Kabini River Loges - Jungle Lodges

Sunday, April 03, 2016

Following from my previous posts on Kabini and Nagarhole forest experiences, I would like to share my experience of the Kabini River lodges.

If you are travelling to Kabini, there are several accommodations available and some of them are really high end - The Serai, Orange County, Red Earth and some more.

We researched on the internet and decided to stay at Kabini River Lodges, since it is reasonable, lies in the middle of the jungle and by the Kabini river and includes the Jungle Safari and River Safari as part of its charges and also has good ratings on Tripadvisor.

There are several room options available here - Tented Cottage, Rooms, Cottage and Maharaja Cottage.

We decided to book the tented cottage as it sounded more adventurous and different from the rest of the types of accommodations. We were a bit apprehensive initially, as we thought this tent might not be great, but when we reached there, we were more convinced of our choice. It was well made yet a touch of nature with it.

The tariff is around 6000/- per head which includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, hi-tea, jungle safari and boat safari as well. Including taxes etc. we paid approx. 13k for a trip of two.

As soon as you reach there, one officer will brief you about the schedule and plan. We reached on Saturday afternoon around 12ish which is also the check-in time. We were escorted to our tent, which was very cool inside despite the hot weather. Lunch was planned at 1.30, which was a sumptuous buffet of vegetarian and non-vegetarian options including egg curry, grilled fish, chicken curry and more.

The buffet lunch/dinner is spread at Gol Ghar, which is the cafeteria.

Post-lunch, after 1 hour of rest, we had tea with biscuits and our jeep was waiting for the Jungle Safari.

This is a 3 hour safari, which starts at 3.30 and take you to the Nagarhole forests. My safari experience is mentioned here - Nagarhole forest and encounter with the beast

After returning from the Safari, the jeep dropped us at Golghar for hi-tea, where tea was served with mini-samosa and nachos.

In the evening at 7.30, a movie on wildlife was planned at the mini-cinema inside the campus. However, we were not interested in any movie, so we chucked it and went straight to the bar. The cost of drinks is not jacked-up, it is same as in Bangalore and he also gives peanuts for free, so we really enjoyed that part of the evening :)

Dinner was again at Golghar cafeteria, and it was yummy, especially barbequed chicken.

The day was long and tiring, so we headed straight to our tent and had a nice sleep.

There was a river safari planned early morning - at 6.30 am, so we had to get up early.

The spot-boys in the campus make sure that everyone is awake so they will knock at your door until you reply him that you have woken up and are coming for the river safari.

After chai at the cafeteria, we walked to the Kabini river (which is just backside) of the resort and a boat was waiting for us. The boat safari was very refreshing - my experience is shared here - Waving through Kabini Backwaters

The boat ride was also 3 hour long and we were starving by the time we reached back. Food was waiting for us at the cafeteria and we pounced on it. The breakfast spread was equally yummy with quite a lot of options.

We took long walks in the resort and by the river Kabini, it was mesmerizing, away from the city, away from pollution and the only sound you hear is the chirping of birds, falling of leaves and squealing of monkeys. A short trip over a weekend and yet so refreshing.

Absolutely loved it and will go back again.