Khatia Jeep Safari, Kanha National Park - Timings, Safari Cost, Best Time to Visit
Distance (From MPMCH): 4 Kms
Trip Duration (Including Travel): 4 Hours/Half Day
Transportation Options: Cab
Travel Tips: The Kanha National Park remains closed from 1st July to 15th October every year. It is also closed on Holi festival and every Wednesday afternoon safari. The park management may also cancel the safaris due to floods and forest fires and no refund is provided to tourists.
At a distance of 4 km from Mocha, Khatia is the buffer safari zone of Kanha National Park. This zone is primarily visited through Khatia entrance gate, located near Khatia village.
Khatia Zone lies in the western region of Kanha tiger reserve. It covers the forest area adjoining to core area near Khatia entrance gate. Khatia Zone comprises villages and forest area. It is the best solution for walk-in tourists who have not made any advance booking and core zones safari tickets are sold out. Also, It is best suitable for those tourists who have booked their resorts close to Khatia entrance gate as Khatia Zone safari will use same Khatia gate for entrance to undertake jungle safari in this zone.
Since 2017, it was made online for tourists so that they can do Kahtia Zone safari tickets booking in advance, for desired dates. One can book the entry ticket either online at www.mponline.gov.in or through travel agents or if available one can also get this from the booking window at the entrance gate of the national park. As if now, here sharing safari option is not available, only full-safari is available which means, you will have to book exclusive safari drives for visiting Khatia zone safari. All the visitors are required to carry their original identity document during safari drives as it is verified at the entrance gate. Safari tickets are non-transferable. During safari drive, guide service is compulsory on each safari vehicle.
Jungle safari in Khatia zone gives you a chance to see animals like Indian Gaur, Leopard, Spotted deers, Jackals, Sambhar, Wild dogs, Hanuman Langur, Barking Deer, etc. It doesn't rule out tiger sighting because sub-adults, old-aged and tigress with cubs often avoid core zone areas and prefers buffer zones for survival. In addition to this, it will serve the purpose of birding and village visits in a single run.
While booking the safari tickets in Buffer zone, you should be aware of the fact that you need to take hotel close to the entrance gate of that buffer zone otherwise you will face problem in reaching the entrance gate, due to distance problem. For Khatia zone, select a hotel near Khatia gate. This zone is open for jungle safari drives from 15th October to 30th June. During the monsoon period i.e. from July to September, it remains closed for tourists.
Safari Timings: 6.30 AM - 11 AM & 2 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, Diwali & during monsoon.
Safari Permit Fee: Rs. 250 for Single Seat in Jeep, Rs. 1500 per Whole Jeep (max 6 Persons). Jeep hiring cost & guide cost extra (around 2500 per jeep and 480 per guide).
Note: Safari cost changes frequently
