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A safari guide's advice on the ideal time to visit Pench National Park

•  Shekhi Tandon
•  November 16, 2024

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Best Time To Visit Pench

Pench National Park, located in the center of India, is nearly cut in half by the Pench River, a tributary of the Kanhan River. The park's forests are home to a variety of food for animals, and the river's watering holes attract bison, gaurs, deer, jackals, and wild boars to quench their thirst. The Bengal tiger, the main attraction, is frequently hiding in the woods behind them. The most dangerous carnivores in Madhya Pradesh's 758-square-kilometer park are tigers. Big cats are independent, flexible animals who will travel great distances to pursue their prey. In Pench, sighting one is a slow, silent game that demands you to blend in as much as you can. Patil, who was born and resides in Nagpur, spent his childhood going to the jungle whenever he could. "There was no resort or lodge in Pench or Tadoba when I arrived in Pench in 1997, and there was no tar road to the Turia gate," he recalls. "I was so curious that I would just ride my bike up to the national park wall or take a bus to Mowgli gate in Tadoba." He would even live with forest guards, patrol the area on foot every day, and volunteer with NGOs to conduct census work in the forests. He claims, "I would go whenever the jungle called." Here, Patil offers insider advice for your upcoming trip based on his 15 years of guiding and birdwatching experience.

What Is Unique About Pench National Park?

Prior to being a national park in 1975, Pench was a sanctuary. It was officially established as a tiger reserve in 1992 due to the large number of tigers it contains. About 40% of the pench forest in Maharashtra, while most people focus on the area in Madhya Pradesh. "There are 33 tigers spread across roughly 758 square kilometers at Pench, according to guides there. They inform visitors that the entire 2,000-square-kilometer forest area in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra is home to at least 100 tigers and 100 leopards. The park has been home to generations of tigers for many years. The Collarwali Tigress, who gave birth to 29 cubs in eight litters during her lifetime, is another reason the park is well-known. She died in 2022. Park officials were able to examine her behavior since she was the first tiger in the park to be given a radio collar. Before her, it was uncommon to see tigers at Pench. However, she became the park's most-spotted tigress and would frequently approach tourist safaris. Wildlife lovers enjoyed Collarwali Tigress, which significantly increased the number of visitors to Pench.

What Should One Look For At Pench National Park?

At Pench, the Bengal Tiger is without a doubt the main attraction. Even though it has been 22 years since Patil (the first guide of the Park) first saw a tiger, he still finds every encounter to be as exciting. "In this forest, I have witnessed generations of tigers. However, I still feel fortunate whenever I see a tiger," he says. While on a safari in 2005, I noticed a leopard pursuing a spotted deer in the distance. A group of four young tigers, the cubs of "badi mata," the mother of the Collarwali Tigress, were being pursued by the deer. The leopard scaled a tree to save its life, and the tigers started to go after it. Eventually, the tigers surrounded the tree, and it looked as though they were daring the leopard to descend and face them. There are even more terrifying sightings. I went on an early-morning safari with visitors just over a month ago. There were several Langur calls, and we were the only gypsy in the area. In the next instant, a tiger was coming at our car. She approached our gypsy rather closely before simply turning around and leaving. The visitors didn't want to see any more wildlife after that since they were shivering," Patil says. He highlights how important it is to maintain calm in situations like these. He claims that this is the tigress' method of requesting that you stay away, and it's crucial to honor that.

In addition to the big cats, Pench is excellent at identifying cheetal, sambar, nilgai, jackals, bison, leopards, palm civets, black bears, wild dogs, the Indian gaur, and more. Peacocks, crow pheasant, peafowl, pintail, lesser whistling teal, Indian roller, wagtail, munia, waterfowl, blue kingfisher, crimson-breasted barbet, and red-vented bulbul are among the many species that call the park home. "You will always see birds at Pench, even if you don't see many animals when you visit," Patil adds.

Which Time of Year Is Ideal For Visiting Pench National Park?

Summer Season (March to June):

In Pench, the summer season usually starts as soon as February ends and continues to warm up until June. Traveling and exploring can be a little challenging during this season due to the high temperatures of 42°C. However, summers in Pench can also be appreciated because it's a fantastic time to see tigers near water bodies.

Winter Season (November to February):

Without a doubt, winter is the ideal time of year to visit Pench National Park because the weather is still calm and nice for a wildlife safari. From November to February, the temperature gradually decreases until it reaches 5°C.

Monsoon Season (July to September):

This time of year is the ideal diversion from the hot summers that occur from March to June. The park is closed during this time of year because the light rain showers intensify into severe rainfall every passing day.

What Are The Best Zones?

Compared to Bandhavgarh or Kanha, Pench is a smaller park without a zoning framework. Turia, Karmajhari, and Jamtara are the three entrance gates to the park. Turia Gate is the most visited by tourists and is thought to be the finest place to see tigers. However, Pench has far more to discover than Turia. "The national park, the sanctuary, the buffer area, which is 2000 square feet, and the water bodies in between are all important to discuss," Patil explains. Since everyone wants to see the tiger, no one takes tourists to those locations. Many Guides recommend visiting the Khawasa buffer region, the Khursapar gate, the Rukkhad gate, or the Sillari gate in Maharashtra in addition to the Turia gate. Sitaghat is Patil's favorite spot in the forest. There are very few gypsy in this lovely, remote location. The scenery is beautiful and perfect for observing birds.

Conclusion

Pench National Park will be a good place to visit during the winter season. Plan your vacation to Pench National Park by booking Pench Tour Packages. The packages will provide easy transportation facilities, easy booking, the best hotels to stay, and an expert guide. Book your packages and enjoy your vacation.