I planned my Pench trip with one main goal: I wanted to do both an evening safari and a morning safari. I wanted to see how the forest, weather, animal activity, and overall experience changed at different times of the day.
I travelled from Delhi to Nagpur by flight and then took a cab to Pench. After reaching my resort near Turia Gate, I had lunch and prepared for my first evening safari. The next morning, I went for an early morning safari.
Both safaris were different. I saw many animals and birds during the evening safari, while the morning safari gave me a tiger sighting and a different forest experience. This is my complete Pench journey, including my travel, resort stay, both safaris, and return journey.
Delhi To Nagpur: My Journey
My Pench trip started from Delhi. I took an early morning flight to Nagpur because I wanted to reach Pench in time for my first safari. I landed at Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport at around 8:30 AM.
After leaving the flight, I felt a little tired because of the early start. At the same time, I was excited because Pench was still ahead. I collected my luggage and went towards the airport exit. My pre-booked AC cab was already waiting there.
The distance from Nagpur Airport to Pench was around 85 to 90 kilometres. The cab journey took about 2 to 2.5 hours, depending on traffic and road conditions.
The first part of the drive was comfortable. We travelled on NH 44, where the road was broad and mostly smooth. As we moved away from Nagpur, the area slowly became more rural.
Near Khwasa, the road towards Pench became smaller. I could see small villages, houses, open areas, and forest sections. The surroundings became quieter as we came closer to the reserve.
I sat near the window for most of the journey and watched the surroundings change. I did not need to hurry, so I enjoyed the drive. The road journey became an enjoyable part of my trip.
After about two and a half hours, I reached the Pench area. Since my first safari was planned for the same afternoon, I had limited time to settle down before going to the resort and getting ready.
My Resort Stay And Lunch
I had already booked an eco-resort at Turia Gate. The place was beneficial for my safari schedule as I did not have to cover any distance to reach the gate. As soon as the cab took me to the lodge, the staff members greeted me.
They provided me with a welcome drink and also processed my check-in quickly. This helped me as I had an evening safari scheduled. They showed me to my cabin. The room was neat and cozy and featured jungle-themed décor.
I did not stay in the room for long because I had to leave for the safari later in the afternoon.
Before leaving, I went to the dining area for lunch. The food was simple Indian food but was filling and tasty. I had dal fry, jeera rice, chapati, mix veg, and a spicy local-style gravy.
The hot meal helped me feel fresh after the journey. After lunch, I went back to my room, collected the things I needed for the safari, and got ready.
Before the trip, I had completed my Pench safari booking in advance so both my evening and morning safari plans were already confirmed. My first safari was an evening safari from Turia Gate.
My Evening Safari At Turia Gate
After lunch, I headed to Turia Gate, where I arrived around 2:15 PM. We did the formalities for the safari, and then went into the park. Then I met our driver and guide. They knew the forest very well and also had knowledge about the movements of the animals. The guide told us whatever he thought necessary when we found something worth noticing.
It was very hot and sunny that day, and the sun was shining brightly. At the beginning, I looked around the forest and learned about the surroundings. Gradually, we started spotting animals. We spotted chital, which are also known as spotted deer.
Ahead in the forest, wild boars were seen roaming about on the ground as they hunted for their food. Also, we came across Indian gaurs in the open grasslands. It was easier to spot them due to their big size. There was a time when our driver stopped the gypsy and drew our attention to the trees.
There were some langurs who were sitting on them and jumping from one tree to another. We observed them for a while. We also saw Indian rollers, kingfishers, and peafowls. I kept shifting my eyes to various sides because there were chances of animals and birds appearing at any point on the route.
However, after about 4:30 PM, the heat decreased, and cool air was blowing. My wish was still that I would catch a glimpse of a tiger, but unfortunately, I did not get to see any during my evening safari.
Despite feeling slightly disappointed, my safari experience was worthwhile. This is because I saw many animals and birds and had the experience of the forest late in the day. We went back to the resort after finishing the safari.
Early Morning Safari And Tiger Sighting
This morning started at around 5:00 AM when my alarm went off. Since it was cold, I put on my jacket, beanie, and scarf. Around 5:45 AM, the gypsy from the resort picked me up. We reached the Turia gate at night. When formalities were done, we entered the reserve. There was a vast difference in the conditions compared to the previous afternoon.
It was cold and foggy, with restricted visibility. Visibility improved gradually with sunrise in the forest. During the safari, the driver kept an eye on the road, vegetation, and animal tracks. Birds were already making noise, and there was activity in various parts of the forest.
Finally, after some time, we reached a spot near a water body. At one point of time, our guide gestured for the driver to stop the vehicle. The gypsy driver became totally silent. He gestured towards some dry grass near the roadside. At first I could not see anything, but then I saw movement. A Bengal tiger emerged from the grass patch. It walked on the road and crossed it.
After that, for a few moments, there was silence. Then we all observed it. It was moving in a slow manner, and I could observe its movement and body parts. I clicked photographs and was also observing it simultaneously. This observation was important for me because I had not seen a tiger on the evening safari.
We continued our journey and then came across jackals, jungle fowls, and colorful birds. It was still cool, and the forest seemed more silent than in the afternoon. In no time, our safari came to an end, and we returned to the gate. I was about to exit the forest, having seen the tiger I had come to see.
What I Did After Safari
After returning to the resort, I was very hungry. The morning safari had started before breakfast, so I went directly to the dining area.
Breakfast included poha, toast, omelette, and hot tea. The hot tea was especially welcome after spending several hours outside in the cold morning weather.
After breakfast, I rested for some time. I also checked the photographs from both safaris. The photographs of the tiger I saw that morning naturally received most of my attention.
Later, I took a walk around the resort. It was a peaceful way to spend some time after the early morning start and long safari.
In the evening, I had dinner in the resort’s open-air dining area. A bonfire was burning nearby, and sitting close to it made the cold weather more comfortable.
Dinner included local Madhya Pradesh dishes along with simple North Indian food. I enjoyed trying regional food after spending the day around Pench. The meal was satisfying, and the quiet resort environment gave me time to think about the morning tiger sighting.
The safari was the main reason for my Pench trip, but the food, resort stay, and time spent at the property also became important parts of my overall experience.
Return Journey And My Safari Comparison
After breakfast the next morning, it was time to check out.
The same cab that had brought me from Nagpur was waiting outside the resort. I loaded my luggage, said goodbye to the resort staff, and started the return journey towards Nagpur Airport.
The drive again took around 2 to 2.5 hours. The route felt familiar now, and I could recognize some of the roads and villages that I had passed during my arrival.
After reaching Nagpur, I went to the airport for my flight back to Delhi. By then, my Pench trip was over, but I had an answer to the question I had before starting the trip: what is different about a morning safari and an evening safari?
For me, the evening safari was hot at the beginning and became cooler later in the afternoon. I saw chital, sambar, wild boar, Indian gaur, langurs, and several birds, including Indian rollers, kingfishers, and peafowl. However, I did not see a tiger.
The morning safari was much colder and foggy at the start. The forest slowly became brighter, and there was early-morning animal and bird activity. Most importantly, I saw a Bengal Tiger crossing the road near a water body.
Based only on my personal experience, I would choose the morning safari first because of the tiger sighting and the cooler weather. However, I would still recommend doing both safaris if you have enough time.
The two safaris gave me different experiences. Doing both helped me understand how the same Pench forest can look and feel different in the morning and evening.
What say you?
Thoughts on a Pench Safari?
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