Jungle Lodges Kabini River Lodge

Mysore

Had heard a lot about the Kabini resorts so finally decided to go there sometime early Feb this year. Took the standard package - where you checkin in the afternoon and then check out after breakfast next day morning

Took us about 5 hrs from Blr (ok - we had stopped for some refreshments on the way!). Now with the expressway this should not take more than 4 hrs max.

Some of us stayed at the cabins (tent) and others stayed at the cottages (actual wooden structures from the Maharaja’s era).

Pros

1. the service is really nice and you will always have someone around to help you with your request

   
   




2. most folks that I had talked to before going there had related an "elephant chase" experiece - we got not one but two chases - nothing prepares you for how fast the elephants actually move - wow!

   
   




3. Food is plentiful so you can gorge all you want :)

   
   




4. Rooms / neatness is just about OK for such a renowned outfit

   
   




5. After getting out of Mysore - the drive is really beautiful and you might be tempted to stop by the roadside just to be able to enjoy the peace and solitude.

   
   




6. Most amenities - wash rooms etc. are decent

   
   




7. there are some hammocks and nets that the kids can have fun in

   
   

Cons

1. It is not really as "rustic" as some of the other JLR properties (Galibore, BR Hills etc.). The Maharaja Lodge is a proper structure and then you also have cement sturctures in the property

   
   




2. Food though plentiful is very basic

   
   




3. the lake is not visible from all the cottages so make sure that you get this cleared out when you do the bookings. the log huts look out of the world - you should try for those

   
   




4. Elephant ride on the 2nd morning is for about 15 mins. A word of caution here - the elephants are not "captured ones" so if you are unlucky they might not actually turn up in the morning!

   
   




5. motor boat ride on the lake is not very exciting.

   
   

Just a word of caution - be on the lookout after Mysore for the Jungle Lodges resorts signboards (directions) because there are really scarce and sometimes as far as 15 / 20 kms apart.

To summarize

1. If you have never been to the jungles / gotten away from cities then this is good place to go to although I do have to add that if your motive is to get away from civilization completely and vegetate - this is not the place for it. Other JLR properties are better

   
   




2. The safari is pretty good and if the elephants do their normal chases - it’s worth much more than what you’ve spent on the trip

   
   




3. The trip is quite hectic and you will not actually have a good rest (so do not go there on saturday and plan to come back on sunday) . ideally try and club this into a long weekend holiday.

   
   




4. Service at the location is very good

   
   




5. Most folks are not able to see any animals other than the elephants and a host of deer and bulls. Tigers and panthers etc. are not spotted too often

   
   

Hope you have a good time there.

-cheers