Situated in a gloriously remote and rural setting in the buffer zone of Pench National Park and with private access to its ‘own’ gate (there are no other lodges in this area), Jamtara is a gem and provides a wonderful reason to travel to Pench, not only for the exceptional wildlife, but for the overall atmosphere and ambience of this special place.

It is the realisation of the owner’s dream, himself a passionate ‘wildlife man’ who has spent a great deal of time in the jungles of India, and his grandfather was the first director of Project Tiger. Jamtara goes some way to taking one back to the days of early wildlife tourism, offering undisturbed walks in the buffer zone and lying in a totally untouched and unspoilt area - Jamtara zone is almost exclusive to them for a few months. This, the excitement of having excellent sightings around the Camp, the delightful local village, and a big, beautiful Banyan Tree in the middle of their land all conspired to make this the chosen spot for ‘pitching camp’. What a spot and what a camp!

There are 10 wonderfully spacious, stunningly simple, well-furnished tents, all with air-conditioning, fans, huge double beds and attached shower rooms (solid walls) with plenty of piping hot water. They have warm, wooden floors, a desk, plenty of lighting, and a peaceful verandah with further seating. It is the only camp in India which has ‘star beds’ – a raised wooden platform (based on the ‘machaan’ / African idea), out in the countryside, with a glorious double bed made up with mosquito net and all the ‘trimmings’ – so that you may spend the night out under the stars listening to and watching the ‘night life’.

They really are impossibly lovely and romantic! There is a fabulous dining table made from a solid, vertical slice of trunk timber; but dining here takes on a different guise and is in different places at different times – it’s always a treat and a surprise! Almost everything that can be, is wooden and the various textures and hues provide a fabulous contrast. It all oozes style and sophistication whilst keeping true to its rustic, jungle environment.

They have regular camp fires and memorable, private bush dinners. During the day time, local guided walks through the village are fascinating, bicycling around the countryside is a joy and, for night owls, night drives are available. When not out in the park looking for the elusive tiger and the shy sloth bear, leopard, deer, wild boar, myriad bird species, and other animals, spend time by the pretty pool, feasting on a wide variety of global cuisine, or relax with friends in the bar area.

Jamtara is open from mid-Oct to mid-May and provides the perfect wildlife experience in itself or as a start or end to a more comprehensive wildlife tour through Madhya Pradesh.

Eco / environmental / responsible tourism policy

Jamtara Wilderness Camp’s mission is to conserve and maintain all habitat and natural environments in an ecologically responsible and sustainable manner. Their commitment to respecting the harmonious bio-diversity of the forest landscape is paramount. They strive to be a part of the local village community, most of their staff hail from villages around the camp. They invest in training and nurturing their team members so that, as a result, their family and community benefits as well.

In their efforts to contribute to the local community they source farm fresh vegetables for the camp from the villages in the immediate vicinity. Their naturalists conduct regular presentations and sessions at the local village schools to educate children on the importance of eco and wildlife conservation.

The camp follows a disciplined waste management system whereby the waste is segregated into sections and recyclable waste is given away to an agency. Their endeavour is to provide world class service, while blending into the local habitat, nature and community.