Kuno National Park, in Madhya Pradesh, is the home of India's cheetahs, brought back to the country after about seventy years.
It now runs India's first cheetah safari, and the online booking is open. You book on the official Madhya Pradesh forest system, forest.mponline.gov.in, the same government site used for the state's tiger parks. Foreigners pay more than Indians. Seeing a cheetah is never certain, so come for the wild grassland and treat a sighting as a gift.
Who needs to book
You need a booking for every person going into the safari zone, Indian or foreign. You cannot take your own car inside. Your booking includes a registered forest vehicle with a driver and a guide. Foreigners pay a higher fee than Indians, so give the correct nationality when you book.
The cheetah safari, in plain words
Kuno is a wide land of grassland and open forest, the kind of country cheetahs love. On the safari a guide takes you through the zone in a forest vehicle, watching for the cheetahs and for the many other animals, such as leopard, deer, and rich birdlife. The cheetahs range over a huge area, so a sighting is a matter of luck and patience. Even without one, the open grassland and the story of the cheetah's return make the trip special.
How to book, step by step
Open the official Madhya Pradesh forest system, forest.mponline.gov.in, and go to the Kuno safari booking. Create a login, then pick the date and the slot. Add each traveller with identity details, and give the correct nationality. Pay online, then download your permit. Book early, because this is a new and popular safari and the slots are limited. Carry your permit and the same original identity to the gate, because staff check them.
What it costs
Your cost has a few parts: the entry fee per person, the vehicle charge, and a guide fee. Foreigners pay a higher fee than Indians. The official site shows you the exact figures when you book. We do not print a fee we cannot see clearly on the official source, because these figures change. You will see the current amount before you pay.
Documents you need
You need one government photo identity per traveller when you book. Indians can use Aadhaar. Foreigners use a passport. Carry the same original to the gate, because staff match it to your permit.
Season and timings
The cheetah safari began with the season opening around the start of October, and the cooler, drier months are the best for a visit. Like the state's other parks, Kuno closes its core in the monsoon. You get a morning slot and an afternoon slot, and the clock times shift with the season. Confirm the current opening dates and slot times on the official site before you plan.
Common mistakes to avoid
- The biggest trap is booking on a private look alike site that adds a fee. You book only on forest.mponline.gov.in. The next is expecting a sure cheetah, when the animals range far and a sighting takes luck. Do not give the wrong nationality, or staff may stop you at the gate. Do not leave it late, because this new safari fills fast.
Questions people ask
Where can I see cheetahs in India?
At Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, which runs India's first cheetah safari.
Where do I book?
On the official Madhya Pradesh forest system, forest.mponline.gov.in.
Will I definitely see a cheetah?
No. The cheetahs range over a huge area, so a sighting is a matter of luck and patience.
Do foreigners pay more?
Yes, foreigners pay a higher fee than Indians.
When is the best time?
The cooler, drier months. The core closes in the monsoon. Confirm the current dates on the official site.