EXPLORE

ACTIVITIES AT SARAI KOTHI
Sarai kothi is surrounded by the picturesque villages of Gorakhpur and Kareli, where the simple and charming mud architecture dot the landscape. If you want to experience a vacation, far from the maddening crowd, which truly gives you an insight into India’s wildlife, then you only need to stay with us and experience a place like no other.

BIRD WALKS
Kanha’s Sal forests boast the presence of more than 300 avian species, some of which are seasonal visitors. For the eager ornithologist amongst you numerous birds can be spotted and observed during a walk in the buffer zone jungles, or along the lifeline waters of the Banjar River.
Time Required: 2-3 hrs

CYCLING TOURS
Riding a bicycle from village to village through the comparative silence of Kanha’s buffer jungles can be highly rewarding in a multitude of ways.

It is a great way to meet the people - if you want to - responsible for keeping this environment intact and the wildlife alive - the Baiga & Gond tribes. These people are possibly the friendliest of Kanha’s peripheral denizens, their lives simple, yet it is hard work that gets them by. A cyclist is likely to be smiled at, and even invited onto the veranda for a closer look at their cleverly constructed homes, made of mud, water, straw, salt, wood and bamboo - warm in the winter and so cool in the summer - very clever, and Earth friendly. The paddy fields from October to December offer agrarian vistas of swaying rice, wheat and mustard, which are replaced with chickpeas and vegetables if the rains have been kind. It is lovely to watch all the farming activities as you peddle down the lanes. During Mahua season you can watch the villages collect the Mahua flower guarding it from the Spotted Deer and Langur that also have a taste for them. 
Time required: 2-3 hours

JUNGLE SAFARIS
Your Forest Guide, will take you on an adventure through the undulating tracks of Kanha’s core area, which are crept along so as not to startle any mammal that also prefers traversing the roads to the grassy entanglements of the forest blocks - luckily for all the anticipating wild-lifers.

Many visitors to Kanha come with only sighting the Tiger fixed firmly in their mind, and can be left disappointed or even disgruntled, IF the real protectors of these jungles are not met every time they go into the core areas. Please, for your own enjoyment of your vacation in this miracle of a conservation effort, do try to look at this jungle as a whole entity, a place where the presence of India’s most majestic Tigers ensure all the other creatures - as well as the birds - actually have this haven to live out their lives in, giving us the privilege of being able to view the predators and their prey in Kanha’s most glorious setting.

Do note that guests are required to book their jungle safaris online on the site mentioned below. The earlier you book the more likely you are to get a reservation. Should you require assistance with the same please let us know at the time of confirming your stay and we will try our best. Charges will be as per actuals with a convenience fee of INR500. These tickets are strictly as per availability since the number of vehicles allowed is limited. (https://forest.mponline.gov.in/Search.aspx)

There are 4 zones within the reserve forest namely, Mukki, Kanha, Sarhi and Kisli. There are 2 gates Mukki and Khatiya/Kisli. Distance to Mukki is 12km and to Khatiya Gate is 30km.

Travel to and from the park entry gates are chargeable as per taxi union rates.
Time required: 4-5hrs

VISIT TO PHEN SANCTUARY:
The neighboring 110 sq km Phen Wildlife Sanctuary is a satellite micro-core habitat just off the Kanha Tiger Reserve. It is off the mainstream tourist route and offers great sightings. One can spot mainlyTiger, Leopard, Wildboar,Cheetal, Sambhar as well as birds of several species. The flora boasts of Sal, Teak, Saja, Aonla, Tendu, Jamun, Bel, Bamboo etc.

A day trip from The Sal Retreat can be organized for guests. The request needs to be made at the time of booking. Vehicle charges will be as per actual taxi union rates.
Time Required: Full Day

WALKING SAFARIS
To complete the quintessential Sarai Kothi experience one must try our walking safaris. Feel the thrill of going for a walk within the Buffer Zone of Kanha National park and spotting a tiger’s pug marks. Our local guides who have grown up around the forest will take you up close and personal with wildlife in the buffer zone. This beats all other ways to appreciate the beauty of the forest. As you walk on the pugdundees you can breathe in the smell of the lovely Sal. Cross paths with Spotted Deer, Sambar and Barking Deer, Langur, Red Jungle Fowl, Jackal and sometimes even Bison. Watch a Wild Boar coming down for a drink in the Banjar. Train your cameras on the numerous colorful birds from the rare Asian Paradise Flycatcher & Scarlet Minivet to the more frequent Indian Grey Hornbill, Owls, Woodpeckers, Barbets, Kingfishers, Cormorants, Egrets, Orioles, Tree Pies, Shikras, Eagles  Parakeets to name a few. As your walk winds down to the Banjar river, take a pause to enjoy tea/coffee and cookies & cake sitting on a rock in the riverbed.
Time required: 2-3 Hours