10-Day Tiger Safari & Wildlife Photography Tour in Central India
- Nishit Kagalwala
- May 22
- 7 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
Welcome to tiger country—where photography hunts for its next iconic shot. For those who live for the thrill of the perfect frame - this 10-day expedition is crafted with you in mind.
Pench, Kanha, and Bandhavgarh are a photographer’s dream—each park offering unique landscapes that bring the wild to life. From Pench's teak forests to Kanha’s open meadows and Bandhavgarh’s rugged cliffs, every frame tells a new story.
This is where long lenses meet early mornings and patient anticipation. Whether it's a leopard in the shadows or a Barasingha in the mist, each shot is a reward for your focus. In these parks, nature speaks through the lens—wild, raw, and unforgettable.
What qualifies us to share this itinerary? Our Head of Sales has personally led over 100 wildlife photography tours across India, offering first-hand insights and unparalleled expertise. Having navigated the challenges of these parks, we know exactly how to optimize your safari experience for photography.
Let’s get started…
Day 1: Arrive in Delhi
After a long flight, you’ll land at Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL). A representative will meet you at the gate to assist with immigration and baggage claim.
Your chauffeur will then drive you to your hotel, about 6.5 miles away, which takes roughly 25 minutes.
Delhi is a city full of contrasts. You’ll see ancient Mughal forts, colonial buildings, and modern skyscrapers all mixed together. From the busy streets of Old Delhi to the calm, wide avenues of Lutyens’ Delhi, it’s a city that blends history with modern life.
The rest of the day is yours to relax and recover from your flight. Take it easy—you’ll be ready to explore tomorrow.
Overnight at The Leela Palace, New Delhi – a peaceful retreat in the city.
Day 2: Explore Old Delhi and Modern Landmarks
After breakfast, dive into the vibrant chaos of Old Delhi. Start at the grand Jama Masjid, a stunning Mughal masterpiece, then hop on a cycle rickshaw to explore the spice, textile, and jewelry markets, alive with color and scent. Don’t miss the street food—it’s part of the experience.
After lunch, head to Central Vista, where you’ll drive past iconic landmarks like India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhavan, and the Parliament House, symbols of India’s modern power.
Next, visit the Qutub Minar, the world’s tallest brick minaret at 73 meters. Built in the 12th century, it marks the arrival of Islam in India and incorporates remnants of Hindu and Jain temples. The UNESCO World Heritage Site also features the ancient rust-resistant iron pillar.
In the evening, shop at nearby designer boutiques or dine at one of the rooftop restaurants near Qutub Minar.
Overnight at the Hotel in Delhi
Day 3: Arrival at Pench National Park
After an early breakfast, check out and head to the airport for your flight from Delhi to Nagpur (6E-2098, DEL 07:20 - 08:55 NAG). From Nagpur, it’s a scenic road journey of about 2.5 hours (75 miles) to Pench National Park.
Located between Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, Pench is one of India’s more serene wildlife destinations. As a Project Tiger Reserve, it’s home to tigers, leopards, sloth bears, and wild dogs. The park’s rich forests, full of herbivores like cheetal and sambar, provide an ideal habitat for the region’s wildlife.
Once you check in to your hotel, you can head out for an afternoon visit to a nearby village to discover the traditional lifestyle of the Gond tribal community.
You’ll be staying at the cozy and elegant Taj Baghvan, right on the park’s edge.
Day 4 & 5: Tracking Stripes in Pench
The park is divided into zones like Turia, Jamtara, and Karmajhiri, each with its own terrain and wildlife behavior. You’ll be heading out before sunrise—hot chai in hand, wrapped in a blanket, with the jeep rolling through the cool, misty forest. It’s peaceful, but full of possibility.
Pench is known for reliable tiger sightings, often in open patches or crossing forest tracks—great for clean, unobstructed frames. But there’s more: leopards, dholes (wild dogs), sloth bears, and massive gaur all roam here. The forest has a nice mix of teak and bamboo, giving varied backdrops for photos.
Birders and photographers will find plenty too—Malabar pied hornbills, crested serpent eagles, owls, rollers, and more. Light changes fast here, and the golden hours during morning and afternoon safaris give you ideal conditions for both action shots and moody jungle frames.
With two days of safaris, you get time to explore different zones, track movement, and settle into the rhythm of the forest—without having to rush your shots.
Overnight at Taj Baghvan
Day 6: Onward to Kanha National Park
After breakfast and check-out, set out on a road journey to Kanha National Park—about 115 miles away, taking roughly four hours.
Kanha is one of India’s largest and most scenic national parks. Its dense sal and bamboo forests, sprawling meadows, and teeming wildlife are said to have inspired Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book. Beyond the famous tigers, Kanha is also home to Indian bison, sloth bears, and an incredible variety of birdlife. It’s not just a haven for wildlife—it also holds cultural roots, with connections to the epic Ramayana.
After arriving, check in to your hotel. Later in the afternoon, you can visit a nearby Baiga tribal village—a rare chance to witness a community living in harmony with nature. It’s a quiet but powerful glimpse into a culture shaped by the forest.
You’ll be staying at the stylish and serene Taj Banjaar Tola, tucked right on the edge of Kanha’s wilderness.
Day 7 & 8: Deep in Kanha’s Wilderness
Over the next two days, set out on morning and afternoon safaris in private 4x4 jeeps with an expert naturalist by your side. It is big, well-run, and offers a great mix of forest and open meadows—which means better chances for clean, natural shots. The park is split into zones like Mukki, Kanha, Kisli, and Sarhi. Each has different terrain and light conditions, which makes a big difference for photographers.
Tiger sightings here are solid, especially in Mukki and Kanha zones. But it’s not just about tigers—you’ve also got a good chance of photographing Barasingha ( swamp deer only found here), wild dogs, sloth bears, gaur, jackals, and sometimes leopards.
Lighting is great too—soft, misty mornings and sharper light in the afternoons. There’s plenty of birdlife if that’s your focus: paradise flycatchers, rollers, raptors, owls.
With two days of morning and afternoon safaris, you’ll get time to explore different zones, revisit promising spots, and work on specific shots—not just tick off sightings.
Stay at Taj Banjaar Tola
Day 9: The Final Chapter – Drive to Bandhavgarh
Post breakfast, check out and set off on a scenic 4.5-hour drive (135 miles) to Bandhavgarh National Park.
This forested stretch of Madhya Pradesh holds a dual identity—once the royal hunting reserve of the Rewa kings, today it’s celebrated as India’s top destination for spotting the elusive Royal Bengal tiger. The park’s dramatic cliffs and lush sal forests are watched over by the ancient Bandhavgarh Fort, a towering sentinel of myth and history dating back two millennia.
Arrive and check in at Taj Mahua Kothi, a cozy retreat with vintage touches and jungle right at your doorstep.
In the late afternoon, choose your pace—trek up to the fort for sweeping views and temple ruins, walk through tribal hamlets where the Gond, Kol, and Baiga people live close to the land, or simply recharge with a spa session or some downtime by the pool.
Day 10 & 11: Into the Heart of Tiger Country
It’s one of the best parks in India for consistent tiger sightings. The park isn’t huge, which means less ground to cover—and that often translates to better chances, especially for photographers. The three main zones—Tala, Magadhi, and Khitauli—each have their highlights, but Tala is usually the go-to for both scenery and sightings.
Tigers here are relatively used to vehicles, and sightings often happen in good light and open spaces—ideal for clean compositions. You’ll also come across plenty of spotted deer, langurs, and sambar, which often signal predator movement.
While tigers are the main focus, there’s always a chance of spotting leopards, sloth bears, wild dogs, or a variety of raptors and woodland birds—so keep that long lens ready.
With morning and afternoon safaris over two days, you get a good mix of golden-hour light, activity peaks, and enough time to revisit areas where something might be unfolding.
Stay at Taj Mahua Kothi
Day 12: Goodbye to the Jungle
It’s never easy to leave a place like this. After one last breakfast in the wild, you’ll drive to Jabalpur Airport and fly back to Delhi. From there, connect onward or spend a night in the city before your international departure.
You came for the tigers, the wilderness, the thrill. What you take back is more than photos—it's a sense of awe, a deep stillness, and a wild part of India etched in memory.
Booking this journey through WizTrek means you're in the hands of professionals who understand the unique demands of wildlife photography. With over 100 successful wildlife tours under our belt, we handle all logistics, ensuring that your focus remains where it should—on capturing the perfect shot.
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