When Samode Safari Lodge opened it took Indian wildlife accommodation to an all new high and has expert, experienced guides who will have become your trusted friend by the time you say a sad farewell. This exceptional lodge, with its gloriously pretty and secluded location, is the perfect base for visiting Bandhavgarh National Park and has been developed with the impeccably good taste and expertise of the Samode Family. The lodge sits in incredibly pretty grasslands, close to the jungle and a delightful village. It is a joy to walk or bicycle around, seeing the myriad bird species and a way of local life in an unhassled, friendly way.

The main lodge looks out over the large swimming pool and gorgeous, surrounding countryside and it oozes warmth and sophistication. With the timber-clad main sitting room, bar and dining room raised high on stilts, and linked by wooden walkways, it is a feat of engineering. These rooms are wonderfully spacious, predominantly made of wood and furnished with rich, earthy colours that fit perfectly with the environment. There’s a blazing log fire to curl up by on chilly days and a lovely al fresco dining terrace leading off the dining room - ideal for a long, fun lunch in the sun. Being a deserved member of Relais & Chateaux, dining here is an indulgent treat and a daily surprise – different menu, different venue - either indoors or alfresco. A private bush dinner here is an experience like no other!

Samode Safari Lodge comprises twelve outrageously comfortable, state of the art, stylish villas – no other lodge offers such huge amounts of personal and very private space! Each villa has both open-air and closed bathrooms as well as a private terrace looking over the fields, a large bedroom with four-poster beds, a sitting room, and a sundeck. Every ‘mod con’ is there for those who want them but they are discreetly hidden away for those who don’t. There is a wonderful spa to ease muscles strained from trundling around in the jungle and the staff here places a strong emphasis on sustainability and the environment. The lodge is very close to one entrance to the park (currently closed) and the resident naturalists are amongst the best to be found, all highly knowledgeable and loving topography and nature as much as wildlife. Then there are the incredible, specially designed jeeps that leave you wanting for nothing – not many lodges have jeeps that convert into tables to enjoy a perfect picnic mid game drive! Everything here is comfortable and inviting and immaculate. A truly sublime jungle lodge where one should spend weeks rather than days.

Eco / environmental / responsible tourism policy

Samode Safari Lodge is committed to eco-tourism. It has been designed and built with the lightest possible environmental footprint. The aim was to create luxury in the most sustainable manner. Not only have no trees been cut to make way for it, but new planting has also been done.

The adjoining villages of Mardari and Gohori are the inspiration for the architectural language of the Lodge. The walls are constructed with the traditional hand moulded bricks and all building material has been locally procured. The Lodge also uses solar energy and does extensive rain-water harvesting to recharge ground water levels.

Samode Hotels has its own charitable trust which helps the village panchayat to improve sanitation, education, medical and infrastructure. From every room sold 2% goes to the charitable trust. Some of the work done by the trust includes: providing invertors for electricity back up for the school at Samode; providing doctor's kit and medical equipment to the Government Hospital; offering and providing financial help for medical treatment to villagers; the restoration and repair of the ancient village temple; providing milk and fruit distribution to students in the village schools as refreshments; providing water supplies to the village during the summer months when water becomes scarce; cleaning and maintaining the village roads.