Adventure seekers, assemble! Are you too looking for an adrenaline boost but not sure where to begin? Try going for a wildlife safari in India.
While it may sound a bit unconventional at first, you’ll be signing up for a whole lot of jungle adventure, along with fascinating bits of information about the flora and fauna.
Wildlife safari parks in India were a more popular choice amongst young adventure seekers and wildlife observers, but today they attract people of all ages and interests.
After all, who wouldn’t love a little break from the concrete jungle and step into the ‘real’ one, even if for little time?
Top 5 Best Wildlife Safari in India
- Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand
- Hemis National Park, Leh
- Kaziranga National Park, Assam
- Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan
- Pench Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh
1. Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand
Established in 1936, the Jim Corbett National Park is the first national park of India and one of the best places for wildlife safari in India.
Spread over more than 1300 square kilometers (sq km), it is nestled at the foothills of the picturesque Himalayas and occupies parts of Nainital, Almora, and Pauri Garhwal.
The park has eight main zones, with most of them remaining open year-round. A few of them are only open during specific times of the year, typically from October to June, and these include Bijrani, Jhirna, Dhikala, Durgadevi, Dhela, Garjiya, Sonanadi, and Pakhro.
You can take a tour of the expansive zones in the form of a jeep or canter safari which roughly takes 4 hours. They also provide night stays, so you can plan your stay inside the park itself instead of looking for other accommodations.
Also, keep your binoculars handy as you can closely look at the hundreds of bird species and smaller animals. And, you’ll likely spot the most famous attraction here – the Bengal Tiger in all its glory!
Price: INR 3300 per person for jeep safari; INR 1500 per person for canter safari
Best time to visit: November to June
Key attractions: Bengal tiger, elephant, barking deer, sambar, gharial, leopard
2. Hemis National Park, Leh
This one on our list breaks the conventional definition of a wildlife safari and is one of the most unique wildlife safari parks in India.
How?
Well, as Hemis is spread atop the Himalayas at an elevation of about 17,000 feet, it is practically impossible to drive a safari jeep.
Most visitors rely on treks and explore the park themselves, and that way you can observe the snow-laden park at your own pace.
The park is most famous for the elusive snow leopards, and records their highest density in the world. Even though most tourists visit the park in the hopes of spotting these big cats, you can also see several birds and other mammals, as well as hundreds of flowers.
Price: INR 20 per person (Indians), INR 100 (Foreigners); INR 1500 for a full-day safari permit
Best time to visit: November to April (avoid during the colder months of mid-December to late January)
Key attractions: Snow leopard, Himalayan ibex, Eurasian eagle owl, Himalayan wolf, red fox, several bird species
3. Kaziranga National Park, Assam
From the ice-cold Himalayan terrains, we’re off to northeastern India, known for its swampy, marshy, and tropical climate. Kaziranga is one of the most famous wildlife safari parks in India.
Along with being a national park, Kaziranga is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, spread across 430 sq km. To explore the park, one can choose either between a jeep or an elephant safari.
The jeep safari takes two hours, while the latter takes an hour.
The Brahmaputra River runs through the national park and tends to get flooded during the monsoon season. During this time, the park is closed for tourists.
You’re likely to spot different birds and animals that are usually found in swampy areas as most of the park has that terrain.
And, speaking of wildlife, how can we miss out on the park’s signature animal – the Indian rhinoceros?
Did you even visit Kaziranga if you didn’t say hello to the adorable rhinos there?
Price: INR 4000 to INR 9700 for wildlife safari; INR 1500 to INR 3500 for elephant safari
Best time to visit: November to April
Key attractions: Indian one-horned rhinoceros, gaur, wild buffalo, Indian elephant, Bengal fox, alligator, blue stork, sambar, tiger, dolphin.
4. Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan
Ranthambore, situated in Rajasthan’s Sawai Madhopur, is one of the most popular wildlife safari parks in India.
Spread across the Aravalli and Vindhya mountain ranges, the park was once a game reserve belonging to the royal House of Jaipur.
Thanks to its dry-deciduous forests and varied topography that includes meadows, lakes, and hills, there’s plenty of flora and fauna thriving together.
To explore Ranthambore’s abundance, you can book a gypsy or a canter depending on your preference.
A specialty of the park is that you will spot a tiger roaming freely in the wilderness – you might even spot them hunting for prey!
So, when are you planning to participate in its wildlife safari?
Price: INR 891 to INR 2746 for wildlife safari by a canter or a gypsy
Best time to visit: December to May
Key attractions: Royal Bengal tiger, leopard, sloth bear, wild boar, sambar, caracal, rhesus macaque, nilgai, crocodile
5. Pench Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh
Any list about wildlife safaris in India would be incomplete without mentioning a wildlife sanctuary or a bio-reserve from Madhya Pradesh.
Why?
It is known as the Tiger State of India, as 785 out of the 3,682 tigers in India are in the state itself (Tiger Census 2022).
Pench is famous for its tiger sightings, including the legendary tigress ‘Collarwali’.
There are 3 entry points to the reserve, the Turia Gate, Karmajhiri Gate, and Jamtara, with the Turia Gate being the most prominent one for tourists.
While wildlife safari by buses and jeeps is always an option, you can also try out elephant rides and boating.
If you have a Pench-ant for observing wildlife in their natural habitats, you must not miss out on this tiger reserve!
Price: INR 510 per person per round (mini bus); INR 1500 for a light vehicle for a total of 6 tourists; INR 1000 per person for elephant rides
Best time to visit: October to February
Key attractions: Tiger, leopard, chousingha, barking deer, small Indian civet, Malabar pied hornbill
Summing Up
From the tropical forests of Kerala to the rugged terrains of Rajasthan, India’s wildlife safaris take you on an exciting journey through the country’s most stunning landscapes.
Each park offers something special – whether it’s spotting rare species or simply soaking in the beauty of the wild. These wildlife safari parks in India offer something for everyone.
For those seeking adventure, tranquility, and a deeper connection with nature, we recommend you to hop onto those gypsies and zoom into the alluring jungles!
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Here are some frequently asked questions about tiger reserves in india:
Q1. Which Forest Safari Is Best In India?
Here are some of the best forest/wildlife safari experiences in India:
- Ranthambore National Park
- Kaziranga National Park
- Jim Corbett National Park
- Tadoba Tiger Reserve
- Bandhavgarh National Park
Q2. Which Is The Largest Tiger Reserve In India?
The Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve is the largest tiger reserve in India. It is located in the Nallamala Forest in Andhra Pradesh.
Q3. Which Month Is Best To Visit Jim Corbett?
The months of November to June are the best to visit Jim Corbett National Park. This is because the weather is comparatively pleasant during the winter months and the vegetation is less dense during summer. This increases the chance of spotting a variety of wild animals.
