostly covered by dense forests, marked by sandstone peaks, ravines, and narrow gorges and its highest peak is the Dhoopgarh peak which one should definitely visit. It is popular for tiger sightings as well as sightings of leopard, black buck, wild dogs, Indian bison, crocodiles, and Malabar giant squirrel. If you are looking for a safari in the jungles of Madhya Pradesh, away from the touristy crowds this is your destination.

Must-knows of Satpura National Park: The Satpura National Park is open from October 1 to June 15. You can take on different types of safari here including jeep safari, elephant safari, or go on a walking trail. There is a choice of morning, afternoon, or even a full-day safari. Further, you can also enjoy activities like boating, canoeing, or bird-watching.

How to reach Satpura National Park: The nearest airport to Satpura National Park is Bhopal Airport at 190 km. Jabalpur airport is about 265 km away. The nearest railway station is Sohagpur about 20 km from the park, but it has limited trains. Pipariya is the next nearest railway station at a distance of about 45 km. Road connectivity is good and you can reach the park by cab from any of these cities/towns.

Panna National Park

Safari Zone: Night Safari at Buffer Zone

Night Safari timing: 3 PM – 6 PM

The Park is popular as much for its wildlife as for its gushing waterfalls and diamond mines. If you are more of a nature lover than this destination you should definitely add it to your bucket list, the Ken River that meanders across the Panna hills forms a vast catchment area, which forms a part of the adjoining Ken Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary. You can also spot the Indian Gharial here – a large reptile found only on the Indian subcontinent. Besides the tiger, other wildlife at the park is a leopard, sloth bear, chital, nilgai, chinkara, and sambhar. 

Must-knows of Panna National Park: The Panna National Park remains open from October 16 to June 30. Some interesting places nearby are the Ken Gharial Sanctuary, the Pandav Falls, and the Raneh Falls. You can take a boat ride on the Ken river, and even go for bird-spotting.

How to reach Panna National Park: The nearest airport to Panna National Park is Khajuraho at about 45 km. Moreover, Khajuraho is also the nearest rail and road head. While Satna is another railway station about 70 km away.