After a relaxed breakfast at your lodge near Moharli Gate, take a gentle orientation walk through the lodge grounds to spot resident birds like Indian roller and malabar pied hornbill, and learn basics of park etiquette from the naturalist on site. Later, visit the nearby buffer-zone grasslands for light photography and a short guided talk about tiger sign-scat, pugmarks and scrapes-so you feel prepared for evening sightings without needing an early-morning start today.
Spend a languid afternoon exploring the nearby Mowgli Forest Trail, a short guided loop that passes through teak groves and small waterholes where you can spot sambar deer and watch for shy spotted deer coming to drink; the guide will point out tiger scrapes and tell local stories that bring the landscape to life. Follow this with a visit to the reserve's informal hide at Brahmanwada Waterhole to photograph bathing birds and marsh life as the light softens, then return to the lodge in time to freshen up for the evening orientation session.
As dusk approaches, join a focused orientation at the lodge's small amphitheatre before a short guided drive to Penchra Valley Edge, where you'll scan the fading light for grazing wild boar and listen for territorial calls while a naturalist explains nocturnal behavior. After the drive, take a gentle night-walk from the lodge to the nearby Lodh Waterpoint hide to watch bats and owls emerge and practice low-light wildlife photography techniques guided by staff-an easy, realistic program for tonight without an early start tomorrow.
Begin before dawn with a guided jeep safari into the quieter northern circuits of the Moharli zone to search likely tiger trails around Kusmi Plateau and the shaded track near Kankari Nala, where early light often reveals grazing sambar and the fresh signs of a night-time predator. After the jeep ride, stretch your legs on a slow guided walk through the adjacent buffer-zone acacia scrub, focusing on resident birds like peafowl, cinereous babblers and raptors at a small seasonal pond while your naturalist explains recent sightings and what to watch for in the afternoon safari.
After the morning safari, take a relaxed guided walk through the lesser-used Jambhadi Buffer Tract, where you can search for tracks and spoor while watching for resident birds like rufous treepie and green bee-eater; your naturalist will demonstrate how to read recent tiger signs and interpret territorial markings. Pause at the scenic Ghodazari Dry Tank to photograph waterbirds and enjoy a packed lunch beneath a shady tamarind grove, then finish with a short visit to the secluded Sillod Ridge viewpoint for sweeping panoramas of the reserve and a debrief on likely late-afternoon animal movements.
As heat eases, take a late-afternoon drive to the quiet Kusadi Grassland to watch grazing herds and scan for shy carnivores at the edge of open scrub; your naturalist will set up a short stakeout near the seasonal Kachrali Pond where waterbirds and langurs gather. After dusk, join a guided spotlight walk along the shaded Patpara Ridge track to look for nocturnal mammals and owls, ending back at the lodge with a debrief over tea and freshly prepared snacks.
Rise before dawn for a second game drive into quieter southern circuits, focusing on the water-rich Tadoba Lake fringe and the shaded approach to Mahur Nala, where early light often reveals grazing chital and elusive predators tracking the shoreline. After the jeep, take a guided walk through the nearby villager-managed orchards to meet local conservationists, learn about traditional uses of forest plants, and enjoy chai with a family while watching prolific birdlife such as fork-tailed drongo and resident kingfishers.
Spend a leisurely afternoon walking the shaded lanes of Molegaon Village, meeting villagers who run the local conservation homestay and tasting homemade snacks while learning about human-wildlife coexistence projects; visit the community-run Seed Bank Garden to see native saplings used in restoration. Later, take a guided drive to the small but lively Chinchoti Wetland, where you can photograph resident waterbirds, watch otters at play from a low hide, and discuss how seasonal water management supports both farming and wildlife-tying together what you've seen on morning safaris with local stewardship efforts.
As day cools, take a late-afternoon drive to the secluded Kedarpur Dry Tank, where a short stakeout at the water's edge often yields congregations of bar-headed geese and inquisitive nilgai while the naturalist interprets recent tiger scent-marking in the vicinity. After dusk, enjoy a community-hosted dinner at the Molegaon Conservation Homemate, sharing local rice dishes and stories with villagers about coexistence, then join a gentle lantern-led walk to the nearby Village Pond Hide to watch frogs, nightjars and owls emerge-an intimate, culturally rooted close to your day.
| Place / Activity | Cost |
|---|---|
| Lodge orientation walk / amphitheatre session | Free |
| Guided buffer-zone grasslands talk (lodge-led) | $10 |
| Mowgli Forest Trail guided loop | $12 |
| Brahmanwada Waterhole informal hide (visit) | Free |
| Evening guided drive to Penchra Valley Edge (lodge jeep) | $25 |
| Night-walk to Lodh Waterpoint hide (guided) | $8 |
| Early-morning guided jeep safari (Moharli zone) | $35 |
| Buffer-zone guided walk (acacia scrub) | $10 |
| Jambhadi Buffer Tract guided walk | $10 |
| Ghodazari Dry Tank visit / packed lunch (self-paid) | $6 |
| Sillod Ridge viewpoint visit / debrief | Free |
| Late-afternoon drive to Kusadi Grassland (lodge jeep) | $20 |
| Spotlight walk on Patpara Ridge track (guided) | $8 |
| Second early-morning game drive (jeep) | $35 |
| Guided walk in villager-managed orchards (chai included) | $5 |
| Molegaon Village visit / conservation homestay talk | Free |
| Seed Bank Garden visit | Free |
| Chinchoti Wetland low hide visit | $5 |
| Kedarpur Dry Tank stakeout (drive included) | $15 |
| Community-hosted dinner at Molegaon Conservation Homemate | $8 |
| Lantern-led Village Pond Hide walk | $5 |
| Estimated Total (per person) | $236 |