Battle on the banks of Kabini-Jungle Lodges vs Evolve Back!

Several years ago, in 2013, I spent a night in Jungle Lodges Kabini campus with family. Kabini was (and is) the most expensive properties of Jungle Lodges. It cost me about 5000 per person back then. now the same tented cottage costs 15k+ per person, 30K+ for a family (2021 rates). Because JLR has complete monopoly and very high demands, their rates will only go one way- upwards. There were very few options to stay in Kabini- JLR, Orange County and just one more. Today, I am told about 8-10 different resorts operate in Kabini area. Orange County was deemed too expensive for middle class and I hadn’t thought I will be experiencing it one day. Even today there’re many who do not even check out Orange County due to a pre-conceived notion that it is too expensive and not affordable by middle class. Recently I had the opportunity of staying for 3 nights, 4 days in Orange County Kabini and this has helped me understand Orange County’s facilities, services and value proposition better. While I have written separate posts about Orange County, below is a comparison between Jungle Lodges Kabini vs Orange County Kabini.

If you’re looking to holiday on the banks of Kabini and trying to decide which one is a better proposition, check below table. Of course in many scenarios JLR is cheaper from a cost point of view. But the facilities in Orange County, Activities offered there are much more elaborate and extensive than the bare minimum JLR. [Check this post for 24 different activities you can undertake while staying with Orange County Kabini] Thus the value proposition can tilt in favour of OCR even if cost is more by a few k INR. There’re few scenarios where OCR beats JLR even on cost point of view- particularly for large groups of foreign nationals staying for several days. 

Though I was staying with OCR last week, we got to visit JLR campus twice- during Safari. This gave me an opportunity to see if there're any visible improvements in JLR campus compared to my previous visits- there were none. But on the website I can see that they have added a dormitory option which was not available earlier.

Orange County Kabini vs Jungle Lodges & Resorts Kabini River Lodge, Feature comparisons
Check the first two pictures to understand the difference inside the rooms

Above: Bedroom of Jacuzzi Hut, Orange County Kabini

Below- Beds in Jungle Lodges Tented Cottage 

#	Factor	Jungle Lodges Kabini	Evolve Back Kabini	Remarks
1	Facilities in the room	Very basic with a bed, 4 chairs, fan and a bathroom with hot water facility	Private Jacuzzi French Coffee Minibar RO treated unlimited drinking water 13 chairs Living room with TV Dining Table Shower, bathtub Sit out areas AC, Locker, Bath suits	Lot more facilities in Evolve Back whereas JLR is very basic.
2	What’s included in the rent?	1 All meals, Tea 2 Wildlife Safari 3 Boat Safari 4 Campfire 5 Coracle Ride 6 Documentary	1.All meals, high tea Select activities- 2.Nature Walk 3.Night Trail 4.Coracle Ride 5.Interpretation centre walk 6.Responsible tourism walk 7.Tribal Dance 8.Documentary 9.Unlimited pool usage, cycle, reading lounge usage, Makkere etc 10 Yoga sessions	Safari n few activities cost extra at EB Check this post for complete list
3	Optional (Chargeable activities)		1.Wildlife/boat Safari 2.Bullock Cart Ride 3.Boat Safari 4 Private Dining 5. Spirits of Kabini 6.Stories of Kabini? 7.Specialty Dining  8. Ayurveda Spa
4	Other Facilities in the campus	Hammock Ropewalk/ Adventure corner Bar Shopping outlet	1. Hammocks 2. Bar (waterhole) 3. Infinity Pool 4. Reading lounge 5. Kids Activity centre 6.Cycles 7. Ayurveda Spa 8. Board Room 9 Gym 10.Jacuzzi/Private pool 11 WiFi in select areas 12.Shopping outlet
5	Type of rooms	Tented Cottages, Cottages, Rooms, Room East Bungalow, Maharaja Cottage,	Jacuzzi Hut Pool Hut
6	Campus Landscaping	Poor	Well maintained pathways, gardens with lamps, ponds, fruit bearing trees and so non
7	Quality of Service	Fine	Way better
8	Quality of staff	Decent	Way better
9	Cancellation Fee	10% if cancelled before 2 weeks, 50% for 2 weeks to 2 days, 100% (no refund) if cancelled within 48 hours of check in	Free cancellation up to 1 month prior to check-in date 100% (no refund) if cancelled within 1 month
10	Total guest capacity	Was 120 in 2013, must be 150 now with dormitory	29 Jacuzzi huts and 8 pool huts, should be around 100-120 guests assuming few rooms wit kids n extra adults
11	Other		Sunset view is better in EB KSRTC bus available till EB

Outside views

Above: JLR Tented cottage outside view
Below: Evolve Back Pool Hut outside view- check inside views and details here

Having compared the facilities, it is obvious that Orange County has much wider offering of facilities and activities to its guests compared to Jungle Lodges. Now comes the important part- cost. Which is cheaper? Below table offers total Cost computation for various Scenarios. Most of them for 1 night stay with 3 meals, 1 forest safari with other standard facilities offered by the resorts. Towards the end I have added few scenarios with 3 day stay.

Note: All amounts in INR. 1 USD= 65 INR

Orange County Price doesn’t include Safari, which costs extra (Rs 1720/1520 for Indian adult/kids, Rs 2720/2470 for foreign adults, kids). To enable fair comparison I have added cost of 1 Safari to room rent found online for OCR). If you plan to do multiple safaris you need to factor the extra cost.

#	Scenario	Budget/Level of luxury needed	Jungle Lodges Kabini *1	Orange County Kabini *2
1	Indian solo traveler, needs cheapest stay option	Low/Cheapest possible	Bed in Dormitory 5060	Jacuzzi Hut 29610 (Single occupancy)	Both Without Safari, JLR lot cheaper
2	Indian Couple	Moderate	Tented Cottage, 16739	Jacuzzi Hut 33300 + 3440 Safari= 37000 approx
3	Foreign nationals- Couple	High	Maharaja Cottage 31500	Jacuzzi Hut 33300+5440 (safari) = 38740 Pool Hut 40500+5440= 45900	Diff about 7k
4	Indian Family (2 adults, 2 kids)	Moderate	Cottage 35500	Jacuzzi Hut + extra beds 33300 + 7000 for 2 kids + 7460 (Safari)= 48000
5	Foreign Nationals, Family (2 adults, 2 kids)	High	Maharaja Cottage 38225	Jacuzzi Hut 33300+7000+10500 Safari = 50800 Pool Hut 40500+7000+10500 Safari = 58000
6	Indian Nationals, Large Family (6 adults)	High	2 units, 3 pax each, Room East Bungalow 55000	2 units of Jacuzzi Hut with an extra bed each 66600+ 10000 for 2 adults + 11000 Safari= 86600
7	Foreign Nationals, Large family (6 adults)	High	3 units of Maharaja cottage 94500 2 units of Maharaja Cottage with 3 pax per room also cost same (94700)	Jacuzzi Hut 2 units of Jacuzzi Hut with an extra bed each 66600+ 10000 for 2 adults + 16100 Safari= 91700 Pool Hut 2 units of Pool Hut with an extra bed each 81000+ 10000 for 2 adults + 16100 Safari= 107100	OCR is cheaper for large groups/ Foreigners/ longer stays
8	Indian Family, (2 adults, 2 kids) Staying for 3 nights, not interested in multiple safaris	Moderate	Cottage 35500 *3  = 106500	Jacuzzi Hut + extra beds 99900 + 21000 for 2 kids + 7460 (1 Safari)= 128360	Diff is only < 20k
9	Foreign Nationals- Couple, staying for 2 days, interested in 1 Safari only	High	Maharaja Cottage 63000	Jacuzzi Hut 66600+5440= 72040 Pool Hut 81000+5440= 86440	Diff is <10k o:p="">

Above table not updated for 2021 price, please check official websites

Note:
1. For price comparison, I have used various weekends in May/June 2017 period. Had to try a different weekend if there was no availability. Price can vary by season, weekday/weekend and other dynamic factors. Please check on official sites for your preferred date, number of people and nationality.

2. Jungle Lodges price varies depending on Indian or Foreign Nationals. OCR room rates do not include Safari so are same for Indians/foreign nationals.  Safari needs to be paid extra, at which time price difference kicks in. This is good at times- if you are staying for several days and do not wish to take safari everyday, you can opt out and save money. At JLR, daily rent includes safari and you get no refund if you do not go for Safari.

3. Additional beds are cheaper in Orange county- 3500 for kids, 5000 for adults. In JLR, full price needs to be paid for extra kids/adults.

*1 Assuming 5% online discounts. Some travel agents may be able to get you up to 10% discount.

*2 Price as available on Orange County Website or on Booking.com, whichever is found to be cheaper.  Look out for deals and offers from time time. Genius customers on booking.com get 10% extra discount which is significant for expensive properties like Orange County

As you can see in above table, of course Orange County is expensive in most scenarios, but the gap begins to narrow with increase in no. of guests or duration of stay. In some scenarios it is even cheaper or the price difference is so low, it makes lot more sense to try Orange County instead of JLR

Above; JLR's Maharaja cottage, most expensive/luxurious option
Below: Private Jacuzzi inside OCR's Jacuzzzi Hut

Above: A large hammock/rope adventure corner in JLR Kabini- Only thing that JLR has but OCR doesn't. Otherwise, Orange County offers everything JLR does and more, in much better way.

Related: Birds spotted around Orange County * OCR Kabini Responsible tourism initiatives *

I hope this comparison helps you to make informed decisions for your next trip to Kabini. You can check this post to compare all Jungle Lodges in Karnataka. 

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