A unique Indian Safari based in Pench National Park, that combines safari with culture and cuisine. Each day you can enjoy a morning safari in the National Park, then in the afternoon, world renowned Chef Michael Swamy will be your guide and tutor teaching you Indian cooking with visits to the surrounding area.

Chef Michael Swamy
Chef Michael Swamy is a chef, food stylist, food writer and travel photographer based in Mumbai, India. A graduate of the prestigious Cordon Bleu Culinary School, London, Michael has worked with several Michelin chefs, but his culinary journey is deeply rooted in Indian regional heritage. He has appeared in many UK and Indian TV shows and won numerous accolades in the culinary industry and recognised as one of India’s top 50 chefs.
He has authored The East Indian Kitchen, Masala Dabba, Easy Guide to Pairing Indian Food with Wine and has won several Gourmand Awards for his work. As Chef Patron and creator of restaurant brands, he has set a benchmark for global cuisines.

How we created this unique Fork to Forest Safari
For over a decade we have provided Indian Tiger Safaris with hundreds of guests not only enjoying the safari experience itself but also Indian culture and of-course the fantastic cuisine served in our lodges. The diverse flavours, health benefits and innovative recipes offer a delightful dining experience and more often than not fuel a desire to learn more about Indian cuisine. With that in mind, and for several years, we have been looking for a way to mix a safari with an opportunity to learn more about Indian cooking and culture. That search came to fruition when by pure chance Chef Michael Swamy joined Will and DK for dinner in Delhi earlier this year. It transpired the Michael is not only a world-renowned chef but also has a passion for wildlife photography and like nothing better than to combine those two passions and so Fork to Forest Safaris were born.

THE SAFARI
India is home to more than half of the world's wild tigers, and a key component in plans to grow the population. Our Indian safaris offer a unique richness of biodiversity that will appeal to any wildlife enthusiast and have been developed in keeping with our core values.
This safari visits Pench National Park where you can enjoy morning game drives in one of India’s premier wildlife locations. Then, in the afternoon, you will join Michael for daily cooking lessons where you will learn about Indian cuisine, cooking new dishes each day while visiting local villages, markets and farmhouses to gain a better understanding of local culture, all with a culinary bias.

THE ITINERARY

Day 1
On your arrival in Delhi, after clearing immigrations, you will be met by On Track Safari’s Representative who will escort you to your hotel.
Delhi, the capital and the third largest city of India, is a fusion of ancient and modern. Standing at the western end of the Gangetic Plain, it is a vibrant city rich in culture, architecture, beautiful gardens and human diversity. Its rich history is reflected in magnificent monuments, in museums and in galleries. It comprises two contrasting yet harmonious parts, Old Delhi and New Delhi. Old Delhi was the capital of Muslim India from the 12th to the 19th centuries, while New Delhi was created by the British Raj and replaced Calcutta as the capital in 1931. It is India’s main international gateway, and the travel hub of Northern India.
Check in at the hotel and spend rest of the day at leisure following your flight (no vehicle for local use).
Overnight in Delhi Aerocity B&B basis

Day 2
After a leisurely breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Nagpur.
On arrival in Nagpur, you will be met for a straight drive to Pench.
Pench National Park became the 19th Project Tiger Reserve in 1992. The Park nestles in the Southern slopes of the Satpura Hills in central India. The park is rich in wildlife, with its fine habitats dominated by fairly open canopy mixed forests with considerable shrub cover and open grassy patches. The undulating topography supports a mosaic of vegetation ranging from moist, sheltered valleys to open, dry deciduous forest.
Check in at Pench Tree Lodge and spend rest of the day at leisure.
Pench Tree Lodge, offers well-appointed tree houses and luxury cottages, nestled in undisturbed 16 hectares of forested area.
Lunch & Dinner at the Lodge.

Day 3
A morning Game Drive in Pench National Park. The area is especially known for large herds of gaur (Indian bison), cheetal, sambar, nilgai, wild dog and wild pig. The key predator is tiger followed by leopard, wild dog and wolf. Other mammals include sloth bear, chousingha, chinkara, barking deer, jackal, fox, palm civet, small Indian civet, jungle cat, hyena, and porcupine. It is also one of the best locations for bird watching. Four species of the now endangered vultures, the white-rumped, long billed, white scavenger and king vulture can be seen in good numbers in the Reserve.
After returning to the lodge there will be time to freshen up before lunch after which you will join your first demo and workshop on Indian Cuisine held on the patio at the side of the restaurant. This will entail making 4 dishes:
Lentil & Beans, Chicken Dish, Saag and a Dessert using local fruit
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at the Lodge.

Day 4
A morning Game Drive in Pench National Park.
In the afternoon the cooking lesson is held at the dam outside the lodge boundary and focuses on sun downers and Indian High Tea. You will be taken through the process of making Indian Snacks and Indian teas (Wildlife For Tea), Samosas, Bhatiya’s, Wada Pav, Bhel Puri with chutneys and assorted ingredients like fruits, dried fruits, etc. Tea-based cocktails/mocktails. You will be invited to make your own Wada pav or Dabeli or Bhel Puri
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at the Lodge

Day 5
A morning Game Drive in Pench National Park, returning to the lodge for lunch. Today the focus is on a tribal meal (barbeque) at a local farmhouse. Here will be provided with all the ingredients to make a marinade and then marinate the meat or vegetables of your choice. You will then learn (hands on) how the dishes are cooked in a tandoor. You will also have a demo on making two dishes in an earthenware pot on a wood fire. Tribal Chicken Curry and Local Beans, learning about local spices and spice blends and how they differ from place to place
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at the Lodge.

Day 6
No two days are ever the same on safari. This morning you have another game drive in Pench National Park, returning to the lodge for lunch.
Today’s emphasis is on a Village Meal or Panch Gaon Meal held at Poonam’s house on the nearby hilltop. You will be taken to a typical village house. A culinary experience in a village house or the farmhouse Dinner curated by us with ingredients and nonalcoholic drinks to be taken from the lodge The food will be cooked by the lady of the house and served to you in her home.
Later there will be an evening Tribal Art & Culture Talk with slideshow.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at the Lodge.

Day 7
A Morning Game Drive followed by lunch.
In the evening you will learn more about cooking in the wild, where Chef Michael Swamy demonstrate cooking from his journeys in the wild. Dishes are Mahua Glazed Chicken, Hay Cooked Fish, Wood Smoked Beetroot, 2 mahua based cocktails
You will also receive a digital copy of the recipes.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at the Lodge.

Day 8
A shorter morning game drive with breakfast, then after lunch, check out and transfer to Nagpur Airport in time for check-in for your flight back to Delhi. On arrival you will be transferred to your hotel for night at your leisure.
Overnight in Delhi Aerocity on B&B basis

Day 9
Breakfast at your hotel. Later you will be transferred to Delhi International Airport in time for check-in for your departure flight.

2024 Rate : £2,750 per person sharing
2024 Rate : £3,540 per person single occupancy

Included
• Room with private en-suite facilities inclusive of presently applicable taxes. 
• Meal Plan: Full Board; except Delhi on Bed & Breakfast basis
• Airport transfers, drives and sightseeing as specified by air-conditioned vehicles.
• Local English-speaking Naturalists at the national parks.
• Entrance fee to the national parks.
• Six Game drives in Pench National Park.
• Domestic Air tickets for Delhi/Nagpur & Nagpur/ Delhi in Economy Class.
• All currently applicable taxes. (Subject to change as per govt. norms)

Excluded
• International flights (own arrangements)
• Travel Insurance
• Visa and visa fee for India
• Expenses of personal nature - laundry, phone calls, soft and alcoholic drinks, beverages, mineral water etc
• Still and video camera fee at monuments and game parks
• Airport departure taxes
• Gratuities
• Any items not mentioned in the itinerary and inclusions