Our Story
Pugdundee Safaris is India's leading specialists in Tiger Safari, Tiger Tours, and Wildlife Tours in India. With seven intimate jungle lodges in Central India and many bespoke wilderness experiences it presents the very best of the Indian subcontinent wildlife & hospitality. Between 2009 and 2024, we have been awarded for our excellence in wildlife safaris, our commitment to sustainability, our experienced naturalists and our pioneering mobile safari initiative.
Pugdundee is a hindi word meaning a foot trail commonly used by humans and animals, this word is popularly used for such beaten paths in the Indian jungles. We continuously strive to deliver the best possible guest experience, while still integrating the conservation of jungles and the people living around. We are motivated by the hope of reaching out to people in the remotest areas of our country, as we believe that they are the front-runners of wildlife conservation. However, maybe just a drop in the ocean we consider that we are making a significant contribution to wildlife conservation and rural economy wherever our lodges are.
Driven by the love of Indian jungles we made an unplanned humble beginning in 1986, with a small-tented camp at Panna. Between 2007 -2010, two more lodges were setup and it was not until the year 2011 that they were all put together under a common umbrella. Today, Pugdundee Safaris is run by a passionate team of wildlifers and hospitality professionals with a team of over 300 people committed in providing an incredible wildlife experience. The team includes naturalists, nature guides, boatmen, trackers and a marketing team based in Delhi.
Besides its mainstay of running wildlife lodges, Pugdundee Safaris has been keenly engaged in conservation and community development activities. At Pugdundee we believe local people hold the future of the forests in their hands and can either help protect or destroy them. If we wish to conserve our forests, we must look after the needs of local people by helping to improve their ability to earn livelihoods. Our lodges set mostly in remote locations away from regular tourism hubs help ensure that the benefit of eco-tourism is distributed far and beyond.
Experience Tiger Country with Pugdundee Safaris
Central India has a stronghold of wild tigers and is the best place to see big cats in the world. Besides Tigers, the Jungles of Central India are brimming with other wildlife including Leopard, Sloth Bear, Elephants, and Indian Gaur. The team at Pugdundee will be happy to curate a bespoke safari experience as per your best-suited requirement from active safaris to birding or just a trip focusing only on big cats. Find some inspirations below:
This wildlife tour covering three spectacular parks of central highlands – Tadoba, Kanha & Bandhavgarh – is ideal for a wildlife enthusiast focusing on the Tiger. While Tadoba is primarily a Teak & Bamboo forest popular for Tigers & Leopards, Kanha’s undulating landscape is dotted with dense groves of vegetation, hillocks & meadows. Bandhavgarh vegetation is chiefly of Sal forest in the valleys & on the lower slopes, gradually changing to mixed deciduous forest on the hills & in the hotter drier areas of the park in the south & west.
Great India Tiger Safari
Tadoba-Kanha-Bandhavgarh
This tour is ideal for a wildlife enthusiast focusing on the Tiger as it covers the three best parks – Bandhavgarh, Kanha & Pench – in Central India known for Tigers. Each park offers a unique habitat. While Bandhavgarh vegetation is chiefly of Sal forest in the valleys & on the lower slopes, gradually changing to mixed deciduous forest on the hills & in the hotter drier areas of the park in the south & west, Kanha’s undulating landscape is dotted with dense groves of vegetation, hillocks & meadows.
Tiger Tiger
Bandhavgarh-Kanha-Pench
This wildlife tour covers two spectacular parks of central India Bandhavgarh & Kanha, both unique & diverse. Bandhavgarh is the stronghold for Tigers & probably the best place in the world to sight one. Kanha is famous for its lush green grasslands & towering Sal forest. Kanha is popular for Tigers, bird watching & is the last home of the only surviving population of Hard Ground Barasingha (Swamp Deer).
Bandhavgarh - Kanha
This tour takes you to three premier Tiger Reserves of Central Indian Highlands which gave inspiration to Sir Rudyard Kiplings - The Jungle Book. Covering Kanha, Pench & Satpura this is the perfect program to meet the Jungle Book characters in real. This program offers a good probability to sight Tiger, Sloth Bear, Leopard, Gaur, Barking Deer, Hard Ground Barasingha, Crocodile & many more mammals & birds.
Kipling Trails
Kanha-Pench-Satpura
This program covers the top four parks of Central India Panna – Bandhavgarh – Kanha – Pench. The tour offers the chance to explore the diverse flora & fauna of Central India with each park offering a unique habitat. This program is for the dedicated wildlifers who doesn’t wish to miss anything.
Wildlife Trails
Panna-Bandhavgarh-Kanha-Pench
Journey through the best of Central Highlands, much written about in Capt J Forsyths – Highlands of Central India, covering Satpura and India’s top two parks – Kanha & Bandhavgarh – famous for Royal Bengal Tigers. Kanha’s grasslands are home to the only surviving population of Hard Ground Barasingha & Bandhavgarh offers the best chance to come face to face with the Tiger. Satpura is best known for Sloth Bear, Leopard, Wild Dog & Crocodile.
Best of Central Highlands
Satpura-Kanha-Bandhavgarh
Why book a safari with us
Pioneers of Wildlife Lodges in India
With close to 2 decades of existence, we understand the Indian jungles like the back of our
hands to curate bespoke experiences including tiger safari in India. Our team comprises
seasoned professionals & experienced naturalists who have extensive on-ground experience in
taking you on an unimagined adventure & offer you only the best of Indian wildlife amidst
the top national parks of India - Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Satpura, Tadoba & Panna.
Bespoke Experiences Curators
We understand that one size doesn't necessarily fit all and hence work tirelessly on
creating experiences that work according to your liking & preference. We continuously
explore greener activities that not only reduce our carbon footprint but also make
responsible travel a reality in India. Awarded for our endeavors year after year by industry
partners we enjoy the love of being a responsible travel brand where we constantly challenge
ourselves to explore non-vehicular, eco-friendly bespoke experiences for our guests.
Sustainable Lodges
At the heart of our sustainability vision is not only the commitment to reduce our impact on
the shared environment but also to contribute toward a positive change. We adopted ESG, in
2020, the international sustainability criteria for hotels, provided by the Global
Sustainable Tourism Council. We strive
to encourage avenues for economic well-being for the host communities that we co-exist with
& charm our guests with authentic & holistic experiences including the adaptation of a
100-mile menu & sourcing organic local produce.
Exclusive Wildlife Experiences
Pugdundee has pioneered many exclusive wildlife experiences, whether it is walking safari and camping in Satpura Tiger Reserve, an expedition on bicycle from Pench to Kanha through a tiger corridor, or offering exquisite wildlife photographing experience from the professionally built photography hides in Pench & Tadoba.
More than two centuries after the first safari expedition brought the Europeans in direct contacts with the wilds; the lure of the experience endures. Out of the hardship of travel across difficult terrain in colonial Africa and India, came an experience of great luxury and sensuality. Inspired by their attempt, we bring to you a novel experience of being on foot in the Central Indian Jungle& overnight stay in a mobile camp set in Satpura Tiger Reserve.
Walking Safari & Mobile Camping
A Jungle Book Cycling Experience that takes you to central India’s famous - Pench & Kanha Tiger Reserves. The trip covers exciting Kanha-Pench forest corridor with mobile-tented camping experience, in the forest, with a small tour to Rukhad Sanctuary. Wildlife, landscape and tribal communities make it a fascinating region to cycle through the forested corridor that serves as a refuge to dispersing wildlife across the parks.
Cycling Safari & Camping
Our team is well equipped to put together an end-to-end bespoke photography focused trip, whether it is for a learner or a professional. With over 30-trained guides & a fleet of vehicles we are well versed to handle the special arrangements required by a photographer, be it modified jeeps, experienced guides or excess luggage. Depending on the interest, we suggest a combination of various parks & travel periods as per species focus.
Photographers Special
FIND OUR PUGMARKS
Pugdundee today is present in all the premium tiger reserves in the country, offering bespoke safari expeditions across an extensive part of Central India covering Madhya Pradesh & Maharashtra.
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