Kanha National Park
Kanha National Park, located in the Mandla and Balaghat districts of Madhya Pradesh, spans nearly 2,000 square kilometres—of which about 940 square kilometres form the core area, surrounded by a buffer of over 1,000 square kilometres. It is an eden beyond compare.
The park has four core tourism zones—Kisli, Kanha, Mukki, and Sarhi—along with several buffer zones that extend its wild embrace. Vast stretches of dense sal forests are interspersed with sweeping meadows, creating a landscape of rare beauty and ecological balance.
Kanha is home to a healthy tiger population, while its meadows teem with herbivores. Among them is the hard-ground Barasingha—once on the brink of extinction and now a symbol of conservation success—along with chital, sambar, barking deer, and other ungulates.According to agency estimates,Chital population in Kanha is around 40,000.
The park also boasts rich avifauna, with around 300 species of birds adding colour and song to its forests and wetlands. Dense sal woods, sprawling grasslands, and numerous water bodies alive with wild denizens together make Kanha a true eden—timeless, thriving, and unforgettable.
About the Reserve
Kanha National Park
Kanha National Park lies in the Mandla and Balaghat districts of Madhya Pradesh and covers around 2,000 square kilometers. About 940 square kilometers of this make up the core area, which is surrounded by a vast buffer zone. It is one of the best-managed reserves in India and a great place to go on a Kanha National Park safari.
Kanha, Kisli, Mukki, and Sarhi are the four main tourism areas in the park. These zones and the buffer areas around them make up an ecosystem that is varied and balanced. There are lots of animals in the area because of the dense sal trees, large meadows, and bodies of water. It’s like being in a jungle.
Wildlife of Kanha
Also spotted: Wild Dogs (Dhole), Chital (~40,000), Sambar, Barking Deer & 300+ Bird Species
The Kanha Tiger Reserve is famous for having a lot of wildlife and being good at protecting it. Because it is one of the best spots in India to see Royal Bengal Tigers, Kanha jungle safaris are very popular.
There are a lot of herbivores in the park. There are about 40,000 chital, as well as sambar and barking deer. The hard earth barasingha is the best thing about Kanha. It was almost extinct, but today it has been brought back to life and is a symbol of conservation.
Other significant animals that live in the reserve are leopards, sloth bears, wild dogs, and gaur. The park is also home to more than 300 kinds of birds, so it’s a great place to go birdwatching as well as on wildlife safaris.
Kanha National Park Safari Experience
Safari Zones
Jeep safaris with qualified drivers and naturalists take place in Kanha National Park. These safaris let people see different areas and learn more about how animals act.
Kanha Zone
01
Famous for its meadows and better possibilities of seeing tigers
The Kisli Zone
02
Has a mix of thick woodland and open spaces with lots of wildlife
Zone of Mukki
03
Best for monitoring tigers and safaris with less people
Zone Sarhi
04
A quieter area for people who want a serene experience
Jeep Safari in Kanha
Morning Safari
Animals are more active in the morning, so morning safaris give you a better chance of seeing them. It's also the greatest time to take pictures and watch birds.
Evening Safari
Animals are more active in the morning, so morning safaris give you a better chance of seeing them. It's also the greatest time to take pictures and watch birds.
Best Time to Visit Kanha
Winter
October - February
The weather is still nice and good for birdwatching.
Summer
March - June
The best time to see tigers is when they cluster around water sources.
Monsoon
July - September
During this time, the park is generally closed.
How to Reach Kanha
There are many ways to get to Kanha by air, rail, and road.
By Air
Nearest Airports
Jabalpur and Raipur
By Train
Nearest Railway Station
Roads connect Gondia and Jabalpur.
By Road
Nearest Big Cities
Madhya Pradesh and adjacent states
Why Choose Curated Canopy Safaris
Curated Canopy Safaris gives you a full Kanha forest safari booking experience that is professionally handled.
- Guides who are experts in nature
- Guides with a lot of experience make it more likely that you'll see wildlife.
- High-end safari lodges
- Personalized Wildlife Itineraries
- We plan each safari depending on what you want and need for your trip.
- We carefully choose places to stay that are comfortable and close to the park.
Plan Your Safari
How to Book Your Safari
You need to plan ahead to book a safari.
There are only a few permits available, and they are only good in certain areas,so it’s best to reserve early.
How to Book a Safari?
Curated Canopy Safaris gives you a full Kanha forest safari booking experience that is professionally handled.
- Choose Your Dates & Zone
- To book a permit, you need to show a valid ID.
- Check your safari and somewhere to stay.
Why Choose Curated Canopy Safaris
You can go on safaris in the morning and evening, and the times may change according on the season.
- Put on clothes that are neutral in color
- Bring a camera and binoculars
- During your safari, make sure to follow all the rules of the jungle.
testimonials
Trusted by many, proven by results
Dr Suneet Raut, Palghar
Namaskar, I am Dr Suneet Raut. Myself and my wife, Dr Sushila visited Kanha National park, last year, by April 2025. Our close friend, Dr Prakash Babu,called me whether we were interested doing this Safari trip. As we both are nature lovers, and having visited Tadoba and other sanctuaries,were delighted by this call. It was last week of April.We flew from Mumbai to Jabalpur,then to Kanha sanctuary. I must say,the total experience of those 4 days was WONDERFUL. The flights, transportation to and fro by road, the accommodation, food, overall comforts and personal attention and care of Curated Canopy Safaris was exceptional. One thing I would like to mention, that, Dr Prakash himself is a wildlife enthusiast, has a deep knowledge of birds and animals, has good knowledge of flora and fauna. His planning is meticulous and punctual. His venture CURATED CANOPY Safaris is dependable service. We both look forward to join his safaries in future also. -- Dr Suneet Raut, Palghar
Dr. Susheela Raut, Palghar
We had gone with Dr. Prakash Babu for a Tiger safari to Kanha National Park safari last year. We enjoyed the trip thoroughly. The trip was very meticulasly arranged by Dr. Babu from Curated Canopy Safaris, taking into consideration all the minutest needs of ever member The stay was very comfortable. Tours well arranged and comfortable. We saw 4 tigers and made us all very happy and fulfilled.
Dr. Geeta Raju
Curated Canopy Safaris organised our trip to Kanha National Park in May ‘25. The Stay was in a serene hotel close to the park with amazing food and courteous staff. We did 1 night safari and 4 day safaris. We could see 4 tigers in 5 safaris. The tour guide and drivers were very alert and had a thorough know how of the parks. Besides tigers we could spot many deer, wild boars, peacocks and bisons. Overall we felt the time and money was well spent and looking forward to similar experiences with Canopy Safaris 👍
Dr. Surya Raju
Attended Curated Canopy Safari trip to Kanha National Park in May 2025 with family and friends, it was a wild thrilling trip, early morning trips,Night rides with awesome rides through jungle. Well organised, over zealous guides,saw a lot of tigers,birds,deers bear etc.It was a wholesome awesome experience, good food, good stay.Looking forward to future safaris with curated canopy safaris.
Dr. Shobha Sankhe
Dr. Prakash Babu is a true and passionate naturalist, and the ideal person to begin his venture, Curated Canopy Safaris. It is rightly said that a true naturalist is best suited to design wildlife safaris, as such a person is deeply well-versed with nature, flora, and fauna. Dr. Babu brings with him rich and varied experiences from safaris and sanctuaries across India. Along with wildlife exploration, he consistently strives to inculcate a love and respect for nature among the common man. Living in harmony with nature is essential for the survival of our ecology, which today stands at the edge of a cliff, challenged by increasing human impact. We wish him the very best in pursuing his passion, not only through curated wildlife experiences but also in contributing towards the protection of sanctuaries and wildlife. Apart from this, his deep knowledge of birdlife, combined with immersive wildlife exploration, truly serves as a panacea for human stress.
Frequently Asked Questions
Madhya Pradesh's Mandla and Balaghat districts are home to Kanha National Park.
You can witness a number of birds, as well as Bengal tigers, barasingha, leopards, sloth bears, gaur, and wild dogs.
The optimum time to go is from October to June, and summer is the best time to see tigers.
You can book through safari operators who arrange permits, jeep safaris, guides, and accommodation