Safari and Wildlife Viewing
At Baghvan, Guests Can
- Participate in twice-daily jungle safaris in the reserve
- Learn about the rich biodiversity of Central India from a &beyond trained naturalist
- Observe tigers and other predators from the safety of an elephant’s back
- Follow fresh tiger pugs from the comfort of a specially designed Tata Open 4x4 safari vehicle
- Observe numerous types of birds throughout our bird watcher’s paradise (a dry riverbed)
- Take guided nature walks in the buffer zone
- Back at the lodge, take a foot safari through the nullah and engage in bird watching out on the pool deck
- Take a walk through Pachdhaar village to enjoy the sights and sounds and local pottery of a traditional village
- Visit a nearby fruit bat nesting site
Pench National Park
One of India’s rich yet lesser-known parks, Pench National Park, is a typical Central Indian teak jungle, with hilly terrain and several jungle streams. It supports a rich variety of wildlife, including the tiger, leopard, wild dog, gaur, sambar, chital and brilliant birdlife. The Park’s open habitat lends itself well to wildlife viewing and offers striking views of the area’s sheer beauty.
Fauna
Pench National Park is home to a number of exotic creatures as well as endangered species. The tiger is the dominant predator here, and there are an estimated 25 of them in these prey-rich forests. Other predators include leopard, dhol (Indian Wild Dog), wolf, hyena, jackal and jungle cat. The prey species comprise of chital, sambhar, muntjac, gaur, wild boar, langur and rhesus macaques.
There is a rich birdlife with over 300 recorded bird species. Fascinating birds include parakets, hornbills, kingfisher, barbets, minivets, orioles, wagtails, and a host of raptors including the crested serpent eagle, crested hawk eagle and white-eyed buzzard.
There is a rich birdlife with over 300 recorded bird species. Fascinating birds include parakets, hornbills, kingfisher, barbets, minivets, orioles, wagtails, and a host of raptors including the crested serpent eagle, crested hawk eagle and white-eyed buzzard.
Flora
The forested area is a blend of southern tropical dry deciduous forest and tropical moist deciduous forest, along with other beautiful species of shrubs, trees and climbers. Pench National Park’s diverse flora includes: Teak, Mahua, Tendu, Bija, Amaltas, and Palas. Bamboo occurs mostly in the valleys and along the water courses.
Naturalists
Our naturalists are more than just guides. Vigorously trained by &beyond, they have an encyclopedic knowledge of every inhabitant of the forests, and every secret nook and pathway of the wilderness. Warm, personable, and genuinely excited about sharing their knowledge, they are an integral part of what makes the Taj Safari experience unique.
Safari Vehicles
The custom made Tata TL 4 x 4 single-cab pickup is built for the this tough terrain and has the power and design elements required for safari vehicles. It is powered by a 92bhp, 1948cc turbocharged intercooled engine ideal for driving through the off-road forest landscape. The front cab was removed and a foldable windscreen installed for better vision. The driver’s door was also removed to enable the naturalist to stand up and point out points of interest to guests. A narrow rear door was fabricated on the right side of the pickup bed to allow access to the three rows of bucket seats placed at different levels. The first row sits on the original floor pan while the other two are on raised platforms to enable all guests to have a good all round view. To accommodate the third row of seats, an extension frame of about 33 mm was fabricated and the space below it has been used to make a boot of wire mesh. This boot holds the icebox with all the refreshments and the hot cases for the ‘bush breakfast’ that is served to guests after the game drive.
&beyond
&beyond is the continent's leading Ecotourism company and one of the most comprehensive safari operators with exceptional lodges and safaris in Africa's most breathtaking wilderness locations. The company is well known for its success in creating a business that has reaped viable financial returns through long-term investment in commercial wildlife conservation. With over 30 years of tour operating and safari planning in Africa, and a strong focus on guided and walking safaris, &beyond’s portfolio consists of 38 high-end private game lodges and camps across South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Botswana. Some of their internationally acclaimed lodges include Phinda, Londolozi and Ngala in South Africa and Mnemba and Ngorongoro in Tanzania.
