Jamtara Wilderness Camp is located on the fringes of the northern part of the Pench National Park, an area that is one of the county’s strongholds of wildlife protection and natural resource-based livelihoods. These ancient forests once inspired the Enlish author Rudyard Kipling to pen the famous Jungle Book. The camp is close to the Jamtara gate access to the park named after the nearby Jamtara Village.

• The nearest airport and the closest big city is Nagpur (135 km), from which the camp is a three-hour drive away.
• The Jamtara is located away from the touristy crowd of the Pench National Park and enjoys exclusivity in the area via the Jamtara Gate.
• Jamtara is open from mid-Oct to mid-May and dismantled during the monsoons.
• The all-inclusive tariff includes all meals and non-alcoholic drinks, two scheduled park safaris including refreshments and naturalist services, walks around the national park and park fees and taxes.
• The accommodation is tented while bathrooms are permanent structures.
• Blankets and hot water bags are provided on morning game drives on days when temperatures drop.
• The Jamtara Wilderness Camp is perfect for wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers. Active and outdoorsy travellers will love walks, trails, and safaris around the region.

Delicious and wholesome meals are served in the dining area as well as the many locations within the camp premises. In the evenings, post-safari conversations are enjoyed over drinks, nibbles, and a bonfire at the outdoor set up on a dry river bed under a banyan tree. The food is predominantly Indian fare, home-style cooking using locally sourced ingredients. The chefs always ask for food preferences and add a personal touch to curate meals according to personal preferences and dietary requests.  Packed breakfasts are served during long safari drives.

There are only 10 large luxury tents in the camp surrounded by the park’s buffer zone on the one side and rural vistas and farmland on the other. Interspersed with ancient Arjuna and Teak trees, all tents overlook the forest which allows for the complete jungle experience. The tents are designed for optimum views and encounters with nature with patios and large windows. The décor is minimalist and local while most of the furniture is made from reclaimed wood or is repurposed for use.

There is no spa or fitness center. The camp has a small infinity pool, and a lounge housed in the central lodge.

While the game drives into the national parks are the dominant activity, the walking trails, and bike rides are equally rewarding in the company of experienced naturalists who help you note down everything guests sight in their very own ‘Jamtara Book’ provided in the tents.

The star bed experience is for those who want to experience the distinctive way of life of the local community who for centuries have spent their night under the stars with a watchful eye on predators who unintentionally destroy their crops. Proceeds from the use of these star beds go to the farmer who owns the land. Perched on raised machans, the beds are mosquito proofed, have warm duvets, and hot water bottles for a snug night under a blanket of stars.

Kailash Sankhala led India’s Project Tiger as well as the first tiger census in India. The third generation of the Sankhala family, Amit Sankhala carries on the legacy of conservation and sustainability with great aplomb at the Jamtara Wilderness Camp. The camp is run with a deeply empathetic approach with respect for flora and fauna, and local cultures and sustainability as its cornerstone.

The entire camp is designed to cause least impact to nature: from use of reclaimed wood and furniture to community involvement and eco-friendly and sustainable practices to environmentally sensitive design. So much so that every year the Jamtara Wilderness Camp is dismantled beginning of May and rebuilt to its former glory after the monsoons (September-October). The tents come down, and the flooring comes out along with all the furniture and is packed into the few solid structures at the camp. Thoughtfully