| Topic | Short Description |
| Safari Season | October to June |
| Best time to visit | November to April |
| Nearest Airport | Bhopal(150kms), Jabalpur (250kms) |
| Nearby Railway Stations | Sohagpur (25 kms), Pipariya (50kms), Itarsi(70kms) |
| Best time for Tiger | December to May months |
| When to plan | 4 Months in advance |
| Safari options | Open Jeep, Walking Safari, Canoe ride, Night Safari |
| Official Safari Booking Link | https://forest.mponline.gov.in/Index.aspx# |
Satpura national park is part of Pachmarhi Biosphere reserve which is a protected area and created in 03/Mar/1999, by Government of India vide notification number J-220116/17/94-BR. It constitutes three conservation units i.e. Satpura National Park having an area of 524 sq. kms., Pachmarhi Wildlife Sanctuary having an area of 417.78 sq.kms. and Bori Wildlife Sanctuary having an area of 518 sq.kms. Overall size of Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve is 4987.38 sq.kms. which is a large protected region. Apart from these three conservation units, other area has been declared as part of Buffer zone of 4525.93 sq.kms. Here Satpura national park area is considered as core zone area and remaining area is buffer zone. It is spread over three districts of Madhya Pradesh state in Central India i.e. Hoshangabad, Betul and Chhindwara. It is a non-use conservation area. Satpura range and its forest area falls in important ecological zone which serves as transition zone for wildlife species of Eastern and Western India.
Satpura national park is densely forested area in state. Here Sal and Teak species are dominantly visible in the park. Entire forest can be broadly classified into three major types i.e. moist deciduous, dry deciduous and Central Indian sub tropical hill forest. These major forest classifications can be further sub-divided. Moist deciduous forest can be further classified into moist teak forest as moist teak forest, slightly moist teak forest, moist mixed deciduous forest. The dry deciduous forest can be further classified as southern tropical dry teak forest, southern tropical dry teak forest, southern tropical dry mixed deciduous forest. Here in this Biosphere Reserve, we can find 1190 species of angiosperms (Flowering plants) belonging to 127 families and 633 genera. Many angiosperms are yet to be identified. Flora is distributed into 180 families of which 54 are represented by just one genus each and 29 are represented by 2 or 3 genera each. Many of the thallophytes, broyophytes and pteridophytes are found exclusively. The occurrence of releict population of Sal (Shorea robusta) in this region is a unique ecological phenomenon. As the region is full of hilly terrains, gorges where sunlight reaches rarely results into moist loving tiny herbs, algae etc. of high ecological value.
Satpura national park, along with its surrounding buffer-zone area have a much better population of wildlife which are rarely seen in other national parks of state. This forest area is having history of wildlife conservation which is evident from the list of wildlife species currently present and those species which was present in past but not now like Lion, Water Buffaloes, Elephants, Barasingha etc. Here we can find 50 species of mammals, 254 species of birds, 30 species of reptiles, 50 species of butterflies and much more. Attractive birds species includes , Malabar whistling Thrush, Paradise Fly-catcher, Honey Buzzard, Malabar pied Hornbill etc. Presence of various flower species, moist conditions offers ideal conditions for various butterfly species to flourish like Oakleaf, Black Rajah, Great Eggfly, Blue Pancy etc. Here we can find about 14 species of endangered mammals and reptiles. Several species like Indian giant squirrels, Flying squirrels, Rhesus monkeys are endemic to the area.
Satpura national park is a popular jungle safari destination. Here tourists have various safari options which attracts many tourists from India and many other countries. Unlike other popular national parks like Bandhavgarh, Kanha national park, Pench national park, here over-crowding problem is less due to which tourists better enjoy their time in jungle. Here safari options includes, jeep-safari, walking safari in core zone, canoe, birding, night safari. Presence of huge back-water reserve makes this park more scenic and offers good sighting of reptiles and water activities. All jeep safari begins, after crossing the Denwa river. Presence of river acts like a boundary line to avoid unnecessary human disturbance and makes the region untouched from disturbance. Here we can find 03 core zones i.e. Madhai zone, Bheemkund zone (Churna) and Panaarpani zone (Pachmarhi). Similarly their are 02 buffer zones also i.e. Jamani Dev zone (Sehra Gate) and Parsapani zone (Pathai Gate). Jungle safaris can be done in all these 5 safari zones. Here we can visit to Madhai zone, Parsapani zone, Jamani Dev zone, while staying near Madhai entrance gate. Where as for Panaarpani zone, we need to take accommodation in Pachmarhi as its entrance gate is separate and close to Pachmarhi hill station.
Here in Satpura National Park, safari is operated through Madhai entrance gate. Just like other national parks, safari timing of Satpura national park is basically begins 30 minutes before sunrise and afternoon safari round lasts approx 30 minutes after sunset. Thus for core zone safaris, we need to book morning and afternoon or evening safari permits. Where as park management also offers post sunset activity in the form of night patrol safaris. In this option, we will get chance to do night safari on safari vehicle at buffer safari zones of Satpura national park like Parsapani zone, Jamani Dev zone, Pipariya (Burgodi) zone. It is a different kind of experience to see night life of Satpura forest. It is great opportunity to see some new wildlife species which are nocturnal by nature and thus not seen in day safaris.
Satpura national park is surrounded by many tourist destinations of different nature. Tourists of different taste and nature will found places matching to their expectation. Some popular tourist places, possible to visit from Satpura national park includes Pachmarhi, Bhopal, Sanchi, Jabalpur, Pench National Park, Kanha National Park, Tadoba National Park, Ujjain, Nauradehi wildlife sanctuary etc.
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