Khayelitshe House
Pench Tree Lodge is a unique experience, set in one of the unexplored areas of the Pench National Park.Located in the picturesque village of Sarahiri, the lodge offers its guests proximity to the Karmajhiri gate. At the resort, guests have access to 16 hectares of private forest, to explore and observe the wildlife at close quarters.
Pench National Park is a wild playground harboring country's maximum density of prey animals, chased by estimated 65 Tigers. In 1983, it was declared a National Park and in 1992, a tiger reserve. Pench Tiger Reserve is spread across 1,180sq km, including a buffer zone of 768sq km. Pench National Park is situated under the Seoni and Chhindwara administrative districts of Madhya Pradesh and shares southern boundary with Maharashtra and hence is accessible from Maharashtra as well. There are three gates to the park, namely the Turia Gate, the Karmajhiri Gate and the Jamatra Gate.
It has an appealing landscape of dry and moist deciduous forest and Teak is the major tree of the region along with a mix of Saja, Mahua and Indian Ghost trees. The vegetation is of undulating scrublands as well as bamboo patches around hilly areas. The park has 39 recorded species of mammals, 210 species of migrant and resident birds and estimated 30 species of reptiles. The park is known for good sightings of Tiger, Wild Dogs, Jackals and many other mammals & birds.
Learn more about Pench in Sir Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book & Sir David Attenborough's wildlife series with BBC - Spy in the Jungle. (Pugdundee)
Accommodations include six spacious cottages on ground and six tree houses perched on top of the Mahua trees that are supported by stilts.
The six tree houses are perched on top of the Mahua trees and supported by stilts. Large French windows allow for an uninterrupted view of the deciduous forest and grassland and let you observe the multitude of birds, butterflies and the wild animals at the lodge. Each of the treehouses is at a significant distance from each other.
Guests have so far seen wild boars, civets, jungle cats, jackals and spotted deer as they sat sipping their morning tea or the evening sundowner on the private deck. Breaking away from the monotony of oft repeated safari lodgings, the treehouses have been designed with an eclectic mix of vintage and natural aesthetics.
Pench Tree Lodge offers a host of interesting activities to choose from:
Wildlife Tours
There are several wildlife tours to choose from. A typical wildlife tour covers two spectacular parks of central India Kanha & Pench, both unique & diverse. Pench is primarily a Teak forest also popular for Tiger & Wild Dogs. Pench is the forest which inspired Rudyard Kiplings - The Jungle Book. Kanha is famous for its lush green grasslands and towering Sal forest. Kanha is popular for Tigers, bird watching & is the last home of the only surviving population of Hard Ground Barasingha (Swamp Deer).
Nature Trails & Cycling
As an avid birder or even a beginner, you will be delighted by the wide array of bird species found at the lodge and the surrounding fields and water holes.
Jeep Safari
An amazing way to experience nature and wildlife.
Night Trail
Armed with torches, you may choose to do the in house nature trail through thickets, old forest and grasslands. Night trail is a unique experience in its own where you can spot the nocturnal wildlife such as Civets, Owls and more.
Organic Garden
Pench Tree Lodge firmly believes in sustainable eco-tourism and one of the initiatives as part of the mission is maintaining an organic garden to encourage local, healthy produce. You can participate in the daily farming and gardening activities that happen in our small farm. Especially recommended for young guests.
Village Walks & Bazaars
Enjoy a guided tour or a leisurely walk/bicycle ride by yourself to the local villages and weekly haats (bazaars). You can have your fill of indigenous crafts and products of the area and more likely than not, get invited to visit a villager's home to share a cup of tea. Pugdundee Safaris supports local schools and education initiatives as well as provides employment to local youth. We encourage giving back to the community we operate in and these walks are an excellent way for our guests to immerse in the local culture and experience rural India.
Breakfast by the Dam
If you prefer to relax and miss the jeep safari, we can set up your breakfast overlooking the dam (when weather permits) and you can join the birds and animals at the watering hole for the first meal of the day.
