Book the safari online on the Madhya Pradesh forest site.
To go on safari in Kanha, one of the largest and most beautiful tiger reserves in India, you book a permit in advance. Book on the official Madhya Pradesh forest site, forest.mponline.gov.in. The reserve has core zones and buffer zones, with wide meadows and sal forest. The open jeep is the main ride. Foreigners pay a higher fee than Indians, so declare the nationality correctly.
Who needs to book
- Every visitor entering a safari zone, Indian or foreign, per person and per vehicle.
- Foreigners pay a higher fee than Indians, so the nationality must be correct.
- You cannot take your own vehicle inside. A registered jeep and a guide are part of the booking.
The zones, in plain words
Kanha has core zones, such as Kanha, Kisli, Mukki, and Sarhi, and several buffer zones. Each core zone has its own entry gate and feel. Buffer zones are easier to get and can still be very rewarding. You choose a zone and a slot, morning or afternoon, when you book. [The exact open zones change season to season. Confirm on the official site. Last checked 13 September 2026.]
How to book, step by step
- Go to the official site forest.mponline.gov.in and open safari booking.
- Choose the zone, the date, and the slot, morning or afternoon.
- Add each visitor with identity details, and declare the correct nationality.
- Pay online, then download the permit.
- Carry the permit and your original identity to the gate, because the identity is matched there.
What it costs
The cost is made of a few parts: the zone entry fee per person, the jeep charge, and a guide fee. Foreigners pay a higher entry fee than Indians. The exact government fee lines are shown on the official site when you book. [Exact fees for Indians and foreigners are set by the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department and are to confirm on the official site. Following the honest rule of this resource, we do not print a fee we cannot see on the official source. Last checked 13 September 2026.]
Documents you need
- One government photo identity per visitor at booking. Indians can use Aadhaar. Foreigners use a passport.
- The same original identity carried to the gate, matching the booking exactly.
- A working mobile number for the booking.
Season and booking window
- The core zones usually open from about the middle of October and close in the monsoon, around the end of June. Buffer zones can stay open longer.
- The hot weeks before the monsoon are best for sightings and fill fast.
- Advance booking opens ahead of the date, and the popular core zones go first. [Exact dates and the advance window change season to season. Confirm on the official site. Last checked 13 September 2026.]
Common mistakes to avoid
- Booking on a look alike site. Only forest.mponline.gov.in is the official government site. Many private sites look official.
- Booking in the wrong name, then failing the identity check at the gate.
- Declaring the wrong nationality, then being stopped or charged again.
- Leaving a popular core zone to the last minute, when it is full.
- Planning a monsoon visit to a core zone, when it is closed.
Questions people ask
Do I need to book a Kanha safari in advance?
Yes. Book the zone permit in advance on the official Madhya Pradesh forest site.
Which zones does Kanha have?
Core zones such as Kanha, Kisli, Mukki, and Sarhi, plus several buffer zones.
Do foreigners pay more?
Yes, foreigners pay a higher entry fee than Indians.
When is the park open?
Roughly from mid October to the end of June for the core zones, closed in the monsoon. Buffer zones can stay open longer.
Where do I book?
On the official government site, forest.mponline.gov.in.