Khitauli Canter Safari, Bandhavgarh National Park - Timings, Safari Cost, Best Time to Visit
Distance (From Tala Bus Station): 5 Kms
Trip Duration (Including Travel): 4 Hours/Half Day
Transportation Options: Cab
Travel Tips: Being the core area of Bandhavgarh National Park, Khitauli Zone remains closed from 1st July to 15th October every year.
At a distance of 5 km from Tala village, Khitauli is one of the three core zones of Bandhavgarh National Park. Popularly called Gate no.3, it is the forest area of the Western part of tiger reserve situated just opposite to Maghadhi Zone. The entry gate of Khitauli is located near the Tiger Valley Resort.
Came into existence in 2010, Khitauli zone is more plane with no hilly terrains but the forest is beautiful and dense than Tala Zone. It is well known for Birding and herbivores animals sighting where one can spot the mammal species such as Leopard, Nilgai, Sloth Bears, Spotted Deer, Wild Dog (Dholes). During peak summers, probability of tiger sighting increases. Charki Dongri, Kumbhi Kachhar, Garhpuri Dam and Nigahi Nala are located in this zone.
Besides Jeep Safari, Khitauli Zone also offers Canter Safari or open-air Mini Bus Safari for its tourists. Canter Safari is available only in Maghadhi and Khitauli Zones. It is an open bus safari with a seating capacity of 12 tourists. There are two safaris in a day from October to June, one starting in the morning and the other late in the afternoon. Both canters and jeeps travel on the same route and offer the same opportunity for wildlife viewing. Canter Safari is considered as a ray of hope for those helpless tourists who reaches Bandhavgarh without any advance booking safari tickets and when gypsy safari tickets get sold out. It is equally good safari option for those who have a low budget and wish to see the core zone of Bandhavgarh.
Like jeep safari, Canter safari tickets are not offered online for advance booking. If you stay at Madhya Pradesh Tourism's White Tiger Forest Lodge, the hotel will take care of the booking and you'll be picked up from the hotel. MPSTDC hotel has a small quota of tickets for their own customers. If those seats get booked then one need to reach ticket counter at Tala and try for current tickets on first come first serve basis. Try to reach the counter one hour before opening time to enhance your chance of getting the desired tickets. Better to carry sufficient cash in INR only (cards not accepted) and ID details of all the visitors.
Safari Timings: 6.30 AM - 11 AM & 2.30 PM - 5.30 PM from Oct - Feb and 6 AM - 10 AM & 3 PM - 6 PM from Mar - June, Closed on every Wednesday evening, on Holi & during monsoon months.
Canter Safari (approximately): Rs. 1200 per Person
