October 28

The Essential Guide to Tiger Safaris in India

0  comments

October 28, 2015

A deep, deep growl.

A flash of movement in the long grass.

And then there it is, right in front of you – a magnificent Bengal tiger. Bigger and more powerful than you could have possibly imagined. Your hands shake and your breathing stops. All the stories you’ve read, all the shows you’ve watched describing this very moment all fall short in capturing the exhilaration, the frightening awe of being so close to this mighty animal.

Your mind clears and the only thing you can think of is, “I am so glad I read that article on the Rhino Africa blog telling me exactly where I can go to see tigers in India.”

This is that article. You’re welcome. Now take a photo before it slips away.

WHERE TO GO

There are three National parks in India that stand out above the rest for their tiger sightings – Bandhavgarh National Park, Kanha National Park and Ranthambore National Park.

1. Bandhavgarh National Park

This is your best chance in all of India for seeing a wild tiger. With the highest densities of Bengal tigers in the world, you’re almost guaranteed a sighting if you spend one or two days here.

In addition to the estimated 63 tigers, the wildlife includes over 250 bird species, leopards, deer and even dhole – the India wild dog. The contrasting ecosystems within Bandhavgarh make it one of the most scenic parks in the world – you’ll pass through lush forests, up rocky hills, around marshes and through meadows teeming with spotted deer and resplendent peacocks.

This park, however, offers more than just wildlife. Steeped in history with temples, 10th-century shrines and hand-carved hermit caves within tropical forests, steep rocky hills and valleys, this is one of India’s most beautiful parks.

India Tiger Safari

2. Kanha National Park  

As the setting for Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book, Kanha is perhaps India’s most famous national park. Kanha is over three times the size of Bandhavgarh (at 1,954 km²) with a tiger population in excess of 100. The forests here are vast, and whilst your chances of seeing a tiger are probably slightly slimmer than at nearby Bandhavgarh, they are still very good.

This picturesque reserve boasts the ideal habitat for both tigers and their prey species. Lush sal and bamboo forests are interspersed with vast grassy meadows while the Banjaar River, which forms the park’s southwestern border, provides a steady water source for the abundant wildlife such as gaur (wild cow), spotted deer and barasingha.

3. Ranthambore National Park

Ranthambore National Park is one of the biggest and most renowned national parks in Northern India covering an area of 392 km². The park is located in the south-east of Rajasthan about 130 km from Jaipur. Famous as the former hunting grounds of the Maharajas of Jaipur, today the Ranthambore attracts wildlife enthusiasts from all over the world due to its healthy tiger population.

There are many tigers in this park and although sightings are never guaranteed, your chances of seeing them are relatively high. They are even commonly seen in the middle of the day. Other major wild animals include leopard, nilgai, wild boar, sambar, hyena, sloth bear and chital.

As well as being one of the best places to spot the tigers in the wild, the steep rocky hills, dry forest, and grassy fields and lakes also make this a fantastic location just for the scenery. There is also the picturesque Ranthambore Fort which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was founded in 944.

WHEN TO GO

One of the most important factors to consider when planning a trip to India is the seasons, and particularly the time of the monsoon. The monsoon starts around June until September and the national parks are closed during this time from the end of June until October. Winter starts in November through to February and this is when game viewing is at its best and the weather is far more bearable compared to summer months, with the mornings and evenings are cold.

Summer starts in March through to June when the heat soars to temperatures in the mid-40s (Celsius).
Best time to go: November – February

India Tiger Safari

NATIONAL PARKS IN INDIA

  • In India, there is no accommodation within the park boundaries. There are some incredible safari lodges, but most lodges are situated a short drive from the park entrances.
  • Game drives are restricted to the park’s opening hours and vehicles cannot go off-road. In most instances, visitors will be required to drive in a diminutive National Park vehicle with a National Park guide who is unlikely to speak English. This also means that if you do see a tiger, there may be many other vehicles on the sighting.
  • Of course there is more than just tigers and if you are lucky you may encounter the sloth bear, leopard, wild dog, fox, jackal and other general game and if you are a birder then this too is a paradise for you.

WHY WE RECOMMEND &BEYOND

  • &Beyond has the best naturalists (guides) in India. It is imperative to have a good naturalist when going on a game drive.
  • &Beyond lodges have their own Land Rovers, much like the ones in Southern Africa, and their expert guides are permitted to lead the drives with the National Park guide in attendance, increasing your chances of seeing a tiger.
  • &Beyond’s expert rangers have received the best training available in India and as such they have an encyclopaedic knowledge of the local wildlife including the exquisite bird and plant life.

If you would like to find out more about where to go and where to stay, please don’t hesitate to contact one of our expert consultants.

Here is an exclusive video we made for travellers wishing to find out more about tiger safaris in India.


Tags


You may also enjoy 

The Okavango Delta in Pictures

The Okavango Delta in Pictures

Make a Hot Date With Africa

Make a Hot Date With Africa

About the author 

Matthew Sterne

Matt discovered a passion for writing in the six years he spent travelling abroad. He worked for a turtle sanctuary in Nicaragua, in an ice cream factory in Norway and on a camel safari in India. He was a door-to-door lightbulb-exchanger in Australia, a pub crawl guide in Amsterdam and a journalist in Colombia. Now, he writes and travels with us.

{"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}
>