Abhishek Sinha
My First Jungle Safari In Pench National Park:
What The Experience Was Really Like
My first Pench trip started from Delhi. I wanted to experience a Gypsy safari, stay at a comfortable resort near the national park, and spend some quiet time away from city life. I flew from Delhi to Nagpur and reached Nagpur Airport at around 8:00 AM. A pre-booked cab was waiting for me, and the drive was amazing; it took around three hours to reach Pench. I reached my resort near Turia Gate at around 11:00 AM. After checking in, having lunch, and resting, I prepared for my first safari the next morning. I was excited to enter Pench National Park in a Gypsy and see its forest and wildlife myself.
My Journey From Delhi To Pench
I went on my journey from Delhi and flew to Nagpur. I arrived at the Nagpur Airport around 8:00 AM. After collecting my bags, I went out of the airport towards the taxi that I had booked prior to my journey since I wanted to make an easy transfer from Nagpur to Pench. I did not have to look for the taxi after reaching Nagpur since I had already booked it before the journey.
I loaded my bags inside the cab and began the road journey. It took me around three hours to reach Pench from Nagpur. The weather was pleasant and cool; therefore, my journey was smooth. As we left the city of Nagpur, things started getting rural. Small settlements, roadside shops, open spaces, and greenery were seen along the roadside.
During the course of travel, most of the time I kept my eyes glued to the windows and engaged myself in chatting with the driver regarding the route and stay at Pench. We stopped at a roadside eatery after a while, where I had tea and a samosa before heading towards Pench again. The travel was not hectic, and I had sufficient time to take a break, observe the surroundings, and think about my safari plans.
With each passing minute, the curiosity to reach the destination increased, and I began anticipating my safari adventure. It took us around three hours to reach Pench, and I arrived by 11:00 AM. The resort I chose to stay at in Pench was quite comfortable and situated near Turia Gate. The reason why I chose the place was that it was near the gate of the safari.
Having spent some time traveling on the road, I wanted to eat lunch and take some rest before moving ahead.
Staying Near Turia Gate
I reached the resort at around 11:00 AM. The check-in process was smooth, and I did not have to wait long. After completing the formalities, the staff showed me to my room.
The room was clean, comfortable, and spacious. I liked the large windows because they brought plenty of natural light into the room. The bathroom was also clean, which I appreciated after travelling for several hours.
The resort area was peaceful. It felt very different from the busy environment I had left in Delhi. I had no important plans for the afternoon, so I decided to rest and keep the afternoon free.
The resort staff helped me confirm the safari reporting time and gate details. My Pench safari was planned from Turia Gate, so I checked the timing again. Since the safari was early the next morning, I wanted to be clear about when I had to leave the resort.
Before resting, I had lunch at the resort. I ordered dal tadka, roti, and jeera rice with fresh lime water. The food was simple and fresh after the long road journey.
After lunch, I had tea and spent some time sitting outside my room. I did not want to plan too many activities because the safari was the main reason for my visit.
In the evening, I prepared the things I would need for the safari. I kept my camera, phone, ID, and other important items ready. I also kept a jacket nearby because I expected the early morning weather to be cold.
I had dinner at around 8:00 PM and kept the meal simple. Since I had to wake up early, I did not stay awake for long. I went to bed around 9:30 to 10:00 PM and set my alarm for the morning.
My First Gypsy Safari In Pench
It was early morning when I woke up for my first safari in Pench. It was colder than expected in the morning, and I wore a light jacket. I had with me my camera and the ID that I had to show at the gate. My reporting time for the morning safari was around 5:15 AM, so I left the resort early and headed to Turia Gate.
There were not many people on the roads. After the formalities were completed, I learned about the guidelines from our guide.
The Gypsy slowly entered the forest, and because of the cool air and quiet forest, it was easy to hear the bird calls. We soon saw some chital grazing at the side of the grassy area in the forest.
Later, we spotted a sambar near the trees. It seemed alert and was constantly surveying the area around it. The guide interpreted its behavior and explained to us what to look for. Further, we saw a kingfisher and Indian peafowl. A little later, we heard a deer alarm call.
The guide concentrated on the direction from which the call came and explained that such an alarm call might signify the presence of a predator. But we didn't see any predator nearby. We also saw a nilgai. I wished to see a tiger, but it didn't turn up. However, the guide showed us pug marks that were quite recent.
It went on till about 10:00 AM. I had already spotted some chital, sambar, nilgai, kingfisher, Indian peafowl, the alarm call, and the pug marks. Even though I could not spot a tiger, I felt quite content with my safari experience. I was thinking of going for another safari but dropped the idea. I just wanted to rest at the resort.
What I Did After The Safari
I went back to the resort at around 10:30 AM. I was feeling hungry; hence, I decided to have breakfast. My meal included eggs, toast, and tea. I returned to my room and took a rest since the early wake-up and hours spent in the Gypsy had made me feel tired. I did some browsing of the pictures that I had taken on the safari.
I took some more rest and thereafter went outside my room. The peaceful atmosphere of the resort helped me to calm down after all the experiences that I had enjoyed in the morning. In the afternoon, I had tea and snacks, and I also discussed the safari with the resort staff.
However, the night was slower compared to the morning. My schedule was empty; therefore, I decided to stay at the resort and relax. I wanted to have a light dinner of dal, roti, and rice. While eating dinner, I continued to recall the safari I had in the morning.
For me, the most impressive thing was the alarm call of the deer and how alert the guide became. I was expecting to see the tiger as the high point of the experience. However, I understood that wildlife viewing included not only sights but also sounds and behavior of the wild animals.
The next morning, I woke up at around 7:00 AM. The weather was cool, but the morning was much more relaxed than the previous day.
I had breakfast, finished packing, and completed the check-out formalities. Before leaving, I briefly spoke with the resort staff and thanked them for their help during my stay.
I left Pench at around 8:30 to 9:00 AM.
My Return Journey To Nagpur
For my return to Nagpur, I used the same cab that I had booked earlier. The drive took about three hours. Most of the road was comfortable, though the cab had to move slowly at a few places near local settlements.
The return journey felt easier and shorter because I kept thinking about the experiences from the trip. I had originally planned the Pench visit mainly for the Gypsy safari, but the trip became more than just a forest visit.
The drive from Nagpur, my stay at the resort, getting ready early in the morning, watching wildlife, and spending quiet time at the resort all became important parts of the journey.
I reached Nagpur at around 12:00 PM. From there, I continued to Nagpur Airport for my flight, which was scheduled for around 4:00 PM. I had enough time before the flight, so I could rest after the long road journey.
When I looked back at my first Pench visit, the Gypsy safari was still the main part of the trip for me. I did not get to see a tiger, but I saw chital, sambar, nilgai, a kingfisher, and an Indian peafowl. I also heard a deer alarm call and saw the pugmarks that our guide had shown us.
The safari also taught me that wildlife trips do not always go according to expectations. I entered the forest hoping for a tiger sighting, but I returned with several other experiences that I remember clearly.
I would like to visit Pench again in the future. Next time, I want to explore another area of the forest and take another Gypsy safari, giving myself more time to watch and understand the wildlife.