Seasons Jawai, Rajasthan

Seasons Jawai is a tented resort near Sheoganj in Sirohi district, about 10 km from Jawai Dam. From Udaipur or Jodhpur it’s an easy few hours’ drive. Jawai isn’t a national park. It’s granite hill country, where leopards live in caves on the rocky outcrops and share the land with Rabari herders and their cattle. Some evenings you’ll see a leopard sitting on a rock above a hilltop temple, and that’s why people come here. The resort’s safaris go out with naturalist guides who know the local hills well. It’s still wildlife, so a sighting on every drive isn’t guaranteed, and the resort says so openly. Between drives, guests can go on nature walks and birding trips to the reservoir, or visit Rabari villages nearby. The resort has two types of tents: the larger Majestic Tents and Twin Tents for friends or families travelling together. Every tent has air conditioning, an ensuite bathroom and a private veranda facing the hills. The resort also has a swimming pool, a restaurant serving Indian and international food, and evening campfires. It even keeps a pair of Marwari horses, Colt and Filly, which children tend to love. November to February is the best time to go, when the days are cool enough to stay out on the rocks until dusk.