Akshay Kumar– Pench
Pench Tiger Reserve located in the Chhindwara and Seoni district of Madhya Pradesh has recently introduced a night safari. Currently launched on a trial basis, the night safari will be included in the routine packages only after getting a thumbs-up from the tourists. The safari is also known as the Wolf Safari as wolves are among the animals frequently spotted on this tour, along with jackals, spotted deer, sambar deer, nilgai and many nocturnal birds. Tigers and leopards are infrequently spotted.
“This safari was introduced in April last week and will be continued till the monsoons. The tour will be made permanent only after we get good reviews from the tourists. To ensure safety and privacy of the wildlife, we only operate five jeeps every night. We also take necessary precautions so as to not disturb the animals during the night,”mentioned a local guide who conducts the safari.
The tour starts at around 7 pm in the evening and continues till 10.30 pm to 11 pm. It is strictly restricted to the buffer zone. Buffer zone is the periphery of the core area in the forest. The safari also covers a water hole in the buffer zone where tourists get the chance to spot the animals as well as get an excellent location for star-gazing.
When asked about the possibility of introducing a similar safari in the Maharashtra side of Pench National Park, M Srinivasa Reddy, field director and chief conservator of forests, Pench Tiger Reserve, Nagpur, said, “Currently the Pench Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra does not have ample accommodation close by for the tourists. We have introduced many nature trails and jungle walks, but as of now we don’t have any plans to launch a night safari here in Pench, Maharashtra.”
