1. How to book
- Pick a package below.
- Tap Book now or message us on WhatsApp with your dates and group size.
- We check the permit and your room, then confirm the booking with you.
Ratapani Tiger Reserve · Madhya Pradesh
Ratapani Jungle Safari Packages: Day, 2-Day & 3-Day Tiger Safari
Choose a day safari, a 2-day stay or a 3-day tiger safari package. The permit, safari jeep, meals and stay are planned for you, about an hour from Bhopal.
- 1 hour from Bhopal
- Safari permit included
- Meals included
- Small groups
Quick answers
Plan your Ratapani jungle safari in 60 seconds
2. How to reach
- Madhuban is roughly an hour's drive from Bhopal.
- Bhopal airport (BHO) and Rani Kamlapati and Bhopal Junction stations are the easiest points to arrive at.
- Pick-up and drop from Bhopal is included in the 3-day package and can be arranged on request for the 2-day stay.
3. Best time and timings
- Safaris run in a morning and an afternoon shift; we confirm yours when we book the permit.
- October to February is cool and good for birds. March to June is hot, and animals gather near water.
- Wildlife cannot be guaranteed on any safari.
Safari packages · Season 2026–27
Ratapani Tiger Safari Packages: Choose Your Stay
Three ways to do a Ratapani jungle safari with Madhuban: a day safari with lunch from ₹3,500 per person, a 2 days / 1 night stay from ₹13,500 per couple, or a 3 days / 2 nights tiger safari package from ₹25,000 per couple. Every package includes the safari permit and gypsy.
A Madhuban day outing
Ratapani Day Tiger Safari with Lunch
Come for the day, spend the afternoon in the forest and head home that evening.
₹3,500per person
For groups of 4 to 6 guests or more.
- Ratapani safari permit
- Gypsy (open jeep) safari from the lodge
- Lunch at Madhuban
- Snacks and hi-tea on the safari
- Use of the lodge grounds between lunch and safari
Safari timings, routes and permits follow Madhya Pradesh Forest Department rules.
Book the day safariDay flow
Your afternoon in the forest
12:00 – 1:00 PM
Arrive at Madhuban and freshen up
1:00 PM
Vegetarian lunch at the lodge
3:00 PM
Leave for the Ratapani gate in our open gypsy
3:00 – 6:00 PM
Afternoon jungle safari
After 6:00 PM
Return to the lodge, then head home
Your safari: an open gypsy into Ratapani
Weekend breakaway
Ratapani Jungle Safari Stay
One night in the forest and one jungle safari: an easy weekend break.
MAP meal plan included (breakfast, lunch or dinner).
- 1 night in your chosen room
- Meals as per the MAP plan
- 1 Ratapani Tiger Reserve safari with permit
- Safari jeep with a skilled local driver
- Swimming pool, pottery workshop and in-house activities
One safari is included. Extra shifts can be added at booking, subject to permits.
Itinerary
Two days, one safari
Day 1: Arrival and retreat
- Check-in from 2:00 PM
- Lunch at the dining pavilion
- Swimming pool, hammock time and pottery
- Evening in the forest, then dinner
Day 2: Safari and departure
- Early tea and biscuits
- Morning Ratapani Tiger Reserve safari
- Breakfast at Madhuban
- Check-out
Slow forest time between rides
Signature experience
Ratapani Tiger Safari Package
The full experience: safari, Bhimbetka rock shelters, a bush dinner and a night under the stars.
- 2 nights in your chosen room
- Bhopal airport or railway pick-up and drop
- All vegetarian meals
- 1 Ratapani Tiger Reserve safari with permit
- Bush dining by firelight with forest stories
- Bhimbetka Rock Shelters visit (UNESCO site)
- Sunrise yoga and a guided bird walk
- Pottery studio, obstacle course and cycling trail
- Minimum 4 guests for private package bookings.
- Permits are subject to the Forest Department quota and route allocation.
- Bush dining and stargazing depend on the weather.
Three-day journey
Safari, rock art and stars
Day 1: Arrival and bush dinner
Check-in at 2:00 PM, farm lunch, pottery, pool or cycling. After dark, fireside stories and a bush dinner under the stars.
Day 2: Ratapani safari and Bhimbetka
Early tea, the Ratapani tiger safari, then breakfast and rest. After lunch, a guided visit to the Bhimbetka Rock Shelters (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Sunrise birding and departure
Yoga on the deck, a guided bird walk, breakfast and a 10:30 AM check-out with private transfer back to Bhopal.
Walks and craft with the local villages
Compare the safari packages
| Feature | Day Safari | 2 Days / 1 Night | 3 Days / 2 Nights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safari permit and open gypsy | |||
| Overnight stay | 1 night | 2 nights | |
| Meals | Lunch and hi-tea | As per MAP plan | All vegetarian meals |
| Bush dinner by firelight | |||
| Bhimbetka Rock Shelters visit | |||
| Bhopal pick-up and drop | On request | ||
| Morning yoga and guided bird walk |
Why Madhuban
Why Book Your Ratapani Jungle Safari With Madhuban
On the edge of the forest
Our lodge sits at the edge of the reserve, so the drive to your safari gate stays short.
One team, one booking
Permit, safari vehicle, stay and meals are arranged together by a single team.
Local naturalists
Guides who grew up here know the tracks, waterholes and the habits of the animals.
Small groups, no rush
We keep groups small and plans unhurried, so you spend your time in the forest, not in queues.
- Resident tigers
- 60+
- Drive from Bhopal
- 1 hr
- Room types
- 5
- Safari gates
- 3
Natural history
What Is a Ratapani Jungle Safari?
Ratapani Tiger Reserve spreads across the Raisen and Sehore districts of Madhya Pradesh, in the Vindhyan hills. Dry deciduous teak forest, bamboo, and sandstone cliffs make up the landscape, and the reserve links tiger habitat across central India.
A Ratapani jungle safari is a guided drive through the forest in an open gypsy, accompanied by a Forest Department guide. Along with more than 60 resident tigers, visitors look for leopards, sloth bears, striped hyenas, dholes, sambar and chital, and over 200 recorded bird species.
Wildlife sightings can never be promised. What we promise is a well-planned safari and a calm stay at the edge of the forest.
Wildlife recorded in the sanctuary
- Tigers
- 60+
- Mammal species
- 35
- Bird species
- 205
- Reptile species
- 33
- Amphibian species
- 10
- Tree species
- 129
Species recorded in Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary, from official sanctuary information.
Eco-lodge stay
Stay Near Ratapani Tiger Reserve: Our Rooms
Every room is built with local stone, wood and earth. Nightly prices below include the MAP meal plan, before tax.
From ₹13,200/nightCanvas living
Safari Tent
Canvas under the teak canopy with teak furniture, king bedding and an en-suite stone bathroom.
Explore Safari Tent
From ₹13,200/nightBy the water
Poolside Villa
Stone and glass beside the pool, with a private sit-out and wide forest views.
Explore Poolside Villa
From ₹10,200/nightVillage craft
Mud House
A hand-built earthen cottage that stays cool naturally, with local terracotta touches.
Explore Mud House
From ₹8,700/nightQuiet and private
Glamping Tent
A secluded tent with a private sit-out, well suited to couples and solo travellers.
Explore Glamping TentGuest stories
What Guests Say
“One of the best experiences I've had near Bhopal. The stay, the food, pottery, yoga, the healing power of nature – everything was top notch.”
“Truly enriching – scenic surroundings, comfortable stay, nature walks, birding, delicious food. The respect for tribal communities is beautifully reflected.”
“Stayed overnight and had a truly amazing experience. Meditation, yoga, swimming, food – everything was perfect. Staff was outstanding.”
Good to know
Ratapani Jungle Safari FAQs
What is included in a Ratapani jungle safari package?
Every package includes the Forest Department safari permit, an open gypsy with a driver and a guide. The 2-day and 3-day packages add your room and meals, and the day package adds lunch and hi-tea. Full inclusions are listed above for each package.
How far is Ratapani Tiger Reserve from Bhopal?
Madhuban is roughly an hour's drive from Bhopal. The safari gate you are allotted adds a short further drive, which we confirm when we book your permit.
Can I book a Ratapani safari online?
At the Jhiri and Delawadi gates, safaris can be booked online or at the entry gate, and visitors travel in vehicles registered with the sanctuary. At Bhimbetka, safari is booked offline only, and visitors can go in their own private vehicles. Our packages take care of the permit and the vehicle for you.
Are safari permits included in the price?
Yes. The permit, the gypsy and the driver are part of each package price. You do not pay the gate separately.
What are the morning and afternoon safari timings?
Safaris run in a morning and an afternoon shift, and the hours shift a little with the season and the Forest Department schedule. We confirm your exact timing when your booking is confirmed. The day package uses the afternoon shift, roughly 3 to 6 PM.
Which animals can we expect to see?
Ratapani has more than 60 resident tigers, along with leopards, sloth bears, striped hyenas, dholes, sambar, chital and nilgai. The sanctuary has recorded 35 mammal species and 205 bird species. Sightings are never guaranteed, because these are wild animals.
Which safari gate will we use?
The sanctuary has three gates: Jhiri, Delawadi and Bhimbetka. Jhiri and Delawadi are the safari gates, and Bhimbetka is the heritage gate near the rock shelters. Your safari gate depends on your dates and permit availability, and we confirm it when we book.
Is the safari safe for children and senior citizens?
Yes, but forest tracks are dusty and uneven. Morning or afternoon shifts both work for families; we suggest carrying a light jacket in winter and a hat in summer. Tell us your group when you book and we will plan accordingly.
Can we add extra safaris to the 2-day or 3-day stay?
Yes. Extra shifts can be added when permits are available. Tell us when you book, and we will check the quota for your dates.
Which documents do we need for the safari?
Every guest needs a valid government photo ID, such as Aadhaar, passport, voter ID or driving licence. Foreign guests carry their passport. The same ID used for booking must be carried on the safari.
Is the food vegetarian?
Yes. The kitchen serves fresh vegetarian meals, using produce from our own farm and nearby villages.
What is the cancellation and refund policy?
Terms depend on the package and the dates, and Forest Department permits follow state rules. We share the exact terms when you book, and you can read our general terms on the Terms and Conditions page. Read the terms.
What should we wear on a jungle safari?
Muted colours such as olive, khaki, beige or brown. Avoid bright colours and pure white. A hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and a light layer for the early morning are useful.
How early should we book?
Safari vehicles are limited each day. For weekends, holidays and the winter months, book as early as you can, and message us on WhatsApp to check your dates.
Last updated 15 October 2026.
Start planning
Book Your Ratapani Tiger Safari Package
Tell us your dates and group size. We will check your permit, prepare the safari jeep and arrange your stay.
More to do here: all experiences · nearby attractions · our rooms
