A jungle safari is an adventure ride that allows getting close to the natural habitat and its surroundings. It will allow you to have a sight of the wild animals, birds, exotic flora, and fauna of forests. In India, there are numerous wildlife sanctuaries and national parks that attract millions of tourists every year. Depending upon the place you wish to explore, you can reach that destination by bus, train, or by boarding a flight. Once you reach the Safari spot, your tourist guide will arrange for a Jeep, caravan, or tall, strong animals like the Elephant, Camel, or Horse as per your choice. The hunt will give you so many pleasant memories that you will cherish your entire life. Here is a brief note on the popular Jungle Safaris throughout the country.
Hemis National Park is located in the Ladakh district of Jammu and Kashmir in north India. The park is home to about 16 species of mammals and 73 types of birds. The endangered mammals in Hemis include leopards, Asiatic ibex, Tibetan wolf, the Eurasian brown bear and the red fox. It is the only refuge in India that provides shelter to the Shapu. Himalayan Marmot, Mountain Weasel and the Himalayan Mouse Hare are some small mammals found here. Visitors going for a safari ride into the alpine forests will also enjoy the scenic beauty of the lofty mountains in the national park. Since the area witnesses heavy snowfall during winters, it is closed after November. The best time for a jungle safari in this park is between May and September.
Located in Rajasthan, this park is one of the finest places to view tigers, sloth bears, wild boards, flying fox, Indian chameleons, and sambars. It is named after the Ranthambore historic Fort, which towers over the park atop a hill. The coverage area of the park is more than 1300 square kilometres. You can enjoy the safari ride in the park and take some interesting photographs. March to May is the best time to visit this national park. If you plan to visit the park, make sure you avail the best deals and discounts on Ranthambore hotels and resorts. The price of Ranthambore jungle safari will vary depending on your choice of taking a half-day or full-day of special safari.
Located in the Maikal range of Satpuras in Madhya Pradesh, this national park is a popular Tiger reserve. The park is further divided into Kanha, Sarahi, Kisli, and Mukki zones. From mighty tigers to countless species of reptiles and insects, the park offers an ideal home for wide ranges of wild creatures. The landscapes, meadows, and crystal clear streams amidst the dense jungle make the wildlife unrivalled. Due to the magnificence of the forest area, it is declared as one of the finest wildlife spaces in the world. Inspired by this vivacious land, a famous writer, Rudyard Kipling, wrote the story of ‘Mowgli’ in the 'The Jungle Book'. October to mid-June is the best time to visit this national park.
Nestled in the Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh, Satpura National Park is popular for exotic diversity of flora and fauna. This amazing wildlife park caters to the needs of all kinds of visitors. Covering an area of 524 km2, the land provides an excellent safari ride. Here, wildlife enthusiasts will love to spot animals like spotted deer, leopards, sloth bears, blackbucks, sambar, antelopes, porcupines and others. October to April is the best time to visit this dense lush jungle. The safari charges vary depending on the route and timings. You can choose to go to the wildlife destination via Keria, Lagda, or Churna route.
Located in Maharashtra, the Tadoba National Park is a famous spot for wildlife enthusiasts. The park has a few lakes, smooth meadows, deep valleys, massive hills and beautiful forestry. It also has some prominent tree species like teak, Hald, Salai, Tendu, Beheda, gum, Arjun, Bamboo, Bheria, Black Plum, and many others. The hillocks and terrains of the park provide shelter to the wild animals like the barking deer, hyenas, shy Sloth Bear, and wild dogs. If you go for an adventure ride in this park, you can spot the endangered animals along with the native woodland bird species. Overall, the natural landscape and water resources make the wildlife destination a very beautiful one. Plan your safari trip here anytime between October to June.
Gir National Park in Gujarat is home of about 300 Asiatic lions. Besides lions, you can also spot species like leopard, chital, wild boar, wild ass, nilgai, spotted deer, and four-horned antelope. The overall deciduous and thorny forest of the sanctuary offers a safe place for tremendous varieties of wild creatures to reside freely. The best time to catch glimpse of lions in their natural surroundings is at dawn and dusk. So, plan a morning safari trip in between December and April for an exciting and exhilarating venture. The landscape characterized by steep rocky hills, rough scrublands, and green vegetation adds charm to the destination. Thousands of tourists visit the Sasan Gir Forest Reserve each year. To have a memorable safari experience, you can also take the assistance of a tourist guide.
Kaziranga in Assam is considered one of the best wildlife holiday destinations in India. The Kaziranga National Park was declared as the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tall elephant-grass meadows, swampy lagoons, and dense tropical moist broadleaf forests make the park look beautiful. With a coverage area of 430 square kilometers, the park houses the one-horned rhinoceros and many other endangered species. If you opt for Safari ride in this park, you can spot animals such as rhino, elephants, bears, wild water buffalo, swamp deer, and panthers. You should know that November to April is the best time to visit the Kaziranga park. The safari charges at the national park are nominal.
While there are hundreds of wildlife sanctuary and national parks in India, Jungle Safari in Uttarakhand is a popular choice. Over the years, this region has gained immense popularity as a center of adventure tourism. Today, many travelling portals offer exciting wildlife tour and travel packages. The online platform also allows you to book your bus, train, or flight ticket for your safari trip. You can avail the best offer like Redbus offer to save some money on your ticket bookings. Anyhow, if you are planning for a Jungle Safari in Northeast India, you are making the right choice. For more details, let us know what are the famous Uttarakhand tourist spots which you should not miss at any cost!
For the protection of the endangered Bengal tiger, Jim Corbett was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park. The magical landscape of Corbett lies in Nainital district and Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand. Initially, it subsisted as a Project Tiger Reserve but now, it is a popular tourist hub. The park is divided into five different zones so that the visitors can enjoy wildlife safari. The authorities offer an open four-wheeler Jeep or an elephant for the nature watch and wildlife viewing in the park. It is the sole national park in India that offers night stay for its visitors. In the expanse of 520 square kilometers, its whole area showcases steep hills, marshlands, riverine belts, grasslands and a large lake. Whether you enter the Bijrani, Jhirna, Durga Devi, Dhela, or Dhikala safari zone, you are going to enjoy the beauty of nature. Before you plan for the diverse wildlife and breathtaking landscapes of Jim Corbett, know about the place in detail.
Time to visit: The National Park is situated approximately 1300 feet above sea level. While it is quite cold in winters, it has bright and sunny days during summers. From July to September, the rainy season makes the region wet and uncomfortable. Eventually, November to June is the best time to go for a Corbett tour. During this period, many tourists have got a chance to see animals and witness their activities near the river bed of the park.
Tour package: Nowadays, Jim Corbett Tour Packages are also available. You can take an all-inclusive or customized package as per your budget and choice. The best package will include a welcome drink, refreshments, recreational activities in resort premises, pool facility, Jeep Safari or Canter Safari.
Travelling options:
Jeep safari is the best option to complete the Corbett tour in one day. For full-day or half-day, it is wise to book your safari in advance. Whether you opt for a jeep or elephant safari, the tourists are allowed on the first come first serve basis only. The authorities have not only limited the number of jeeps within the park but also restricted the timing of the park. Now, the park gate opens at 5:30 am and closes at 10:00 am. The park opens for the next round at 2:00 in the afternoon and it shuts at 6:00 in the evening.
Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary is a wonderful place in Uttarakhand that gives you the chance to walk through mesmerising realms and enjoy nature. The sanctuary is located at a distance of 30 km from Almora in the Kumaun hills. It is popular for housing a variety of exotic flora and fauna along with animals like leopards, musk deer, jungle cats and barking deer. Besides wild animals, the reserve has about 180 species of birds such as eagles, woodpeckers, monals etc. Apart from wildlife safari and bird watching, trekking is another popular tourist activity at Binsar. Overall, the destination provides a complete package to enjoy jungle safari amidst peaceful realms of nature.
Rajaji National Park
The iconic Rajaji national park is both a national park and a tiger reserve. Since there are about 600 elephants in the national park, it is widely popular as an elephant habitat. Located in the Himalayan Shivalik area, it is dispersed over 820 km including parts of three districts- Haridwar, Dehradun and Pauri Garhwal in Uttarakhand. It has now become the second Uttarakhand Tiger Serve, after Corbett national park. It continues to be one of the country's most picturesque and well preserved national parks.
Gangotri National Park
Gangotri National Park is nestled in Uttarkashi District of Garhwal Region in Uttarakhand. Its name is derived from the Gangotri Glacier. Situated on an elevation between 1800 and 7083 m above sea level, the park spread over 2390 square kilometres. It is considered one of India's most beautiful high-altitude wildlife sanctuaries. Around October to November spring months and greenery flourishes here. So, this is the perfect time for sightseeing and hunt for the hidden wild creatures.
Nanda Devi National Park
Due to the unique topography and reserve of major Himalayan wildlife species, the Nanda Devi National Park was adorned as the World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1988. Located at the peak of Nanda Devi in Uttarakhand, the park draws a huge number of tourists from all around the globe. However, being in the high altitudes, the region remains under a snow cover for six months of the year. According to climatic conditions of the place, April to June is the right time when one can visit this park. If you visit this park, you may get a chance to spot species like bharal, goral, snow leopard, brown bear, leopard, common langur, and Himalayan musk deer.
Key tips to ace your jungle safari trip
Exploring the authentic wildlife in Indian sub-continent is an adventure beyond imagination. The more you connect with nature and its surroundings, the deeper you will feel with your inner self. The jungle trip will take you closer to the natural habitat of wild animals. Regardless of the place of destination, if you are an ardent nature enthusiast, you are surely going to enjoy the safari. However, respect the rules of the jungle and consider the following tips to enhance your safari experience.
A well-organized safari trip will ensure that the adventure ride is not only great fun but also a safe one. So, at first, do proper research about the forest reserve you’re going to visit. Get to know the travelling distance, forest area, best time to visit, accommodation costs, rules and regulations set by the respective forest authorities. When it comes to traversing in a jungle, it can turn into a disaster if not planned and executed well. But, if you are familiar with the safety rules inside the park, you can enjoy an enthralling jungle safari.
Before you pack your travelling bags, pre-booking your safari and accommodation is a good idea. These days, Indian wildlife reserves and nature parks offer online booking facilities for the convenience of the visitors. Submit your details and reserve your safari in advance to avoid last-minute hassles of waiting outside the ticket counter. Due to limited safari tours per day and less number of vehicles per wildlife sanctuary, reservations for the desired dates sometimes isn't possible. Make sure you make the reservations quite earlier so that safari day matches your schedule. And, if you are traveling by air, don't forget to consider the domestic flight offers and discounts before booking your tickets.
From transport, entrance fee to accommodation, you have to pay for a lot of things while you are on a journey. Look for a travelling portal to grab the best travel deals and flight offers. Coupons like Make my trip coupons are useful for budget travellers during India safari tours. Using these coupons, you can avail heavy discount on flights, hotel booking, bus services, and holiday package. Eventually, you just have to log online and do some smart browsing and use the best coupons for your Safari trip. Copy the coupon code, paste it in the promo code box at checkout of the booking process, and click ‘Apply’. Once the coupon is successfully redeemed, you will pay only the discounted fare or rates.
Today, ID proof and booking confirmation documents are vital for travelling in any part of the country. You must know that if you fail to show your id, you will not be allowed to take the safari. Besides keeping the important documents, don't forget to keep binoculars, torch, first aid kit, sunscreen, insect repellent cream, camera, extra batteries, and extra memory cards in your bag. Also, carry sufficient water and healthy packed snacks like glucose biscuits or energy bar food. If you want to venture out with great fun, packing the right safari luggage is essential.
A jungle safari and camping will lead you to the dense forest wherein you may get a chance to see wild animals closely. You need to maintain a code of conduct while you are on a safari. Wear dull colour clothes that camouflage with the surroundings. You should not scream at animals, not talk loudly, not get off your vehicle, and not disturb them in any way. Since the behaviour of the animals is uncertain, it is always important to maintain distance and ensure safety. So, before you enter the home of the wild, prepare yourself for the unusual environment.