Zones and Price Chart
Maharashtra
Safari Zone (Core)Kolitmara, Khubala Gate, Sillari, Chorbahuli Gate, Khursapar
Safari Zone (Buffer)Surewani
Pricing| Indian | Foreigner | |
|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | INR 8500 | INR 10500 |
| Weekends | INR 7700 | INR 8500 |
Madhya Pradesh
Safari Zone (Core)Touria, Karmajhiri, Jhamtara
Safari Zone (Buffer)Khawasa, Khumbhpani, Masurnala, Rukhad, Teliya
Pricing| Indian | Foreigner | |
|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | INR 9000 (Core) INR 8200 (Buffer) | INR 12500 (Core) INR 10500 (Buffer) |
| Weekends | INR 9200 (Core) INR 7500 (Buffer) | INR 13000 (Core) INR 8300 (Buffer) |
Important Information
Please Note: Tourists are not allowed to select a specific zone during the online booking process. Zones are assigned based on availability. Additionally, once payment is made, visitors cannot request a particular zone.
Pench Safari Booking!
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Penchbooking.com, operated by Wildlife Adventure India, is a trusted private travel partner for Pench National Park safari bookings, accommodation, and curated wildlife tours. Safari permits are issued exclusively through official government portals, and we assist travelers with planning and booking services across all major zones.
About Pench Safari Booking
Pench National Park is easy to reach and it runs in a tidy, planned way. The safaris are set up so you can watch animals at a calm pace while you are deep inside the forest.
The park area is split into 14 safari zones across Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Each zone feels different. You may find different types of trees, different animal numbers, and a different kind of viewing.
In some places, people go mainly for tiger sightings. Other zones are known for black panthers and leopards. You may also come across wild dogs, sloth bears, or see nocturnal animals during night trips.
Every zone has its own vibe. Picking the right one for what you hope to see can change how your Pench safari turns out.
Safaris in Pench run in two daily shifts — morning and evening across both core and buffer zones. Each open top gypsy carries a maximum of 6 adults and is accompanied by a trained nature guide and an experienced driver who knows the forest trails well. Every shift lasts approximately 3 to 4 hours, covering a fixed route within the booked zone. The number of vehicles allowed per zone per shift is strictly limited by the forest department, which means once the daily quota fills, no additional permits are issued for that date.
You can book early, but only 120 days ahead, and this is for the main zones. During the busy months from October to February, the best slots often get taken fast.
Use the same ID proof for the booking, and bring that same document on the safari day. Once a permit is confirmed, it cannot be moved to someone else. It is also not refundable after confirmation.
Try to reach the entry gate 30 to 45 minutes before your start time. This helps you finish the checks and avoids a rush right at the last moment.
Types of Safari in Pench National Park
Jeep Safari (Gypsy Safari)
The most popular kind of way to see Pench Tiger Reserve, this open top 4x4 gypsy carries up to 6 visitors and goes deep into the teak forest across every core zone and also the buffer zones. A trained nature guide with you, checks pug marks, stays alert to alarm calls, and leads you through the forest routes where tigers, leopards and wild dogs move freely every morning and also every evening.
Explore Safari Zones of Pench National Park
Pench National Park has 14 zones located in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Each of these zones has its unique forest type, different levels of wildlife activity and a special kind of experience, for sightings. Here is a quick guide to help you pick the zone for your Pench jungle safari.
Turia Zone
Turia is the most famous and most visited safari zone in Pench National Park, and for good reason. Its rich mix of open teak forest, dry grasslands and popular waterholes like Baginnalla, Junewani, Joda Munara and Pyorthadi draw tigers out into the open with remarkable regularity, especially during the summer months when water becomes scarce. The highest point of Pench, Kala Pahad, also falls inside this zone. If you are planning a Pench jungle safari for the first time and want the best possible chance of a tiger sighting in Pench, Turia is where you start.
Karmajhiri Zone
Karmajhiri is the quieter, more raw and deeply rewarding alternative to the busy Turia zone, offering fewer vehicles and longer undisturbed time inside the forest with wildlife. The famous Ghursalghat waterhole inside this zone is one of the most reliable tiger and leopard sighting spots in all of Pench Tiger Reserve. The celebrated Jhandimatta area has become nationally known for black panther sightings in Pench, drawing wildlife photographers from across the country specifically for this rare and thrilling experience. The Runijhuni nature walk also starts from Karmajhiri Gate, making this one of the most activity-rich zones in the reserve.
Jamtara Zone
Jamtara is the unexplored and least crowded core zone in Pench National Park tucked inside Jamtara Village in the Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh. Thick bamboo groves, huge banyan trees, shindoori and teak trees cover the trails. This makes Jamtara feel much wilder than the busy parts of the park. I have noticed that Sloth bear sightings in Pench are most consistent, in Jamtara. You can also see wild dogs quite often and barking deer move through the thick bushes all the time. The Alikatta breakfast point and Chendia Ghat crossing add an adventurous edge to every Jamtara safari that no other zone quite matches.
Khawasa Zone (Wolf Sanctuary)
TKhawasa Zone, officially known as the Wolf Sanctuary of Pench, is the most exciting buffer zone in the entire reserve and the only designated zone for night safari in Pench . Indian wolves, striped hyenas, porcupines, jungle cats and nocturnal owls all come alive along its open forest trails after sunset, revealing a side of Pench that daytime safari visitors never see. Located very close to Turia Gate, Khawasa Zone Safari is easy to reach and pairs perfectly with a morning core safari. Night safari in Pench Khawasa cannot be booked online and must be arranged offline directly at the gate.
Rukhad Zone
Rukhad Zone is one of the important ecological parts of any safari zone in Pench Tiger Reserve. Rukhad Zone serves as a wildlife corridor that links Pench Tiger Reserve to Kanha Tiger Reserve. I have seen many tigers roam across Rukhad Zone. Tigers, leopards and Indian gaur travel through Rukhad Zone on a basis and Rukhad Zone receives many tigress sightings more than any other area, in the reserve.The hilly and naturally moist landscape, covered with dense bamboo, jamun and arjun trees, stays visually green and beautiful throughout the safari season. Rukhad is also one of the very few zones in all of Pench that offers a cycling safari alongside the standard gypsy safari.
Teliya Zone
Teliya is one of the newest buffer zones of Pench National Park and has quickly built a strong reputation as the best zone for black panther and leopard sightings in the entire Pench Tiger Reserve. This area is 4 km from Turia Gate near Teliya Village. I think it is one of the zones to reach if you are staying at most resorts near Pench. You can often see Indian wolves moving through this zone because they come from the Khawasa Wolf Sanctuary. I have also seen chousingha, barking deer, nilgai, sambar and chital here. The waterholes inside Teliya also bring in different types of birds all year long. This makes the area a great spot for birdwatching, in Pench.
Khumbpani Zone
Khumbpani Zone is a rocky area around Pench Tiger Reserve. The land is uneven and covered with bushes. This place is one of the places for leopards in the whole reserve. The rocks spread out in this area give leopards places to rest and hide. People who are patient often see leopards here. The Runijhuni waterhole in Khumbpani also brings tigers to the area during the dry summer. This makes Khumbpani a good place to see leopards and tigers in Pench. It is not as busy as the areas, on the Madhya Pradesh side.
Masurnala Zone
Masurnala is a newly opened and still largely uncrowded buffer zone of Pench National Park, located as an extension of the Rukhad buffer area with a distinctly hilly landscape and thick bamboo cover that leopards naturally favour. It is gaining a fast and well-deserved reputation for excellent leopard sightings in Pench among regular visitors and wildlife photographers. Rare and shy species like barking deer and chousingha are also spotted here consistently. Since Masurnala sees very few vehicles compared to the core zones, every safari drive through this zone feels calm, unhurried and deeply personal in a way that busier zones cannot offer.
Sillari Zone
Sillari Gate is the famous and most visited entry on the Maharashtra side of Pench Tiger Reserve and the forest at Sillari has a noticeably different feel from the zones in Madhya Pradesh. Dense bamboo groves, natural waterfalls, rocky ground, thick teak patches and many fresh water streams make a rich and varied wildlife home all year round. Sillari Zone is best known for wild dog or dhole sightings in Pench with packs often seen hunting, in the bamboo forest during morning safaris. Sloth bears and tigers are also commonly seen here, and the scenic Totladoh Dam on the Pench River is visible from inside this zone. Sillari remains open throughout the year.
Khursapar Zone
People often say that Khursapar is the zone on the Maharashtra side of Pench Tiger Reserve for a variety of wildlife sightings in a single safari. The popular places inside this zone especially Bandra Talab and Chitgohta consistently show tigers, Indian gaur, chousingha or four‑horned antelope, chinkara and chital all year round. Tiger sightings, in Khursapar happen with regularity and visitors also report many movements of leopards.Located around 30 km from Turia Gate, Khursapar is an excellent and less crowded alternative to the busy Turia core zone for anyone planning a Pench jungle safari from the Maharashtra side.
Kolitmara Zone
Kolitmara is the unique safari zone in all of Pench National Park and Kolitmara is the only zone anywhere in the reserve that offers a boat safari on the Pench Reservoir alongside the standard gypsy safari experience. From the surface of the reservoir visitors spot mugger crocodiles resting on the bank's osprey diving for fish and grey‑headed fishing eagles perched on branches above the waterline. The forest inside Kolitmara is denser and thicker than other Maharashtra zones and the backwater edges offer excellent birdwatching. Tigers, leopards and Indian gaur are also seen during gypsy safaris and Kolitmara becomes a complete and unforgettable wildlife experience.
Khubala Zone
Khubala Zone, also called Saleghat Zone is an peaceful area on the Maharashtra side of Pench Tiger Reserve. It lies eighty kilometres from Nagpur, inside the Mansinghdeo Wildlife Sanctuary region. Khubalas calm and slow pace makes it a favourite place for nature lovers and families who want a quiet Pench jungle safari away from spots. Tiger sightings have steadily increased each season. Sloth bears, leopards, sambar deer and many forest birds also add value to every safari drive, through the teak forest. Khubala Zone is perfect, for those who want a wildlife experience.
Chorbahuli Zone
Chorbahuli is a safari zone on the Maharashtra side of Pench Tiger Reserve. It sits about 52 to 65 km from Nagpur. I have found that Chorbahuli has a reputation because you can see big cats quite often. The forest feels much quieter and more personal than the Maharashtra zones. You will regularly see tigers and leopards in Chorbahuli. Also Chorbahuli is special because it is one of the places in all of Pench to see the rare four-horned antelope or chousingha. Seeing a chousingha is one of the unusual and exciting wildlife experiences you can have anywhere, in the reserve. The tall teak forest creates beautiful early morning light that wildlife photographers visiting Pench particularly appreciate.
Surewani Zone
Surewani Zone is the main buffer zone on the Maharashtra side of Pench Tiger Reserve and holds a unique and very important distinction — it is the only safari zone in all of Pench National Park that remains open for visitors throughout the monsoon season from July to September. While core zones across both Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra close during the rains, Surewani continues to offer gypsy safaris through lush green monsoon forest that looks completely different from its dry season character. Tigers, leopards, wild dogs, sloth bears and a rich variety of birdlife are all found here, and the dense green canopy during monsoon creates some of the most atmospheric and beautiful safari conditions in all of central India.
Safari Timings & Best Time to Visit
Safari timings change with the seasons. Book early — core zone permits fill up fast.
Summer Safari
March – JuneTimings may vary slightly with the season.
Winter Safari
October – FebruaryExact entry/exit depends on daylight.
Best Time to Visit
The ideal window is 15th October to 30th June. Core zone entries are limited, so advance booking is strongly recommended during peak season.
For the best chance of a core zone permit, book your safari at least 90 days in advance.
Pench Is Divided Into 2 States
Madhya Pradesh & Maharashtra — each with its own safari zones and timings
Madhya Pradesh
Safari Zones & TimingsSafari Zones - Madhya Pradesh
Core Zones:
- Touria
- Karmajhiri
- Jhamtara
Buffer Zone:
- Khawasa
- Khumbhpani
- Masurnala
- Rukhad
- Teliya
Safari Timings - Madhya Pradesh
| Month | Morning | Evening | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | Exit | Entry | Exit | |
| Oct | 06:00 | 11:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 |
| Nov | 06:00 | 11:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 |
| Dec | 06:00 | 11:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 |
| Jan | 06:00 | 11:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 |
| Feb | 06:00 | 11:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 |
| Mar | 06:00 | 11:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 |
| Apr | 06:00 | 11:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 |
| May | 06:00 | 11:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 |
| Jun | 06:00 | 11:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 |
| Jul | Closed | |||
| Aug | Closed | |||
| Sep | Closed | |||
Maharashtra
Safari Zones & TimingsSafari Zones - Maharashtra
Core Zones:
- Kolitmara
- Khubala
- Sillari
- Chorbahuli
- Khursapar
Buffer Zone:
- Surewani
Safari Timings - Maharashtra
| Month | Morning | Evening | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | Exit | Entry | Exit | |
| Oct | 06:00-08:00 | 10:30 | 02:30-04:30 | 6:30 |
| Nov | 06:00-08:00 | 10:30 | 02:30-04:30 | 6:30 |
| Dec | 06:00-08:30 | 11:00 | 02:20-04:00 | 6:00 |
| Jan | 06:00-08:30 | 11:00 | 02:20-04:00 | 6:00 |
| Feb | 06:00-08:30 | 11:00 | 02:20-04:00 | 6:00 |
| Mar | 06:00-08:00 | 10:30 | 02:30-04:30 | 6:30 |
| Apr | 06:00-08:00 | 10:30 | 02:30-04:30 | 6:30 |
| May | 05:30-07:30 | 10:00 | 03:00-05:00 | 7:00 |
| Jun | 05:30-07:30 | 10:00 | 03:00-05:00 | 7:00 |
| Jul | Closed | |||
| Aug | Closed | |||
| Sep | Closed | |||
Morning vs Evening Safari
Choose the perfect time for your Pench National Park adventure based on wildlife activity, photography conditions, and your preferences
Morning Safari
6:00 AM – 11:00 AM- Best time for tiger sightings as they're active after night rest
- Golden hour lighting perfect for photography
- Birds are most active during early hours
- Fresh morning atmosphere with misty landscapes
- Less crowded compared to evening safaris
Evening Safari
2:30 PM – 6:00 PM- Animals become active as temperatures cool down
- Good chance to see predators preparing for hunt
- Beautiful sunset views over the forest
- More relaxed timing - no early morning rush
- Different wildlife behavior patterns
Distance Guide from Major Cities to Pench National Park Turia Gate
Important Information for Jeep Safari
- Safari fees covers permit, vehicle and guide charges.
- If you prefer to hire experienced professional guides or drivers, you may do so by paying an additional fee to the forest department, in accordance with their regulations.
- Routes are fixed and cannot be change for any visitors.
- In case of any unexpected situation (fire, flood, etc.), the scheduled safari can be changed on the concerned authority’s (Maharashtra/Madhya Pradesh Forest Department) orders.
- Any safari zone can be given as per subject to availability.
- Guides and vehicles are assigned by the forest department.
- Afternoon safari on the Madhya Pradesh side of Pench remains closed every Wednesday. Safaris are not conducted on the days of Holi and Diwali. On the Maharashtra side, the Khursapur gate is closed on Tuesdays, the Sillari gate on Wednesdays, and the Chorbhauli gate on Monday.
Booking Procedure for Online Booking
- Carefully fill all the details like name, number, vehicle, zone, timing & safari date.
- Only passport is acceptable for foreigner tourist.
- Maximum 6 persons & 2 child are allowed in Jeep.
- Visitors can choose Maharashtra/Madhya Pradesh for safari booking, just click on the state name.
- Safari confirmations will be sent via email to the registered email id.
- Carry original id cards and hard copy of safari confirmation for entry.
FAQs – Pench National Park Safari
How many safari zones does Pench National Park have?
14 zones spread across Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
How many people can travel in one safari gypsy?
A maximum of 6 adults (plus up to 2 children) per open-top jeep.
How long does a safari last?
Approximately 3 to 4 hours per shift.
How many safari shifts are there in a day?
Two — one morning shift and one evening shift.
How far in advance can I book a safari?
Up to 120 days in advance for main zones; booking at least 90 days ahead is recommended for core zones in peak season.
What is the best time to visit Pench National Park?
15th October to 30th June, with October–February being the busiest months.
Is the park open all year?
No, it's closed during July, August, and September.
What ID proof is required for booking?
The same ID used during booking must be carried on the safari day. Foreign tourists must carry a passport.
Can a booking be transferred to someone else?
No, confirmed permits cannot be transferred and are non-refundable.
When should I reach the entry gate?
30 to 45 minutes before the scheduled start time.
Which zone is best for tiger sightings?
Turia Zone is the most popular and reliable for tiger sightings.
Which zone is best for black panther sightings?
Karmajhiri Zone, especially the Jhandimatta area.
Which zone is best for sloth bear sightings?
Jamtara Zone.
What are the core zones in Madhya Pradesh?
Turia, Karmajhiri, and Jamtara.
What are the core zones in Maharashtra?
Kolitmara, Khubala, Sillari, Chorbahuli, and Khursapar.
Are safari routes fixed?
Yes, routes are fixed and cannot be changed by visitors.
Are safaris closed on any specific days?
Yes — MP side afternoon safaris are closed on Wednesdays, and closed on Holi and Diwali. In Maharashtra, Khursapar is closed on Tuesdays, Sillari on Wednesdays, and Chorbhauli on Mondays.
What documents should I carry on safari day?
Original ID card and a hard copy of the safari confirmation.
Who assigns the guide and vehicle?
The forest department assigns guides and vehicles.
Can safari timings change?
Yes, timings vary by season and are subject to Forest Department guidelines.