Before you go
Kanha with elderly parents: what to know
- Choose a lodge with a vehicle that can take you to the gate and back, and ask about the jeep seats, because the open vehicles are bumpy and step up high. Ask whether a cushion or a seat near the front can be arranged.
- Winter mornings are cold in an open jeep, often in single digits Celsius at dawn in December and January. Bring a warm jacket, a woollen cap, gloves and a blanket, even if the afternoon is pleasant.
- Plan only one safari a day if energy is limited. A morning drive is four to five hours; combining it with an evening round in the same day is tiring, especially in summer.
- The long road from Jabalpur, Nagpur or Raipur is the hardest part of the trip. Break it with an overnight stop, or schedule a rest day on arrival, and carry any regular medication in hand luggage.
- Ask your lodge where the nearest hospital is before you arrive, carry a basic first-aid kit and make sure your travel insurance covers remote areas.
- Walking is minimal, but toilet stops are limited inside the reserve. Use facilities at the gate and at the designated rest point, and wear shoes you can walk on uneven ground.
Easiest first
Places in Kanha sorted by walking effort
Easy on the legs (9)
- Bamni Dadar (Sunset Point) (Places to visit · About 30 to 60 minutes as part of an evening safari) — Reached by jeep, with a short walk or none from the vehicle. Check with your guide whether the viewpoint is open on your round and how far you walk. The sun and wind can be strong, so bring a hat and a layer.
- Buffer Zone Safaris (Khatia, Khapa, Sijhora) (Places to visit · One round of about 3 to 5 hours) — Seated in an open jeep with no walking, and often fewer vehicles on the track. Bumpy tracks and cold winter dawns apply as in the core zones.
- Kanha Museum (Culture and craft · About 45 to 60 minutes) — Mostly level and indoors, with shade and a place to sit; a good break between safaris. Check the access to the entrance with your lodge.
- Kanha Zone (Places to visit · One safari round of about 4 to 5 hours in the morning, or about 3 hours in the evening) — There is almost no walking, as you stay seated in an open jeep. The ride is bumpy on forest tracks and the seats are high, so ask for a cushion. Winter dawns are cold in an open vehicle and summer afternoons are very hot.
- Kisli Zone (Places to visit · One round of about 4 to 5 hours in the morning, or about 3 hours in the evening) — Seated in an open jeep with no walking. The tracks are bumpy and the vehicle is high to step into, and winter dawns are cold. Kisli has a forest rest house, which helps if you are staying nearby.
- Mukki Zone (Places to visit · One round of about 4 to 5 hours; a stay of at least two nights makes the transfer worthwhile) — Seated in an open jeep with no walking. The drive to Mukki is long, so schedule a rest day on arrival. Winter dawns are cold, and summer afternoons are hot.
- Phen Zone (Places to visit · One round of about 3 to 5 hours) — Seated in an open jeep with no walking. Tracks are bumpy and winter dawns are cold; the remote setting means long transfers from some lodges.
- Sarhi Zone (Places to visit · One round of about 4 to 5 hours) — Seated in an open jeep with no walking. Of the main gates, Sarhi has the shortest road transfer from Jabalpur, which helps older travellers. The track is bumpy and winter dawns are cold.
- Tribal Museum, Baherakhar (Culture and craft · About 45 to 60 minutes) — A small, mostly level site with a recreated hut at the entrance and a shop. Check access and seating on arrival, and wear a hat if visiting at midday.
Some walking — plan a break (1)
- Ramnagar Gond Monuments (Places to visit · About 1.5 to 2 hours on site; half a day with transfers) — The Moti Mahal has steep, narrow stairs between three floors, and the site is uneven. Older travellers may prefer to see the courtyard and exteriors only. There is little shade at midday.
Base yourself well
Where to stay in Kanha with parents
Mukki sideBest for: Travellers who want the Mukki zone and the Tribal Museum, and a quieter feel
Banjar river buffer areaBest for: Travellers who want a lodge in a quiet river setting with the park on the doorstep
Small decisions
Practical tips for Kanha
- Season. The core zones are generally open from about 16 October to 30 June and closed for the monsoon. Confirm dates with your lodge, because closures can change with weather and notices.
- Booking safaris. Permits are booked online at forest.mponline.gov.in and sell out early for winter weekends and holidays. Book your zones and rounds before you book flights if you are travelling in peak season.
- Cold mornings. At Mandla, the nearest weather station, mean winter lows are around 8 degrees Celsius, and dawn in an open jeep feels colder. Bring a warm jacket, a cap, gloves and a blanket from December to February.
- Summer heat. May is the hottest month, with mean daily highs above 40 degrees Celsius at Mandla. Tigers are often seen near water then, but the heat is hard on older travellers; drink plenty of water and use a hat and sunscreen.
- Getting there. Arrange a car and driver from Jabalpur, Nagpur or Raipur and allow half a day for the drive. Roads inside the park area are narrow and slow, so do not plan an onward flight on the same day.
- Rules and etiquette. Stay in the vehicle, keep quiet, do not feed or call animals, and follow the guide's instructions. Take only the photographs you want, without flash, and carry back any rubbish.
- Money and signal. Mobile coverage can be patchy near the park, so carry some cash for tips and small purchases, and download maps before you leave.
- Wednesday and rest days. Core zones are not usually open for safari on every afternoon of the week; sources mention Wednesday afternoons. Check the current roster when planning the order of your safaris.
Plan the rest of your Kanha trip
Want help?
Have Kanha planned around your parents
We build the route at their pace, book the stays, and can add a companion on the ground.