Where To Do Tiger Safari In India- Safari Timings, Entry Fee & Details
Reading Time: 8 minutesA tiger safari in India is among the most exhilarating experiences you can reward yourself with! With several tiger reserves in India like Bandipur, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Ranthambhore, and Kanha, you have a higher chance of spotting the Royal Bengal Tiger here than anywhere else!
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Why to go on a tiger safari in India ?
With 70% of the world’s population of tigers spread across its subcontinent, India is the best place to embark on a thrilling tiger safari and see the wild beast in its natural habitat!
This has mostly been made possible by the government’s relentless efforts towards the protection and rehabilitation of tigers in India.
The Project Tiger Initiative of 1973 has helped stabilize the tiger population in India and bring it up to over 3890.
As a result of this commendable initiative, there are currently over 60 tiger reserves in the country sheltering and protecting India’s dwindling tiger population.
Four more reserves are reportedly underway.
Best places for a tiger safari in India
With several wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, and tiger reserves in India, there is plenty of scope for you to embark on a dauntless tiger safari in India and watch this mighty beast along with other animals.
Established to protect tigers from human encroachment, hunting, and poaching, these tiger reserves in India set in undisturbed tropical locales offer the most exclusive tiger safari experiences.
1. Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan
Ranthambore National Park is undoubtedly the best place for a tiger safari in India!
Set in the royal jungles of Rajasthan against the backdrop of the barren Aravalli range, this park was once the favorite haunt of Maharajas of Jaipur for hunting.
Now a protected tiger reserve, the park is said to shelter over 600 tigers, ultimately increasing your chances of spotting these striped wildcats!
You can also spot animals like hyenas, foxes, panthers, jackals, elephants, crocodiles, snakes, and sloth bears here, usually in the proximity of the three lakes this park is home to.
Best time for tiger safari in Ranthambore: April to May
Daily safari timings: 7 AM – 10:30 AM | 2:30 PM – 6 PM
Other attractions: Ranthambore Fort ruins, Jogi Mahal, Trinetra Ganesh Temple, lakes
Nearest airport to Ranthambore: Jaipur Airport (167 km)
Nearest railway station to Ranthambore: Jaipur Junction (175 km)
2. Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh
Spread over an area of 105 sq km, Bandhavgarh National Park has a 2,000 mythological history and the largest tiger population in India.
With over 526 Royal Bengal Tigers, this place is also the ‘land of tigers’ in India!
The park is home to tall grasslands, dense sal forests, and 4 designated zones for watching tigers, making it the best tiger safari in India!
Other animals like elephants, bison, wild boars, Indian fox, cheetal, monkeys, langurs, leopards, nilgai, and antelopes can also be spotted here.
Best time for tiger safari in Bandhavgarh: April to June (Wednesday closed)
Daily safari timings: 5:30 AM – 10 AM | 4 PM – 7 PM
Other attractions: Bandhavgarh Fort, Baghel Museum, Tala village, Mahaman Pond
Nearest airport to Bandhavgarh: Jabalpur Airport (200 km)
Nearest railway station to Bandhavgarh: Umaria Railway Station (35 km)
3. Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh
Besides serving as the backdrop for Rudyard Kipling’s famous Jungle Book, Kanha is popular for its large concentration of tigers and commendable feats in ecological preservation.
A large share of the park’s landscape is open meadows, giving visitors a higher chance of spotting the Royal Bengal Tiger and other animals basking under the sun.
Kanha is among the best destinations for a tiger safari in India where you can also spot animals like striped hyenas, chinkaras, gaur, palm squirrel, varieties of deer, jackal, porcupine, and black buck.
Perched atop the Maikal Range of the Satpuras, Kanha National Park is a premier tiger reserve in India.
Best time for tiger safari in Kanha: April to June
Daily safari timings: 5 AM – 10 AM | 3:30 PM – 6 PM
Other attractions: Bamni Dadar, Kanha Craft Center, Khatia Trail, Kawardha Palace
Nearest airport to Kanha: Jabalpur Airport (150 km)
Nearest railway station to Kanha: Jabalpur Railway Station (165 km)
4. Bandipur National Park, Karnataka
Along with a major share of the tiger population in India, Bandipur National Park has the largest population of wild elephants in Asia!
It is a major region for the conservation and protection of many wild species in India, including a quarter of its tiger population, and animals like Nilgiri tahr, leopards, pythons, and Indian hare.
Everything from bus safari to jeep safari and guided trekking expeditions is provided in the park so that people may be able to spot this wild beast.
Located on the Ooty-Mysore highway, this park is divided into the Mudumalai National Park in Tamil Nadu and Bandipur National Park in Karnataka, with the Kabini region sheltering its highest share of tigers.
Best time for tiger safari in Bandipur: March to June
Daily safari timings: 6:30 AM – 9 AM | 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Other attractions: Pykara Falls, Moyar Canyon, Biligirirangan Hills, Maravakandy Dam, Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta
Nearest airport to Bandipur: Coimbatore International Airport (84 km)
Nearest railway station to Bandipur: Mysore Railway Station (80 km)
5. Pench National Park, Madhya Pradesh
Set in 758 sq km of forest cover, Pench is said to be the home of about 43 of the country’s tigers.
In addition to tigers, the park has abundant hyenas, leopard foxes, leopards, sloth bears, barking deer, and wild boars, all of which can be spotted via a canter or Jeep safari in the park.
Most of these animal species, along with tigers, can be easily spotted near the park’s many lakes, especially in the daytime and during the summer.
Tigers can also be spotted in the park’s designated Turla region, specifically around the many streams and waterfalls this area has.
Best time for tiger safari in Pench: March to June
Daily safari timings: 7:30 AM – 10:30 AM | 4 PM – 6:30 PM
Other attractions: Potter’s Village, Runi Jhuni Nature Walking Trail, Tathastu Art Center, Mahakaleshwar Mandir
Nearest airport to Pench: Nagpur Airport (100 km)
Nearest railway station to Pench: Seoni Railway Station (72 km)
6. Tadoba National Park, Maharashtra
Tadoba National Park is the largest as well as the oldest nature park in Maharashtra.
It’s a fun place for a tiger safari in India where you can spot these majestic beasts from the top of open-air gypsies, making you feel like the royalty of old!
Out of its two entrance gates, the Mohurli gate region is considered the best for spotting tigers among other animals like jungle cats, deer, langurs, crocodiles, leopards, blue bulls, sloth bears, pythons, and the small Indian civet.
It’s also a good place for jungle camping and has several tented accommodations available for guests.
Best time for tiger safari in Tadoba National Park: March to May
Daily safari timings: 5:30 AM – 10 AM | 3 PM – 6:30 PM
Other attractions: Tadoba Lake, Erai Dam, Vijaydurg Fort, Sevagram, Mahakali Mandir
Nearest airport to Tadoba National Park: Nagpur Airport (140 km)
Nearest railway station to Tadoba National Park: Chandrapur Railway Station (45 km)
7. Nagarhole Tiger Reserve, Karnataka
Set in the Kodagu region of Karnataka bordering the Bandipur forest, Nagarhole is a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, making it an ecological hotspot with rich biodiversity.
This protected habitat of Royal Bengal Tigers and Asian Elephants is one of the most diverse regions for a tiger safari in India.
Other than tigers and elephants, guests can also spot leopards, bears, bison, striped hyenas, wild boar, deer, porcupines, flying squirrels, slender loris, and over 250 bird species.
One must choose a Jeep safari instead of a canter, as the former lets visitors venture deep into the forest cover and through the park’s top tiger habitats.
Best time for tiger safari in Nagarhole National Park: April to June
Daily safari timings: 6 AM – 8 AM | 3 PM – 5 PM
Other attractions: Iruppu Falls, Rameshwara Temple, Boat Safari
Nearest airport to Nagarhole National Park: Mysore Airport (64 km)
Nearest railway station to Nagarhole National Park: Mysore Junction (89 km)
8. Periyar Tiger Reserve, Kerala
The crown jewel of Kerala, Periyar Tiger Reserve located in Thekkady is famed for its massive tiger population and boat safaris.
One of the favorite haunts of trekkers and adventure enthusiasts visiting Kerala, Periyar offers shelter to a variety of animals including elephants, sambar deer, wild dogs, and wild boar.
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It is also home to endangered and rare species like Nilgiri Langur and Nilgiri Tahr.
A boating safari over Periyar Lake early in the morning is the perfect way to spot tigers and their little ones resting on the river bank or sipping its refreshing cool water!
Best time for tiger safari in Periyar: March to June
Daily safari timings: 7:30 AM – 4 PM (boat safari) | 5 AM – 3 PM (Jeep safari)
Other attractions: Periyar Tiger Trail, Bamboo Rafting, Mullaperiyar Dam, Periyar Spice & Ayurvedic Garden
Nearest airport to Periyar: Madurai Airport (140 km)
Nearest railway station to Periyar: Kottayam Junction (114 km)
9. Satpura National Park, Madhya Pradesh
Despite being one of the leading tiger reserves in India, Satpura’s prime focus is the conservation and protection of its tiger population.
Satpura only allows 12 safari vehicles into its premises in a day, thus maintaining the park’s tranquility and increasing your chances of spotting this mighty beast!
The best region to spot tigers inside the reserve is the Sonbhadra riverbed, where tigers can even be seen swimming in peak summers.
You can opt for the park’s guided walking tour and also spot animals like wild boars, chinkara, gaur, deer, cheetal, porcupines, leopards, hyenas, and black buck.
Best time for tiger safari in Satpura: April and May
Daily safari timings: 7 AM – 11 AM
Other attractions: Bee Falls, Jatashankar Temple, Shri Panch Pandav Caves, Forsyth Trail, Churna Forest camping
Nearest airport to Satpura: Bhopal Airport (150 km)
Nearest railway station to Satpura: Itarsi Railway Station (14 km)
10. Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand
Tucked on the foothills of the sub-Himalayan belt in Nainital district, Jim Corbett is among the oldest national parks in India.
Its diverse terrain supports a wide array of flora and fauna, making it a biodiversity hotspot and a great place for a tiger safari in India!
Other than tigers, it also shelters animals like fishing cats, leopards, barking deer, sambar deer, spotted deer, sloth bears, langurs, cheetal, and more.
The park’s Bijrani region is the best place to spot tigers early morning.
Best time for tiger safari in Jim Corbett: March to June
Daily safari timings: 6:30 AM – 10 AM | 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Other attractions: Dhikala Watchtower, Girija Devi Temple, Corbett Falls, Sitabani Forest, Kosi River
Nearest airport to Jim Corbett: Pantnagar Airport (76 km)
Nearest railway station to Jim Corbett: Ramnagar Railway Station (12 km)
Need help deciding which tiger safari in India you ought to take? Reach out to our team and they’ll not only help you pick your ideal safari destination but also craft a memorable trip experience for you! Happy tripping!
