Group Tour: Tiger Quest in Central India

Overview

A luxury eco-resort only 20 minutes drive from Pench’s Karamajhiri gate. Pench Tree Lodge is set in a 40-acre property on the edge of Pench Tiger Reserve. The reserve encompasses an area of 1,180 sq km, including a buffer zone of 768 sq km. There are 16 elegant tree-houses and cottages in total.

The six tree-houses sit amongst the mahua trees, supported by stilts. Built out of local sal wood, these charismatic units are nicely spaced apart, styled and decorated with traditional accents that add to the authenticity of this unique experience. Large French-windows open out onto a private deck with seating, the perfect spot to enjoy the ambience of the surrounding deciduous forest. Ten spacious family cottages complete the accommodation options, with one king size bed, and an additional queen bed on the mezzanine floor above. Kitchen produce is partly sourced from the property’s own organic garden and there is an outdoor swimming pool for your enjoyment.

The excellent Kipling Hide was purpose-made for wildlife photography. Its eye-level aspect providing a desirable asset for photographers capturing animals that come to drink and bathe in a man-made pond.

Overview

On a 12 acre plot within the buffer zone of Tadoba National Park, sits this comfortable lodge with superb facilities.

Tadoba is a mix of dry deciduous forest and grassland with a hilly and undulating landscape. It is among the top reserves in India for tiger sightings. Waghoba Eco Lodge conducts a range of excursions with both morning and afternoon game drives into the national park available, accompanied by local guides and naturalists.

Numerous ecologically responsible practices and technologies went into the design and construction of the lodge. Each cottage has been built from handmade adobe earth bricks and local stone, topped with Guna vault roofs (handmade conical tiles). A solar plant has been installed which provides around 75% of power required by the lodge. A rain water tank and water treatment facility allows water to be recycled and reused. The lodge is also trying to break the traditional industry norms, by actively recruiting women to help improve gender inequality.

There is a large, shaded pool with a sun deck, perfect for cooling off in the middle of the day between your morning and afternoon excursions into the park. Each room includes Handcrafted, teak furniture and an en suite bathroom. Fantastic food is prepared and served at the lodge’s restaurant, and includes regional dishes like Varadhi thali and Maharashtrian thali, Varhadi chicken, Nagpuri Saoji mutton, homemade ice creams and pineapple Shrikhand.

A purpose-built wildlife photography hide looks out onto a small body of water, where birds come to perch, providing a pleasing eye level view for photographers, enhanced by the reflections of subjects on the water. To ease long spells waiting in the hide, there is a sofa with additional seating, as well as tea and coffee making facilities. Close to the wildlife hide is the nature library and lounge, where daily talks and presentations are held by the resident naturalists. There is a bar in the lounge and the library is well stocked with wildlife books and has a selection of board games.