I had been planning a short wildlife trip for some time, and I chose Pench National Park for this journey. Since I was travelling from Nagpur, I wanted the trip to be easy and comfortable. I booked a private cab from Nagpur and planned to stay at a jungle resort near Turia Gate. I also booked an evening Gypsy safari so I could spend several hours inside the forest.
My plan was simple. I would reach Nagpur in the morning, drive to Pench, check into the resort, have lunch, and leave for the afternoon safari. After the safari, I would spend the evening at the resort and return to Nagpur the next morning. It was a short trip, but I wanted enough time to enjoy the road journey, resort stay, food, and safari.
My 8 AM Arrival In Nagpur
The first step in my tour was reaching Nagpur by flight, which arrived in Nagpur at about 8:00 AM. My flight arrived at Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport at about 8:00 AM, and my tour to Pench was already arranged. It was very convenient that I had hired a private taxi before coming to the airport, since this way I did not have to waste time looking for a taxi from the airport.
After getting my baggage, we left the airport premises and boarded our taxi for Pench. The distance between Pench and Nagpur is about 90 km, and our estimated time of travel was about 2.5 hours. The total travel time had been considered while making plans for the day. I needed sufficient time to reach the resort, have my lunch, rest, and get prepared for the evening safari.
As the cab drove away from the airport and Nagpur city, I saw that the hustle and bustle of the city started vanishing. There was also a decrease in traffic, and the road to Pench became quieter. I was at ease as the cab had been pre-booked.
From Highway Traffic To Forest Roads
The first part of the drive was on NH 44, the Nagpur-Jabalpur Highway. The road was wide, mostly smooth, and four lanes in many sections. This made the journey comfortable. Since I was travelling by private cab, I could sit back and watch the places outside the window.
At first, there were still many signs of city and highway travel. As we moved farther from Nagpur, the surroundings slowly changed. Around areas such as Mansar and Khawasa, I started seeing more greenery along the road.
The change was easy to notice. There were fewer buildings and urban areas, and the surroundings started looking more natural. The closer we came to Pench, the more interested I became in the views outside. I knew that we were getting closer to the forest area.
The morning weather was also suitable for a long road journey. I did not feel tired during the drive. The smooth highway helped us maintain a steady speed for most of the journey. I was able to relax and enjoy the changing surroundings.
As we came closer to the forest area, the driver became more careful. He reduced the speed at places where an animal could possibly cross the road. This made me more aware that we were entering an area where wildlife movement was possible.
After around 2.5 hours on the road, I reached the Turia Gate side of Pench. The highway journey was over, and I was ready to check into the resort before the safari
My First Lunch Before The Safari
I stayed in the jungle resort located near the Turia Gate. On reaching the resort, I completed the process of check-in. I was welcomed at the resort and made comfortable by the resort staff members after the morning road trip. What I needed right after arriving there from Nagpur was some rest.
I reached the room and took a bit of rest. There was still some time left before the afternoon safari; hence, there was no urgency. After the rest, I went to have lunch. I ordered the MP-style thali, which had dal, rice, and vegetables. It was just what I needed.
The dal and rice were warm, and the vegetables gave the meal some variety. The food was filling and easy to eat. After sitting in a cab for several hours, having a proper meal and some rest helped me feel fresh again.
After lunch, I returned to my room and rested for some more time. My safari was planned for the afternoon, so I used the remaining time to get ready and check that I had everything I needed. The main activity of the day was still ahead.
Entering Pench Through Turia Gate
After taking some rest, I left for Turia Gate from the resort. I had booked an evening safari from 2.30 PM to 6.30 PM. It was that time of my tour that I was eagerly looking forward to. I boarded the open Gypsy at Turia Gate with the help of my guide and driver. After completing all the forest entry formalities, we started driving into the Pench National Park.
Initially, a few minutes passed as we adjusted to the surroundings. In the open Gypsy, I got a clear view of the forest; hence, I was able to spot all the trees and other areas along the road. The climate was pleasant despite the difference in temperature between the forest and the highway. Our guide was alert right from the start.
He kept observing the forests, the road, and the other locations. The driver was also alert in operating the Gypsy and adjusting the speed depending on the location. The safari was not only about driving through the forest. Our guide kept watching and listening for animal calls and other signs of wildlife movement.
This made me realize that a safari was not only a matter of continuous driving and waiting for animals to appear. Observation was also a very essential part. In the early stage of my safari, I was concentrating on knowing the forest and observing the guide.
My Safari Experience Inside Pench
One of the main reasons I wanted to visit Pench National Park India was the chance to see a tiger in its natural habitat, though I did not expect to see one so soon. We had been travelling inside the forest for some time when my guide asked the driver to stop. He pointed towards a clearing close to the forest road. A few moments later, he noticed some movement among the trees and directed our attention towards it.
Our guide stopped our Gypsy at a safer distance from where we were standing. After following the direction in which he was pointing, I saw the tiger coming out of the trees. Everyone in our gypsy was quiet for a while, and after that, the tiger stopped, looked around, and started moving on the road. It became visible to all the people in our Gypsy. The guide advised us to keep calm and not make any sudden movements.
We slowly moved in the same direction while keeping a safe distance from the tiger. It stopped once again, turned back, and went behind the bushes. This tiger sighting did not last for long, but it became the highlight of my safari tour. The sighting of the tiger in its natural habitat has been the most memorable part of my holiday.
After sighting the tiger, we continued moving ahead. Then we saw spotted deer, sambar deer, langur, peacock, and some birds. Moreover, there was an alarm call of the langur, and we waited in the teak forest as well. All this was part of our safari experience. Coming to Pench, my intention was to see a tiger, and fortunately, I saw one.
Bonfire, Dinner And My Night At Pench
After several hours in the open Gypsy, I returned to the resort. I was tired after the safari, but I was also very happy with how the day had gone.
After some rest, I spent the evening near the bonfire. It was a quiet way to end an active afternoon. The temperature became cooler after sunset, and sitting near the fire was comfortable.
The resort was calm in the evening. There was no need to rush anywhere because the main activity of the day was already complete. I could simply relax and think about the safari.
Later, I had dinner at the resort. After the road journey and several hours of safari, a proper meal felt satisfying. I kept the evening simple and spent some time relaxing before going to bed.
The first day had included a flight, a road journey, a resort check-in, lunch, and several hours inside Pench. By the end of the night, I was ready for proper rest.
6 AM Walk Before Leaving Pench
I got up the next morning around 6:00 AM. The weather in the morning was cooler than it was in the afternoon on the previous day. I took a small walk in the surroundings of the resort before leaving. It was a quiet place, and there were many differences between that morning and the previous day. I enjoyed my walk before returning home. I got ready for check-out and packed my stuff as I had come to the end of my trip to Pench.
My return journey to Nagpur started after that. The journey was pleasant, and the road made the process very easy. I was not as excited as before when going on the return journey because my mind was focused on the events of the previous day and all the parts of the tour.
The journey began with my arrival in Nagpur at 8:00 AM and continued with my private cab journey, staying around Turia Gate, an MP-style lunch, and the evening Gypsy Safari. The most exciting part of the journey was spotting the tiger, but the deer, the langurs, the birds, the sound of the forest, and the peace of the forest made it perfect.
For those who plan to go on a similar journey, I suggest making the permit bookings in advance. In case you travel during the winter season, having warm clothing can be beneficial since there might be cold weather during the morning and evening hours. In the forest, one must avoid playing loud music and littering the place. Following these simple guidelines will help to maintain the forest and save the wildlife.
