Safari and Wildlife Viewing
At Pashan Garh, Guests Can
- Participate in twice-daily jungle safaris in the reserve, observing a rich diversity of wildlife
- Learn about the rich biodiversity of Central India from a &beyond trained naturalist
- Travel in comfort in a specially designed Tata Open 4x4 safari vehicle
- Observe over 250 types of bird species
- Take guided nature walks
Panna National Park
Panna is situated in the Vindhya Hill range and spreads over Panna and Chhatarpur
districts in the northern part of Madhya Pradesh. Panna National Park is the most
important protected area in the north-central highlands of India, as it links the
eastern and western populations of wild animals through the Vindhya ranges. It is
the only place where one can witness the rare gharial crocodile that inhabits the
Ken River.
Fauna
Panna is home to the majestic tiger as well as leopards, wolves, hyenas, jackals
and the sloth bear. The reserve is also well known for sightings of nilgai, sambar,
chital, wild boar and the gharial crocodile. The park is also home to more than
200 species of birds including the bar-headed goose, the honey buzzard, the king
vulture and the blossom-headed parakeet.
Flora
The park’s dry and hot climate, combined with shallow Vindhyan soils, has
given rise to dry Teak and dry mixed forest. The dominating vegetation type is miscellaneous
dry deciduous forest interspersed with grassland areas. Other major forest types
are riverines, open grasslands, open woodlands with tall grasses and thorny woodlands.
The characteristic floral species of this area include tree species such as Tectona
grandis, Diospyros melanoxylon, Madhuca indica, Buchnania latifolia, Anogeissus
latifolia, Anogeissus pendula, Lannea coromandelica, and Bosswelia serrata.
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 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.
