What To Expect - A Responsible Approach
At Shergarh
we highly regard our surrounding social and ecological environment. Contributions to the Local Society Located in the tribal heartland of India, the warmth and simplicity of the people here, make Kanha a safe and welcoming destination. All of the 27 villages that once inhabited what is now the core reserve have been relocated within or beyond the buffer area, amongst other already existing villages. Traditionally Gond and Baiga tribes were the chief inhabitants of the land, and practiced ancient agriculture methods, known as 'Bewar cultivation' until it was stopped in 1870. The slash and burn technique meant that no earth was cut, and crop shifting allowed the forest to rejuvenate. These were methods that paid uppermost respect to the earth and nature. Today tribals are interspersed with Hindus and Muslims and they live harmoniously alongside each other, in whitewashed mud houses, which are designed to keep cool in the hot months. The buffer zone is protected by the Forest Department, but is an area where local residents can graze cattle and collect fallen wood. Most of the industry is agriculture, however the Tiger Reserve has provided employment to many families: guides; mahouts; jeep drivers; resort staff and local dhabas (restaurants) have opened to serve Kanha's visitors. Contributions to the Local Society To gain a greater understanding of the society in which you are staying when you visit Kanha, there are a number of ways in which you can make a positive impact. Firstly, learning a few basic words can make your interactions very rewarding, and impress local people. Many guides have a grasp of English and if you ask, you will find some interesting tales of their experiences in the jungle. Local villages burst into colourful weekly markets, where you can experience traditional rural trading over a glass of sweet chai, or try paan - betel nut wrapped in a leaf. These village markets do not produce standard tourist handicrafts, though you may find something of interest. For more touristic items, there is an Art Emporium just outside the Kisli (western) entrance to the Reserve. At Shergarh, we will provide guides and mahouts with an appropriate tip on your behalf, which will be added to your bill. If you feel your experience has been superlative, feel free to tip in excess. In addition, if you would like to contribute to the welfare of the guides that accompany your drives, there is an association that provides warm clothing and help with medical expenses, and we will happily forward donations. The guide association has been established by the guides themselves. As Kanha has a strong traditional and cultural identity, we do ask you to dress with sensitivity. Women should avoid low-cut tops and shorts/ skirts high above the knee, and men should not wander topless. Agriculture is India's biggest industry, which means the monsoon is integral to India's economy. A bad monsoon not only affects farmers, it knocks on to the entire population. Access to water becomes desperate in a drought, demands become heavily prioritised and many go without. This year, Kanha has had a good monsoon for
the first time in three years. We strongly ask that you show consideration to help
conserve water. Dealing with waste is difficult to manage in the remote jungle. We have been making every effort to reduce our use of plastic, and encouraging suppliers to do the same. We advise you to bring minimal plastic products, and take any plastic waste away until it can be disposed of safely, ideally recycled. Unfortunately the recycling industry in India is poorly developed, and plastic rots on the edge of towns for many years - often amongst inhabitants of poor areas. If you are coming from abroad, please take your plastic to where it can be disposed of effectively. Bottled drinking water is often the biggest contributor to an individual's plastic waste during a holiday. We strongly advise you to drink filtered water wherever safely available, or to carry a your own personal filtration system. At Shergarh, we treat all of our water with a UV filtration system. This is the safest and most sophisticated method available. Educating local people about waste in the environment is an important issue. Drivers and guides will stop during game drives to pick up litter, of which there is very little. If you see any, please inform your driver so that it can be removed. Kanha is at the forefront of efforts to save the tiger and the entire eco-system. As an endangered species, it is a privileged time to view tiger in its natural habitat, and the wildlife to which it is inextricably linked. Once the tiger becomes extinct, it will be hard to protect India's forests. When viewing wildlife, always display great
sensitivity to your surroundings: To learn more about tiger conservation and its related issues, please visit Project Tiger and Global Tiger Patrol |