Madhai Jeep Safari, Satpura National Park - Timings, Safari Cost, Best Time to Visit
Distance (From MPSGP): 1 Kms
Trip Duration (Including Travel): 4 Hours/Half Day
Place Location: Inside Satpura National Park
Transportation Options: Cab
Travel Tips: The Satpura National Park remains closed from 1st July to 30th September every year. It is also closed on Holi, Diwali festivals, 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. Permit fees for both Indian and Foreign tourists are the same.
At a distance of 1 km from Madhai, Madhai Zone is the core zone of Satpura National Park. This zone is one of the popular safari zones of Satpura and is primarily visited through the Madhai entrance gate, located near Madhai village.
Madhai Gate is the most popular of all the entry gates of Satpura National Park, the other being Jamani Dev Gate, Pachmarhi, Churna, and Parsapani gate. Madhai zone comprises all kinds of landscapes like valleys, plains, meadow areas, some hilly terrains, water bodies, etc. Located in the core zone, Madhai is the center for wildlife tourism in Satpura Tiger Reserve. The density of the tiger population in this zone is high.
Madhai entrance gate is situated amid of Pipariya-Bhopal route, just before Sohagpur. To access the Madhai entry gate, a boat is used to cross the Denwa River where the jeep waits for the tourists and takes them further into the jungle. There is a Forest Department Ticket counter located on the banks of Denwa River, in Madhai village. Jeep Safari is one of the best ways to explore the exotic wildlife and thick woods of Satpura National Park. Madhai Zone has five internal routes namely Keria, Lagda road, Jhinjini Mahal road, Chutki Dev, and Churna road. These routes are different in length. Hence rates of safaris are different in this zone according to the route you select for safari.
The safari in the Keria route is spread over 14 km. Leopard, Sloth Bear, Indian Gaur, Malabar Squirrel can be seen in this zone. Also, a variety of birds can be seen. The safari in the Lagda route is spread over 20 km including the complete Keria route. The viewpoint at Lagda is very beautiful. Tourists are allowed to get down from the jeep at the viewpoint where one can see a water stream amidst rocks. The extremely lucky ones have seen the tiger at the viewpoint.
The safari in the Churna route is spread over 30 km including parts of the Keria route. It is a full day trip & is considered equivalent to 2 safaris. One can opt to go for the trip from 6 AM - 6 PM (combine the morning & afternoon safari's) with a rest at Churna Forest Rest House for about 4 hours. Tourists can have breakfast/lunch at Churna Forest Rest House. The other option is to do a safari from 3 PM to 9.30 AM (combine the afternoon & morning safari's) with a night stay at Churna Forest Rest House. The probability of seeing a tiger is higher on the Churna route. One can get to see a variety of birds. The probability of sighting a Sloth Bear is almost guaranteed on the Churna route.
The Jeep Safari is done only with vehicles registered with the park administration as private vehicles are not allowed inside this zone. The number of vehicles allowed to enter this core zone is 13 in the morning and 13 in the evening. Each jeep can take up to 6 travelers other than a driver and one guide. It is advisable to book the entrance ticket in well advance to avoid any chance of unavailability of safari seats. The safari entry and exit timings change according to the change of seasons. The afternoon shift is typically closed on Wednesdays. Morning & Afternoon shifts remain closed on Holi & Diwali festivals.
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. One can also book a single seat for a jeep safari instead of paying for the full vehicle at Satpura. Single-seat bookings are only offered online for core zones. The guide fee and vehicle hire fee are to be paid separately at the park before undertaking the safari and will be distributed equally between the tourists in the vehicle. 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.
This zone is open for jungle safari drives from 1st October to 30th June. During the monsoon period i.e. from July to September, it remains closed for tourists.
Safari Timings: 6 AM - 11 AM & 3 PM - 6 PM, Closed on every Wednesday evening, on Holi, Diwali & during monsoon.
Entry ( Keria, Lagda, Zinzini Mahal, Chutki Dev): Rs. 250 for Single Seat, Rs. 1500 for Full Jeep (Max 6), Rs. 1800 - 3,600 for Jeep Rent, Rs. 360 for Guide
Churna Route: Rs. 500 for Single Seat, Rs. 3000 for Full Jeep(Max 6), Rs. 5000 for Jeep Rent, Rs. 720 for Guide
