Panna is a landscape defined by stone, river and sky. Here, the Ken River slices through dry teak forests, sandstone canyons, elevated plateaus and ravines, creating one of India’s most dramatic wilderness backdrops. Unlike other Central Indian reserves, Panna’s beauty lies in its rugged dryness — vast open plateaus, thorny scrub edges, red rock cliffs and wide horizons.
Once declared empty of tigers, Panna now stands as India’s greatest conservation comeback, where scientific reintroduction revived an entire ecosystem. With Seven Rhinos, your journey becomes a luxury retreat into raw, elemental nature — signature safaris, river experiences, curated storytelling and a personalised pace that reveals Panna’s quiet, powerful character.
Nearest Airport: Khajuraho — ~25–30 km (exceptional access; one of India’s closest airports to a tiger reserve)
Alternate Airport: Jabalpur — ~235 km
Nearest Railway Stations: Khajuraho — ~30 km | Satna — ~90 km
By Road: Excellent connectivity from Khajuraho, Satna, Panna town, Chhatarpur and Mahoba
Best Season: October to June
A Mosaic of Habitats
Dry teak forests, mixed woodland, open savanna grasslands, thorny scrub, elevated plateaus, deep ravines, sandstone gorges, Ken River belts, waterfalls and riparian vegetation.
Panna is drier, rockier and more open than other Central Indian reserves — ideal for unique species and wide landscape photography.
Animal Life
Seasonal Rhythms
Conservation Notes
Panna is a conservation icon — rising from zero tigers in 2009 to a thriving population through scientific reintroduction, strong protection and habitat recovery. It is also vital to the Ken–Betwa river landscape, connecting tiger habitats across Central India.
A beautifully paced introduction with 3–4 safaris, canyon viewpoints, picnic breakfasts and curated slow-travel experiences along the Ken.
Explore diverse habitats — dry plateaus, gorges, river belts, ravines and teak forests — with deeper interpretation and refined luxury.
Ideal for photographers, and travellers who appreciate slow observation, geology, raptor watching and river ecology.
Winter (Nov–Feb)
Clear light, soaring raptors, active scrubland species, atmospheric river mornings and excellent cliff photography.
Summer (Mar–Jun)
Superb visibility; wildlife concentrates near river pools and plateaus, offering high-quality predator and ungulate sightings.
Photography in Panna is shaped by its canyons, dry plateaus and the shimmering Ken River. Wildlife often moves across open rocky terrain, offering clean silhouettes and long, natural lines of sight. Vultures circling above cliffs, leopards along ravines, and antelopes on sunlit plateaus create striking, habitat-rich compositions.
Panna beautifully balances intimate portraits with wide geological frames, giving photographers a unique blend of wilderness and raw landscape storytelling.
Panna also offers an opportunity to get down from safari vehicles at certain cliffs to observe vultures and if lucky you can spot a tiger in the valley.
4–6 for a rounded experience; 6–8 for photography or deeper exploration.
Yes — activities and routes can be customised with comfort and learning in mind.
Yes, in designated buffer zones depending on permissions.
Earth-tone clothing, sunglasses, sunscreen, comfortable walking shoes, binoculars, camera gear and personal medicines.
October to June, with winter offering atmospheric light and summer giving sharper visibility.
Excellent access, especially from Khajuraho; premium safari vehicles with elevated seating.
