Evolve Back Kabini is a 5-star safari lodge on the Kabini River by Nagarhole, with 37 huts, private pools, spa and boat and jeep safaris.
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Evolve Back Kuruba Safari Lodge is a 5-star Evolve Back wildlife lodge on the Kabini River beside Nagarhole National Park, with 37 huts, private pools, the Vaidyasala spa and boat and jeep safaris, about 90 km from Mysore Airport.
Live rates and availability confirmed at booking. All prices indicative — updated June 2026.
Evolve Back Kuruba Safari Lodge is a 5-star wildlife lodge on the banks of the Kabini River, at the edge of Nagarhole National Park in Karnataka. Formerly known as Orange County Kabini, it is the wildlife property in the Evolve Back portfolio and is designed around the Kadu Kuruba tribal village, or hadi, with thatched roofs, courtyards and earthy materials. It has been recognised by readers of National Geographic Traveller among the best ecolodges in the world, and the emphasis throughout is on wildlife, landscape and a low-key luxury that fits the forest setting.
The lodge carries 37 huts spread across riverside grounds, with safaris, naturalist-led walks and an Ayurvedic spa forming the core of the experience. Stays are typically all-inclusive, covering meals and scheduled safaris, which suits the remote location where there is little reason or means to leave the property between game drives.
The lodge sits near Beeramballi village by the Kabini backwaters, postal code 571116, at the cusp of the Nagarhole and Bandipur reserves. The nearest airport is Mysore (Mandakalli) at about 90 km, a drive of roughly an hour and three-quarters. Mysore city is around 80 km away. Many guests instead fly into Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport, about 265 km and a four-and-a-half-hour drive, which has far wider connectivity.
Given the distances, the journey from the airport is a meaningful part of the trip rather than a quick transfer, so plan arrival times around the long road leg and the fixed safari schedule. The lodge can arrange road transfers from either airport.
Accommodation is in 37 standalone huts across three categories. The Safari Hut is the entry option, built around a courtyard with a shallow water-jet plunge feature, a bedroom, a separate living-dining space and a private sit-out. The Pool Hut adds a private plunge pool within a walled garden, while the top Pool Reserve offers the most space and a larger private pool, generally positioned towards the river.
Each hut blends village-style furniture with modern comforts, and many look out over the silent Kabini River or the gardens. The layout favours privacy, with sit-outs and walled gardens that make the huts feel self-contained between safaris.
Dining centres on Honey Comb, the all-day riverfront restaurant serving buffet-style regional and international menus, and the Kuruba Grill, a speciality outlet known for grills and kebabs with riverside seating. Private dining is part of the offering, including candlelit dinners and meals served on a traditional Kerala-style rice barge on the water. With most stays full board, meals are built around the early-morning and evening safari timings.
The Vaidyasala spa is the wellness centrepiece, combining Ayurvedic traditions with tribal healing practices and locally sourced botanicals for massages and therapies. There is a swimming pool for the property, alongside the private plunge pools in the Pool Hut and Pool Reserve categories. Naturalist-led talks, a library of wildlife material and the riverside common areas fill the time between drives. The remote setting means the lodge is largely self-contained.
Wildlife is the reason to come. The lodge runs two kinds of safari through the government-mandated operator: boat safaris that travel upstream on the Kabini where it borders both Nagarhole and Bandipur, and jeep safaris into Nagarhole National Park. The forest is known for elephant herds, gaur, deer and antelope, and as one of the better places in India for sightings of tiger, leopard and, occasionally, the black panther that has made Kabini famous among photographers.
Beyond the drives, the lodge offers guided nature walks and specialist bird walks led by trained naturalists, along with visits that draw on the culture of the local Kadu Kuruba community. The Kabini reservoir and its birdlife, particularly in the dry months when wildlife congregates at the water, are a highlight. Safaris are subject to park rules and limited slots, so booking ahead through the lodge is essential.
Evolve Back Kabini suits travellers focused on wildlife and serious about sightings, who want comfort and privacy without losing the sense of being in the forest. It is well matched to couples, photographers and nature enthusiasts willing to accept the long transfer for the payoff of the river and the park. The all-inclusive, safari-led rhythm and premium pricing make it a destination in itself rather than a touring base; those after city sightseeing or a short, easy transfer from the airport should look elsewhere.
| Room | What you get |
|---|---|
| Safari Hut | The entry hut, built around a courtyard with a shallow water-jet plunge feature, a living-dining space and a private sit-out. |
| Pool Hut | Adds a private plunge pool within a walled garden, with views over the river or grounds. |
| Pool Reserve | The most spacious category, with a larger private pool and premium positioning towards the Kabini River. |
| Outlet | Cuisine / type |
|---|---|
| Honey Comb | All-day riverfront multi-cuisine restaurant |
| Kuruba Grill | Riverfront grill and kebab speciality |
| Landmark | Distance | Approx. on foot |
|---|---|---|
| Kabini River | 0.2 km | ~2 min walk |
| Nagarhole National Park | 3 km | short taxi/auto |
| Kabini backwaters / reservoir | 1 km | ~12 min walk |
| Bandipur National Park | 25 km | short taxi/auto |
| Mysore city | 80 km | short taxi/auto |
Distances are straight-line estimates; walking times assume roughly 12 minutes per km. Confirm routes locally.
It is on the banks of the Kabini River near Beeramballi village, at the edge of Nagarhole National Park in Karnataka, postal code 571116.
Mysore (Mandakalli) Airport is about 90 km away, roughly a one-hour-forty-five-minute drive. Bengaluru airport, with wider connectivity, is about 265 km and around four and a half hours.
There are 37 standalone huts across three categories: Safari Hut, Pool Hut and Pool Reserve, with the latter two offering private plunge pools.
The lodge arranges boat safaris on the Kabini River and jeep safaris into Nagarhole National Park, run through the government-mandated operator during morning and evening hours, plus guided nature and bird walks.
Check-in is from 2:00 PM and check-out is 11:00 AM; timings are typically aligned with safari schedules, so confirm with the lodge when booking.
Stays are generally all-inclusive, covering meals at Honey Comb and the Kuruba Grill and scheduled safaris, which suits the remote forest location.