available in India
offering Safaris
Reserves and Wildlife
Areas
Overview
A country full of colour, natural beauty, incredible wildlife, and remarkable architecture, as well as a rich tapestry of races, cultures, and philosophies, India is a soul-stirring and wondrous place to visit. The diverse landscapes, from the towering mountains of the north to the sun-soaked beaches of the south coast, are breathtaking, while the national parks, with their range of flora, fauna, scenery, and attractions, provide ample opportunity of close encounters for wildlife enthusiasts.
The wildlife sanctuaries in India are home to a wide variety of animals & birds and comprises of different habitats that will leave you spellbound. On an Indian safari, you’d get abundant of wildlife viewing opportunities and below are some of the best jungle safaris in India that you can explore.
Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan is one of the best places to see India’s wildlife, most notably Bengal tigers. Covering almost 400 sq km, it was originally established as a game sanctuary in 1955, became a Project Tiger Reserve in 1973 and a national park in 1980. Today it offers one of the best chances to see tigers in their natural jungle habitat. Other animals to look out for include leopard, wild boar, sambar, striped hyena, sloth bear, langur, and rhesus macaque. The majestic fort, which gives the park its name, towers over the landscape. The best time to visit is November to March (it’s closed during the monsoon season July to September).
Bandhavgarh National Park, a relatively small reserve in the foothills of Vindhyas in Madhya Pradesh, has one of the world’s highest densities of Bengal tigers. It was here that the first white tiger, Mohan, was captured in 1951, now stuffed and on display in the palace of the Maharajas of Rewa. The park is also home to a large breeding population of leopards, sambar, chital and barking deer, nilgai, striped hyena, and bison as well as more than 250 species of birds and about 80 species of butterfly. The park is open October to June while April, May and June are ideal for tiger sightings.
The oldest national park in India, Jim Corbett National Park, was established in 1936 to protect the endangered Bengal tiger. With stunning scenery – forest, hills, grassland, riverine, marshland and a large lake – and diverse wildlife, it’s also home to 50 mammal species including elephant, sloth bear, leopard, hyenea, Himalayan goral and crocodiles, 25 reptile species, 580 bird species and 488 plant species. It’s one of the most popular national parks in India, with about 70,000 visitors each season, making it the best wildlife safari in India.
Indian safaris are popular for tiger sightings, and apart from the list of national parks above, other popular tiger reserves in India includes Sunderban Tiger Reserve in West Bengal, Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madya Pradesh, Rajaji Tiger Reserve in Uttarakhand, Bandipur National Park in Karnataka, and Indravati Tiger Reserve in Chhattisgarh.
Indian Safari Travel Seasons
The best time to visit India for a safari vacation is:
- Dec-Mar – High Season. The weather is pleasant with warm days and cool nights, from February the temperature starts to rise. In December and January nights are chilly in the north. It’s peak tourist time with high prices.
- Jul – Aug – Shoulder Season. Monsoon rain showers continue to September. Along the southeast coast and southern Kerala, there’s heavy rain from October to early December. Passes to Ladakh and the high Himalaya are open from July to September
- Apr-Jun – Low Season. Hot weather, which is scorching in May and June. Hotel prices are more competitive. The monsoon sweeps from south to north from June, very humid. Travel to the cool hills to avoid the heat, but it may well be crowded.
Essential Information
- Currency – Indian rupee
- Languages – Hindi, English
- Size – 3,287,263 sq km
- Population – 1,324,171,354 (2016 estimate)
India Travel Health and Safety
- Travel insurance is essential for all international travel. Click below to find out more:
- The CDC recommends the following vaccinations for India: hepatitis A and typhoid. Check with your doctor which other vaccinations you might need and make sure your routine vaccinations are all up-to-date.
- Malaria is present in India – get medical advice on which prophylaxis to take.
- Cholera is assumed to be present in India. It’s rare in travellers but can be severe. Avoiding unsafe food and water and washing your hands can help prevent cholera.
- Yellow fever is not a risk but if you are travelling from an infected region you will need a yellow fever certificate as an entry requirement.
- It is best to stick to drinking bottled water.
Pros
Is India safe to travel? Here are a few pros and cons of this diverse and mesmerizing country.
- National parks and their wealth of wildlife is one of the biggest pros of Indian wildlife tours.
- Majestic fortresses, temples, ruins and ancient cities
- Scenic hill stations
- Diverse and beautiful landscape is the highlight of many jungle safaris in India.
- Fascinating religious rituals and festivals
- Delicious cuisine
Also, here is a list of all the Indian wild animals that you can spot on your safari tour.
Cons
- The poverty can be challenging to see
- Frustrating and unpredictable bureaucracy
Arriving in India
- Mumbai and New Delhi are the two main gateways for international flights. Both airports have recently been upgraded – the newly constructed Terminal 3 at Delhi airport is the eighth largest terminal in the world. Chennai and Kolkata are also gateway airports.
Getting Around
- With its large size and uncertain roads, internal flights are a good way to get around. As such there’s a very competitive domestic airline industry although the local airports have not necessarily kept up with the increase in air traffic so check-in and security queues can be very long.
Visas
- Most nationalities require a visa to enter India. An e-Tourist Visa can be obtained online here >>.
- An e-Visa should be applied for at least four days in advance of travel and allows a stay of up to 60 days.
- The e-Visa application process is detailed so allow at least an hour per visa for the process. You need to upload a photo of yourself and a scan of the first two pages of your passport. Make sure you note the visa application number as it will be required if you need to return to the visa application process.
- NB An Indian visa is valid from the day it is issued, not the date of entry.
India Safaris
India Primate Tour
- 11 Days
Discover this fascinating region of India, brimming with its amazing flora and fauna; protected gibbons,...
-
Country:India,
-
Departures:Array
-
Length:11 Days
-
Start/end:Start in Jorhat Airport, end in Guwahati Airport
Tea and Wildlife Safari
- 13 Days
The north east corner of India is packed with incredible culture and wildlife. This trip gives you a...
-
Country:India,
-
Departures:Array
-
Length:13 Days
-
Start/end:Start in Bagdogra Airport, end in Jorhat/Guwahati/Dibrugarh Airport
Kaziranga Sunderban Safari Adventure Tour
- 11 Days
Experience the wildlife of India's northeastern states. In Assam, travel by safari jeep in Kaziranga...
-
Country:India,
-
Departures:Array
-
Length:11 Days
-
Start/end:Start in September, end in April
India’s Wild East
- 9 Days
The tour begins in Delhi, where the historic monuments and the hustle and bustle of the narrow lanes...
-
Country:India,
-
Departures:Array
-
Length:9 Days
-
Start/end:Start in Delhi, end in Kolkata
Birding Safari, Arunachal Pradesh
- 10 Days
Arunachal Pradesh is the north-eastern-most state in India. Home to a remarkable wealth of birdlife in...
-
Country:India,
-
Departures:Array
-
Length:10 Days
-
Start/end:Start in Guwahati , end in Guwahati
The Land of Trumpets & Roars – Corbett
- 11 Days
With breathtaking landscapes, vast meadows, dense woods and rivers meandering peacefully through the...
-
Country:India,
-
Departures:Array
-
Length:11 Days
-
Start/end:Start/end in Delhi
6-Day Golden Triangle Tour With Ranthambore Tiger Safari
- 6 Days
For nature and wildlife enthusiasts, combining the Golden Triangle Tour with a Ranthambore Tiger Safari...
-
Country:India,
-
Departures:Array
-
Length:6 Days
-
Start/end:Start in Delhi, end in Delhi
Birding Safari, Upper Assam & Mishmi Hills
- 7 Days
Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, in India's spectacular north east, is full of incredible birdlife. Species...
-
Country:India,
-
Departures:Year Round
-
Length:7 Days
-
Start/end:Start/end in Dibrugarh airport
Tiger, Temple & Ancient Caves
- 8 Days
A perfect Indian wildlife experience with intense spirituality and history. Pench National Park has its...
-
Country:India,
-
Departures:Array
-
Length:8 Days
-
Start/end:Start in Nagpur, end in Bhopal
7-Day Red Panda Expedition
- 7 Days
Singalila is one of the best places in India to see red panda in the wild. In addition, Singalila is...
-
Country:India,
-
Departures:Array
-
Length:7 Days
-
Start/end:Start in Singalila, end in Singalila
Partners offering Safaris in India
Countries in the same Region
Sri Lanka
- 0 Partners
- 0 Tours
After years of uncertainty, stunning Sri Lanka is opening up, brimming with breathtaking wonders to be explored – sandy beaches lined with palm trees, rich green foliage, verdant tea plantations, impressive wildlife, rich cultural heritage.
Mongolia
- 0 Partners
- 0 Tours
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East Asia, located between Russia and China. With only around 3 million inhabitants, this large country has one of the lowest average population densities in the world....
Vietnam
- 0 Partners
- 0 Tours
Vietnam is a beautiful country with a multitude of unforgettable adventures waiting to be experienced. The fast paced mega-cities are teeming with life and activity which contrasts with the raw natural...
China
- 0 Partners
- 0 Tours
China is home to both the world’s oldest living civilization and the world’s largest human population. The Great Wall of China, temple-topped mountain sides and sprawling rice terraces are just some...
Russia
- 0 Partners
- 0 Tours
Russia has a formidable pool of recreational resources, including natural landscapes of endless variety and inimitable beauty, monuments of history and cultural heritage, unique engineering structures, and unmatched cities, towns and smaller communities.
Nepal
- 1 Partners
- 0 Tours
The kingdom of Nepal is wedged between the majestic Himalayan montain range and the tropical foothills of northern India. It is an adventure travellers paradise, filled with snow capped peaks, mystical monastries and surprising wildlife encounters, offering trekking in the north and wildlife parks in the south.
Kyrgyzstan
- 0 Partners
- 0 Tours
Along the ancient Great Silk Road, Kyrgyzstan boasts incredible natural beauty; dramatic mountains, thermal springs, summer pastures, rich flora and fauna as well as fascinating nomadic traditions and yurt-dwelling shepherds.
Borneo
- 0 Partners
- 0 Tours
Home to one of the oldest rainforests in the world, spectacular coastline, high mountain ranges, an abundance of incredible wildlife and extensive biodiversity, Borneo sets the perfect scene for a memorable adventure.