Shergarh Tented Camp opened in 2004 and was established as a small and informal tented camp with a strong focus on high quality wildlife experiences, and with a deep concern for the environment and local community. The project all started with the vision to build a simple lodge from which tourists could enjoy the nearby Kanha Tiger Reserve. The plan began with purchasing a degraded plot of non-native eucalyptus plantation, then restoring the area back to original native woodland and a haven for wildlife. Shergarh Tented Camp supports the local community and has always drawn upon local skills, materials and services for their business. The owners Katie, Jehan and their two children reside there and have become a close as family with the local community, who in turn help them to run many aspects of the camp.

Written by Shergarh Tented Camp on 2 Nov 2011 with 0 comments. Be the first!

We would like to introduce ourselves as the owners and creators of a wildlife lodge nestled on the edge of Kanha Tiger Reserve, one of India's premiere game parks. It is called Shergarh. We opened in 2004 and are established as a small and informal tented camp with a strong focus on high quality wildlife experiences, and with a deep concern for our environment and local community. We receive visitors from across the globe, and we reside there with our two young children.

Many people ask us what led us to set up Shergarh: Was it a life-long dream? Were we raised in families concerned with wildlife and conservation? Had we studied related subjects? The response doesn't lie in any predictable answer; we had both taken a job in Kanha , but neither of us had any idea that this short internship would transform into a whole new life, that both our work and our family would grow and flourish right here in the jungles of central India.

Jehan first arrived in Kanha in 1997, fresh from his city upbringing in Mumbai and armed with a Masters in Geology. He trained as a naturalist for a reputed wildlife camp, learning on the job, but following a passion for nature and the outdoors that he had developed on childhood trips away from home. Kanha was an exciting new destination which he embraced whole-heartedly; the crisp chill of early morning drives...deafening insect melodies...unbelievable night skies...The experience of working with renowned wildlife film-makers and escorting numerous wildlife enthusiasts, mixed with an innate entrepreneurial spirit, earned Jehan the belief that he could make a living in such an environment. He spent some time exploring India's natural habitats, but it was the bonds he had developed, as well as some interesting fateful events, that led him back to Kanha.

Initially Jehan searched for a plot of prime sal forest, where he wanted to build a simple lodge from which he could escort his clients into the jungle. After some time, he was shown a eucalyptus plantation; his first reaction was unenthusiastic - not only is eucalyptus not native, it saps too much water from the table stunting the growth of any surrounding plant. This was the revelation and first of many decisions that would set him on a journey of responsible and sustainable ethics; he purchased the degraded land with the intention of removing the eucalyptus, nurturing all the wild saplings and restoring the area back to original native woodland and a haven for wildlife. Twelve years on and his commitment has already manifested; much of the cleared land is now thriving with indigenous jamun (Indian blackberry), wild mango and fig trees. Annually, Shergarh sees over 100 bird species and 50 butterfly species. A large number of flying foxes colonise the trees and hundreds of breeding egrets return each summer. A jungle cat resides in the grassland rearing new kittens each year, while jackals, wild boar and foxes make nocturnal appearances. In November 2008 we received the most awesome credit for our efforts; a 5 year old male tiger strayed beyond the unfenced boundary of his familiar territory, and strolled into Shergarh, using the stream-bed and thick foliage as a refuge from the surrounding paddy fields.

When I arrived in 2001, Jehan was living in a mud-straw house on his eucalyptus plot, watering his plants from the well he had helped to dig, and spending his evenings writing and planning under the glow of an oil-lamp, at the edge of a charming water-body that lies in the centre of the land. I had been curious about the myriad images and impressions she had formed on India, and had come to experience the country before intending to settle down at home in England. I had come to volunteer in the same wildlife camp where Jehan had first worked, and was equally taken by the opportunity.

Working with members from the local community provided a fascinating insight in to the country, and I was also exposed to a new angle of tourism that I hadn't experienced in either my own travels across India, or in the tourist establishments that I had worked for back home. My concern for the preservation of both local communities and natural habitats engaged me; I could see how tourism could at once bring surmountable benefits, yet if unregulated, play havoc.

You can imagine how interested we were to meet each other!

In spite of the red tape, corruption and inefficiencies that are typically associated with the Indian bureaucracy, it took us exactly one year to construct Shergarh. It was a natural and obvious decision for us to draw upon local skills, materials and services. Our local mason surveyed our hand drawings, advised the angle of the roof to deal with the force of the monsoon, and we were on our way! He helped us source local carpenters and plumbers and we gathered up a labour force from our village. From nearby villages we purchased homemade bricks and tiles, weaved bamboo and all the supplies came from our local market town. We worked hard together, resolving hurdles which were both practical and cultural, and quickly felt accepted by our neighbours, forging relationships that still flourish. Key workers became permanent staff, who today work as accomplished cooks, waiters, housekeepers, gardeners and watchmen; they run almost every aspect of the camp, with some of them operating as team leaders. We support the wider community by purchasing their produce, helping them in times of need (such as catching poisonous snakes from their homes!), and small projects with the village school such as taking the children into the park and talking to them about the importance of preserving their area. Our own children also attend the school and we feel comfortable to take on gentle initiatives as 'concerned parents' of the community.

In running the camp we focus most strongly on the activities that we offer. While the lodge setting is peaceful and comfortable, our aim is not to work towards a luxurious escape or retreat, but to provide rich experiences that allow visitors to leave with a true sense of the area. Core activities are centred on tracking for major predators, but with the guidance of our highly experienced naturalists we take guests off the beaten track to show the small wonders of Kanha; huge spider webs and termite mounds, jewel beetles, different types of bird nests; it is a rich forest which supports a diversity of flora and fauna. Our latest venture, which we are really excited about, are walking and cycling treks combined with overnight camping. Not only is Kanha an outstandingly beautiful landscape, it is set in India's rural and tribal heartland. Charming agricultural hamlets are connected by hundreds of interior roads and jungle paths which make for fascinating exploration. Currently most visitors to the region come only to see the game reserve, but we believe that carefully guided excursions into the wider community will offer visitors a more rewarding impression and help to bridge cultural gaps, bringing benefits more directly into the community.

Our ideas and plans continue to grow and evolve. However, bringing up our two children in the jungle continues to be the greatest influence on how our life and work takes shape. As the years roll by and we watch them become immersed in their natural surroundings; catching, identifying and drawing different lizard species or saving an ant from getting washed down the plughole, they have helped to reveal the sacred values of Mother Earth, and how much there is to be learned and preserved. We wanted to share our story with you because we believe what we have done is very simple; we have followed our hearts, taking with us the basic principles upheld by any responsible citizen. There is no particular upbringing or qualification, and certainly no price tag behind what we have done. 'Eco' and 'organic' related terms are often - wrongly or rightly - considered elitist concerns, but 'responsibility' as a concept is accessible to anyone, because it is basically about being considerate, whatever the cause and wherever the concern. We hope that our story might inspire others to follow their hearts, and discover the world is full of opportunity.

Read more about Shergarh Tented Camp!