A Day in Kanha: Tigers, Barasingha and the quiet magic of the forest
At Outpost 12 we love sharing the rhythms of the forests that surround us. Our naturalists spend long hours in the field, observing the wildlife that makes Central India one of the most biodiverse regions of the country. This report comes from Ravi Naidu on his first full-day safari in Kanha as part of "The Winter Light Atelier" photography workshop mentored by Canon Maestro Phillips Ross. What he witnessed is the kind of experience that reminds us why these landscapes matter and why we return to them.
A Day of Surprises in Kanha
There are days in the forest when everything feels tuned to the right frequency. My first full day in Kanha this week was one of those rare ones. The light was soft, the air smelled of sal and bamboo, and every bend in the trail seemed to hold a story waiting to be told.
Kanha has a habit of offering its gifts without warning. That morning, the forest unveiled two of its most iconic residents. A female Bengal tiger stepped out onto the Mukki trail in a calm, confident stride. Later in the day, another tiger revealed himself in Kisli, moving with the slow certainty that only a big cat carries. Encounters like these stay with you long after the engine quiets and the day winds down. No matter how many seasons you spend here, the sight of a tiger resets your sense of wonder.
Between those moments, Kanha shared subtler gifts. Barasingha lounged deep in the grasslands with their antlers catching the sun. A sambar lifted its head from the undergrowth. Birds stitched colour across the forest; the white rumped shama flashed orange and black, and a crested serpent eagle perched like a sentry. Each sighting felt like a small note in a larger melody that played through the day.
Kanha never disappoints. The landscape holds surprises that arrive gently for those who pay attention. On some days the surprise is a tiger. On others, it is the chorus of birds, the hush of grass, the slow movement of deer. All of it is a reminder of why we keep visiting this place.
Sambar on the forest track
A quiet moment with a sambar in the morning light.
Tiger in Mukki
The first tiger of the day, emerging from Mukki undergrowth.
White rumped shama
A flash of orange and black in the bamboo thickets.
Barasingha in tall grass
The swamp deer that Kanha is famous for, glowing in the winter sun.
Tiger in Kisli turning back
The second tiger of the day gives a brief look before he slips into the trees.
Walking toward the camera
A direct moment of eye contact that makes your breath catch.
Disappearing into forest
The stripes blend seamlessly once they step into sal shade.
Barasingha feeding
Kanha's barasingha grazing in tall grass, a sign of healthy grassland habitat.
Crested serpent eagle
The forest sentinel watches quietly from a sunlit branch.
Follow Ravi - TheBirdPerson