Best of Central India wildlfe tour

Planet

We aim to help and support a more responsible,feasable and sustainable approach to wildlife tourism in Central India by catering to small groups of not more than 10-12 people, thus leaving behind the least impact on a particular destination. Our connection with the central Indian National parks & jungles date backs to 1932 when one of our family members Late Lakhpat Rai was the first chief conservator of Forest of Central India during British rule. The trained naturalists who will accompany you for game drives are from the local community who have developed the skills of communicating with clients over the years with our regular in house training.

Recently we installed the first ground water recharge unit in one of the lodges in Kanha which we will use. A part of the income (£10 per person) generated from this tour goes straight to the local tribal village school in Kanha. We will be visiting one such school during your trip which we have adpoted. We visit school during lunch time & after the Morning safari when guest come back from the park. Visits are always accompanied by a school teacher & its always great experience for the visitor & school children both when they interact with each other

All the lodge in National Parks : 90% of the staff come from the local area and are committed to purchasing from local suppliers as far as possible. The lodge has a water soak pit, uses recycled water to water their plants (we discourage gardens that have high water demands), and there is a sign in all bathrooms explaining how to save water. The lodge only uses LED lamps and solar lanterns to save electricity.

People

Kanha is one of the most successful sustainable tiger models in India. It's not 1 project, it's 3 layers working together:1. Core Tiger Conservation - Project Tiger
Kanha was one of the first 9 reserves under Project Tiger in 1973. Today it has a stable breeding tiger population. The famous sustainable work there is: Grassland restoration: 8% of the core zone has been developed as grasslands in vacated villages to provide healthy prey for tigers. Old grasslands are fenced, re-planted after monsoons, and invasive saja, tendu trees are removed before they turn meadow into jungle. Barasingha (hard-ground swamp deer) revival: Kanha's landmark achievement is saving Barasingha from near extinction - now the state animal of MP. Habitat management: controlled burning, water management, camera traps, anti-poaching patrolling.

All the lodge are dedicated to the local upliftment of the area. We were the first in the history of Kanha National Park to train the locals in catering, house keeping, steward ship, guiding etc., all of whom had very basic schooling if any at all. The staff is trained at the parent hotel , and the majority (all drivers) come from the local community. They have financed one vehicle for a member of our staff who is from the community and use this for game drives. In addition, they do not have washing machines so they can provide work for the local community and have taught the local people cane weaving and pottery, the results of which are all used in the lodge. Raw materials are purchased locally where possible.

The benefit sharing approach has empowered local communities which in turn generates protective instinct among them. The local communities are the real sentinels of our heritage. The benefits accrue from employment and subsequent skill generation. Many locals have become expert naturalist and guides, cooks and wait staff. The tourism encourages development of artistic skills as tourist by local artifacts created by the tribesmen.