Madhya Pradesh’s popular wildlife destination, Kuno National Park is the recent trending national park in India. With the implementation of the Cheetah project, it is surfing all day in search engines to know about it. In 2022, the national park was selected to reintroduce cheetahs from Namibia, which had been extinct in India since 1952. From that day it has been a familiar word on everyone’s tongue. But not just cheetahs, this national park is a gem of Madhya Pradesh’s national parks known for its rich flora and fauna. Especially, the historic forts and monuments in the park are epic to witness the bygone era. In a few words, Kuno is a paradise of adventure and wildlife to explore with its limitless attractions.
What next to wait? Let’s have a detailed guide to this mighty national park and all the things you should know before you reach it.
All you need to know about the park
Kuno National Park is located in the Sheopurdistrict of Madhya Pradesh and is spread over 748 square kilometers. Kuno was declared a National Park in 2018 for its rigorous efforts in the conversation of wildlife and vegetation. Being located amidVindhyan Hills and sourced by the Kuno River favours the best climate for rich biodiversity in this national park. Numerous species of wild animals, birds, reptiles, mammals, etc are getting shelter in this park. Its rich vegetation is also a special attraction to witness the lush greenery forests of the park. Simply, it is a massive national park, which is home to rich flora and fauna.
Besides the wildlife, the other tourist attractions of the park with picturesque landscapes, rich forests, waterfalls, and historic monuments draw special attention. When it comes to adventure, you can take safari rides to explore the wildlife in close calls driving in all buffer zones. Just to dwell in nature and a serene atmosphere, Kuno is the best national park in Central India to visit.
The story behind from a Sanctuary to a National park
Once this land was a good habitat for Lions. During 1904many efforts were made by Lord Curzon to make the land an abode for lions. He brought the lions from Africa to reintroduce the lions in this place. But the results are not good because some lions died and some lions turned man-eaters. At last, the project was declared failed even though continuous efforts were made.
After long back again in the 1990s, the relocation program of lions was considered by the Indian Government from Gir National Park. To the betterment of the results, this time nearly 24 villages outside the sanctuary were relocated so as not to get threatened by the lions like before. Between 1998 and 2003, 6258 hectares were added to the sanctuary. After continuous efforts, a 557 sq km buffer area was added to the sanctuary and made it into a 748 sq km national park in 2018.
Cheetah reintroduction project:
Being known for the best conversational efforts, this national park has been selected as the home for cheetahs. Also, this national park is close to the Sal forests of Koriya, which was once the habitat of cheetahs. Based on all these measures, Kuno was selected for the Cheetah project. In 2022, the first batch of 8 cheetahs were deployed from Namibia. Later in 2023, another 12 cheetahs were deployed. As a symbol of cheetah population growth, on March 24, 2023, four cubs were born to Siyaya named cheetah.
To protect these cheetahs and other endangered species in the park from poachers, strict conversation techniques are being followed. Deployment of anti-poaching squads, drone technology for monitoring, and installation of cameras all techniques are used to protect many endangered species in this national park.
The wildlife of Kuno:
Apart from cheetahs, this national park is home to many endangered animal species. The important species getting shelter here are 206 bird species, 33 mammal species, 14 fish species, 10 amphibian species, and 33 reptile species. Among them, important wildlife you can spot here Indian leopards, Sloth bears, African Cheetahs, dholes, Indian Wolves, Bengal foxes, Striped Hyenas, Indian jackals, etc. For bird species too, this national park is quite famous. Important bird species to spot here are the Indian white-backed vulture, Long-billed vulture, Red-headed vulture, Brown fish owl, etc.
The Fauna of Kuno:
Besides its wildlife, Kuno takes special note of its rich vegetation. Kuno is a result of different mixed forests and is most known for the Kardhai, Salai, and Khair trees. All these reasons helped Kuno to turn into a rich biodiversity to balance flora and fauna. In total, here you can spot 123 species of trees, 71 shrub species, 34 Bamboo species, and 32 climber species.
Safaris of Kuno:
From October 2022, safaris are allowed in the Kuno National Park. People can explore the wildlife of Kuno in jeep safaris. The maximum limit is 6 members for a jeep. To enter the safari zones there are three gates namely Tiktoli, Ahera, and Peepalbawadi. Safari timings will be different based on the seasons. From February 2023, the Cheetah safari is also planned to start.
Timings of Kuno National Park:
October to December:
Morning: 6:00 AM to 11:30 PM.
Evening: 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
January to March:
Morning: 6:30 AM to 11:30 AM.
Evening: 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM.
April to June:
Morning: 5:30 AM to 11.30 AM.
Evening: 4 PM to 7:00 PM.
Procedure to book a safari:
To book a safari you have to visit Madhya Pradesh Forest Department or Wildlife Tourism Department sites to book a safari. There you have to fill in the required fields with all your details, and the timings you prefer for the safari and submit all other required documents. After the process, the team will call you for further proceedings. Otherwise, you can opt for third-party services like travel agents to plan all things according to your convenience.
Read also: August Travel Guide: Madhya Pradesh’s Best Locations
Important things required for booking:
- ID proofs like Aadhar, PAN Card, Voter ID, or Driving License.
- Passport is required, if you are a foreign tourist.
- You have to give all the details coming to safari on the ID card.
- The safari entry fee will be paid in advance.
- Have to mention the correct safari date and timings.
- You can book a safari up to 120 days in advance.
Best Time to Visit Kuno National Park:
The best time to visit the Kuno National Park is between November and March. During this period the climate will be favorable for safaris and spotting wildlife. Between June and September, high rainfall will occur in this place and at this time safari is also banned. Summers are also not favourable for the safaris because the temperature will record up to 420C.
Kuno’s other side to explore:
Apart from the wilderness of Kuno, there is another side to explore in Kuno. Nothing but its rustic beauty of forts built centuries ago. These majestic forts stand as iconic attractions in mid of the forests depicting the bravery and greatness of the bygone era. The most important forts that were left in the woods to explore here are Palpuror Garhi Fort, Amet Fort, and Maitoni Fort. These are the classic examples of Kuno’s rich history and heritage.
Besides, there are other important points of interest in Kuno to explore. They are Aamjhir, Dev Kho, Bhanwar Kho, Daulatpura, Maratha Kho, Dev Kund, Jain Mandir, Ransinh Baba Temple, Natni Kho, and Dhoret Temple.
Accommodation options:
The Kuno National Park comprises four rest houses and also a resort is located near Tiktoli Gate, which is 18 km far away. To book the rest houses in Kunoyou can book through Kuno official’s phone numbers and mail. To book the resort near Tiktoli, tourists can contact M.P Tourism Kuno Resort.
How to reach Kuno National Park:
By Air: Gwalior is the nearest airport to reach the Kuno National Park. Other than this, Kota and Jaipur also have good connectivity of flights to reach Kuno.
By Rail: Shivpuri Railway Station is the nearest railway station to reach the Kuno National Park. It is 60 km far away from the National Park.
By Road: To reach Kuno National Park, you have to en route to Sesaipurain the Sheopur District. Then from Shivpuri, you can have cabs to reach the park.
This is all about the Kuno National Park to know before you visit. In Central India, Kuno is like a jewel of national parks. If you are confused about which wildlife destination to pick in Madhya Pradesh, just think about the emerging Kuno to visit once. Hope this travel guide will make things simple and easy for planning a trip to the Kuno National Park.
Further Reading:
- Top 10 Tourist Places to See in Satna
- Madhya Pradesh Trip Best Places in March
- 10 Places to See in Chanderi
- Madhya Pradesh’s Famous Places Visit in February
- Historical Monuments in Madhya Pradesh
- 12 Popular Places to Viisit in Jabalpur
- Pilgrimage Places in Madhya Pradesh
- Madhya Pradesh’s Popular Forts
- Places to Visit in Madhya Pradesh in April
- Madhya Pradesh’s Famous Hill Stations
- Places to See in Madhya Pradesh
