Forsyth Lodge – Satpura National Park

Forsyth’s Satpura is a stylish environmentally friendly lodge that is engaged with the park management and the local community in a pioneering effort to create an unprecedented jungle experience in one of the most exciting tiger habitats in the world. This is an effort to create an exceptional wilderness experience for those who truly revel in wild places far from the jeep borne hordes that have defaced so many other parks.

Accommodation:

The lodge consists of 12 simple but beautiful cottages full of light and air set in cluster arranged  roughly in an arc around the main lodge building and out in to the jungle. The rooms are built mainly of cob – A sustainable and ecologically friendly material that both reflect local architectural styles and moderates temperatures. The main building is a double storied structure built of rammed earth with a dining area on the ground floor and lounges and bar above with lovely open terraces looking out over the splendid mountain views and used as alternate dining areas. An eco friendly swimming pool with virtually no chlorine, set in a flower filled enclosures completes the picture.

Activities:

Jeep Safari: Game drive remains one of the best ways of seeing wildlife simply because wildlife gets habituated to vehicle and you can cover a large amount of territory in a relatively short time. Tracking wildlife through calls, checking favored resting and feeding spots and traversing a range of habitats. Game drive can be for 3 – 4 hrs in the morning with a packed breakfast and about 3 hrs in the afternoon. For exploring the further reaches of the park, a full day excursion can also be organized.

Boat safari: a wonderful way of bird watching and Wildlife viewing is by oared boat, canoe or Kayak –paddling silently along the jungle’s edge and enjoying the birdlife and wildlife as it emerges. Magical experience. All boats are manned by trained boatmen/Guides who are re-employed fishermen left jobless with the expansion of the park boundaries over the water.

Night safari: The 44 acre of lodge grounds are being developed – under expert guidance as prime habitat for the small exciting nocturnal wildlife that we rarely ever see- porcupine, civet and palm civet jungle cat and the rare rust spotted cat, fox and even larger species such sloth bear, hyena and wolf. Nocturnal birds such as owls and nightjars and species of frogs and snakes can be seen as well. Night walks are organized for those who wish to explore this aspects of wildlife and for those who would to spend a night out waiting for them there is hide for 2 people with basic sleeping arrangements and night vision equipment.

Elephant Safari: As with other tiger reserves in central India, Satpura supports a small herd of riding elephants that are used to track tigers and then put on a ‘tiger show’ where visitors can drive up to the closest road point to the tiger, climb abroad an elephant and be ferried out to where the tiger is located. It is good way to see and photograph Tigers. However at Satpura it is possible to hire elephants for an hour or two and just head out in to the jungle seeing what you may see. 

Nature Walks: This is only one of its kind experiences offered only in Satpura National park. To truly understand the secret ways of jungle ,to appreciate the working of its innermost recesses, to see and learn the signs and tracks that wildlife leaves through the forest and to learn to interpret these to savor the smell sound and sense of wilderness, you have to take to your feet. Satpura is unique amongst tiger reserves in permitting this type of walking. The walking groups are small-typically of 4 people and guided by an expert who knows exactly how to respond and to treat wildlife while being conscious of the guest comfort and the safety. A half day walk is between 3-4 hours. Full day walks are about 6 hours.

How to get there:

By Air-Bhopal is the nearest airport- 140 K.M/3 Hrs drive. You can get direct flight from all major cities

By Train- Sohagpur -16 K.M, Piparia -35 K.M, Hosangabad- 45 K.M,  Itarsi-60 K.M

By Road- Bhopal-140 K.M, Jabalpur-200 K.M, Nagpur-300 K.M, Indore-300 K.M, Pench National Park-