Satpura Tiger Reserve sits within the Pachmarhi Biosphere in Madhya Pradesh’s Narmadapuram district, a rugged country of Satpura hills, gorges, the Denwa river and sal and teak forest. Uncrowded and genuinely wild, it is the rare Indian park where you can walk, boat and drive. Rather than tigers, it is prized for its leopards, sloth bears and sheer serenity.
The reserve is open from October to June and closes during the monsoon, July to September. February to mid-June is best for wildlife and boat safaris, while mid-November to early February is the finest window for birding.
The core ranges centre on Madhai, the main gate on the Denwa, and on Churna deep in the interior, with buffer zones at Parsapani and Sehra. The park is closed on Wednesday evenings.
Bhopal airport is the nearest at around two and a half to three hours away. Railheads include Pipariya, Sohagpur and Itarsi, with a road transfer onward to Madhai.
New shared safaris coming soon.
Tigers are present but elusive; the reserve is better known for leopard, sloth bear, gaur, barasingha, wild dog and the Indian giant squirrel. The Indian skimmer and abundant birdlife add to more than fifty mammal species.
Satpura's real distinction is its variety: jeep safaris, boat and canoe trips on the Denwa, walking safaris, elephant safaris and mobile camping. This range of ways to explore is what sets the park apart.