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How Jamtara Camp Near Pench Helps Nature And People

•  Adeeb Sahil
•  August 21, 2025

Pench National Park

Pench jungle safari

Near Pench National Park in Madhya Pradesh, Jamtara Camp offers a small, eco-friendly place to stay in nature. It is located very close to the forest area, where people come to enjoy the famous Pench jungle safari. The camp has only 10 comfortable tents where guests can stay. The goal of this camp is to help protect the forest and also help the nearby village people.

The camp was started by Amit Sankhala. He is from a family that has worked for wildlife protection in India for many years. Amit is the third generation in his family who works to save forests and help wildlife. His grandfather and father also worked hard to protect tigers and nature.

Jamtara is not just a place for tourists. It is a project that tries to bring together wildlife conservation and support for local people.

Why The Camp Closes Every Year

Jamtara Camp near Pench National Park closes each year in the month of May. The tents and furniture are removed. The land is left empty. This is done on purpose. It is not because of problems or the weather. It is a planned step to protect the environment.

Central India experiences monsoon from May until late September. During this time, the forest gets a lot of rain. The plants and soil need time to grow and recover. The animals also need space without human presence. So, Jamtara Camp stays closed to let the forest rest and return to its natural state.

This decision helps reduce the effect of human activity in the forest. The soil gets water, the plants grow back, and animals move freely without disturbance. When the camp is closed, nature is given full freedom to grow and heal.

Most other hotels stay open all year and do not think about nature in this way. Jamtara Camp is different. It follows a system that helps both the environment and the animals that live there.

How The Camp Is Eco-Friendly

Jamtara Wilderness Camp was built in a way that does not damage the forest. Not even one tree was cut down to make space for the camp. The tents and buildings are made using materials that have already been used before. For example, the wood came from old ships, school doors, and even furniture from government buildings.

Only the bathrooms and the dining area are permanent buildings. Everything else can be removed easily. This makes it simple to take down the camp during the rainy season. When the camp is removed, the land looks almost the same as before. There is very little sign that people were ever there.

The camp uses very little cement. It does not have big concrete buildings like many other hotels. The aim is to keep the area as close to natural as possible. The design is based on respecting the land and using resources wisely.

Many parts of the camp are recycled. For example, the floors, sofas, and even the writing tables in the rooms are made from old, reused materials. This is done to reduce waste and show that old things can still be useful.

Because of this low-impact design, the camp does not leave permanent marks on the forest. When the rains come and the camp is closed, the jungle grows back, and animals return.

How The Camp Helps Local Farmers And Villagers

Jamtara Camp buys most of its food from farmers who live nearby. About 95% of the fruits, vegetables, and other food used at the camp come from farms within 40 kilometers. This means local farmers get a steady income, and the camp gets fresh food.

The camp does not try to get cheap prices. It pays fair rates to the farmers. It helps them get steady money and grow stronger in confidence. It also saves fuel and transport because the food does not have to come from far away.

The camp also helps the village in other ways. It has helped schools by giving desks, clean water, and fixing broken roofs. The camp also works with the village government (panchayat) on development work like water systems, repairs, and public services.

Because of this help, the people in the village feel like they are part of the camp’s success. They are not just workers. They feel proud and responsible. Many of them received training to work at the camp. This includes housekeeping, kitchen work, and guiding tourists.

This kind of eco-tourism near Pench National Park does not just help the camp owner. It shares the benefit with the entire community. It brings jobs, better schools, and a better future for the village.

History Of The Sankhala Family In Conservation

The Sankhala family has worked in wildlife conservation for many years. Jamtara Camp was started by Amit Sankhala, who is carrying forward the efforts of his father and grandfather. His grandfather, Kailash Sankhala, helped start “Project Tiger” in 1973 when tiger numbers in India were very low. He received the Padma Shri in 1992.

Later, Pradeep Sankhala opened eco-lodges in Kanha and Bandhavgarh to support wildlife through tourism. Now, Amit continues their work in a new way. He is adding new ideas to help protect nature and support local people, while respecting the work done by his family before him.

How The Camp Deals With Human-Wildlife Conflict

In central India, many people live close to Pench National Park. Sometimes wild animals come into the fields and damage crops. For example, sloth bears and deer eat the crops. This makes farmers angry. Sometimes they hurt the animals or leave the area.

Jamtara Camp is trying to change this situation. It helps people see animals as something that can help them, not hurt them. When tourists come for Pench jungle safaris, it creates income for the locals. This makes people want to protect the animals instead of harming them.

The camp also helps train local people as forest guides. Some of them are women, which is rare in this kind of work. These guides get good jobs and respect in their community.

Jamtara also supports the Tiger Trust. This is a non-profit group started by the Sankhala family. The group works on many projects like stopping poaching, teaching people about wildlife, and helping villagers understand the forest better.

At Jamtara Camp, protecting the tiger is not the only goal. The team wants to protect the entire forest, including the animals, trees, water, and the people who live near it.