Don’t you wish to escape the hustle-bustle of the city and spend some time in the serene lap of Mother Nature? Experience the beauty and richness of nature with a wildlife expedition that allows you to observe the wildlife in its natural habitat. Also, India’s diverse geography and wildlife prove how Jungle Safaris here are anything but tame. Here are some of the best Wildlife Safaris you can embark on and discover wildlife like never before:
1Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand
Originally named Hailey National park, this wildlife park is located in Uttarakhand and is India’s oldest tiger park. Apart from the rich population of fauna, this park is also renowned for sightseeing of large carnivorous mammals, and it gives photographers candid moments. Covering the area of 520.8 km, Corbett National Park is divided into five parts: the hills, marshy areas, riverside belts, grasslands and large lakes. While the jungle safaris in the park offer sights of the barking deer, spotted deer, sambar and chinkara, but people from India and around the world flock in large numbers just to get a glimpse of the famous Tigers in their natural habitat. The unique blend of Himalayas and the dense forests make the ride even more tempting.
Best time to visit: One can go to Jim Corbett anytime between November to June and the best time to spot the tigers is from March to May.
2Ranthambhore National Park, Rajasthan
Stretching across 1334 square kilometres, the Ranthambhore National Park is best known for its collection of wild cats. Other than tigers, you can also spot jackal, fox, leopard, mongoose, nilgai, blue bull antelope, chital and sambar deer at the park.
Famously proclaimed as a royal home to Tigers, it’s clear why the park easily fetches the interest of wildlife photographers. Embarking on a jungle safari to this tiger reserve, you will be enthralled by the sight of these cats prancing freely and absorbing the warmth of the desert. Apart from fauna, the flora here doesn’t disappoint. The park’s landscape is defined by rolling hills and crags, lakes and rivulets.
Best time to visit: Best time to visit the park is October to June while the ideal months for tiger sightings are March-May.
3Hemis National Park, Ladakh
Located in Ladakh, a trans-Himalayan region within the state of Jammu-Kashmir; Hemis National Park is an absolute paradise for adventure-junkies! As no motor-able road runs through the park, trekking is the only option available. Adding to that, to popularize the plight of the snow leopard, researchers from the U.S.-based Snow Leopard Conservancy have teamed up with tour operators to organize winter treks through in park.
The park covers about 4400 sq km making it the largest national park in South Asia. A home to more than 16 species of mammals and about 73 different species of birds , you get to see: Tibetian Argali Sheep, the Blue Sheep, Snow Cocks, golden eagles, the Asiatic Ibex, the red fox, Tibetan wolf and Himalayan marmot at Hemis, other than some 100 endangered snow leopards that call this their home.
Best time to visit: Plan your visit between May to September especially during June and July so that you get to enjoy the Hemis festival in the monastery. In November, the park closes the safari due to heavy snowfall.
4Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh
Umaria, Madhya Pradesh, this relatively small preserve is the site of a novel partnership between the Taj Hotel Group and the high-end Conservation Corporation Africa (CC Africa). Owing to the presence of the striped cats and various other exotic fauna species, Bandhavgarh is termed as one of the best places to go for a wildlife safari in India. You can either choose between Jeep and elephant rides, and a CC Africa-trained naturalist will point out wildlife and birds in the tropical woodlands of Madhya Pradesh. Covering an area of 450 sq. km, this park has over 250 species of birds and 22 species of different mammals along with chitals, langurs, sambars and bison etc.
Best time to visit: While the park is open from October to June; if you visit Bandhavgarh during April, May, and June, you can see the majestic royal tigers roaming around.
5Sasan-Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat
This wildlife sanctuary located in Western India’s Gujarat Peninsula has a rugged scrubland and surprising forests. Across the Bay of Cambay from Mumbai on the Arabian Sea, this park’s can be explored most effectively on a Jeep safari. Covering a total area of 1412 km, this wildlife park is the only home for Asiatic Lions in the world. The park also has jackals, striped hyenas, Leopards and the Indian Fox, chital deer, sambar, nilgai or blue bull, four-horned antelope, Indian gazelle, wild boar, langur, porcupine and the rusty-spotted cat along with several species of birds and reptiles.
Best Time to Visit: June to September should be avoided for visiting as the park remains closed due to monsoon; whereas, December to April is when wildlife viewing occurs.
6Kaziranga National Park, Assam
Covering more than 429.69 square kilometres, the Kaziranga National Park in Golaghat-Nagaon districts of Assam is the home to the largest population of one-horned Rhino in the World. Along with the giant Rhinos, the park also has Elephants, Bears, Panthers; different species of deer, buffaloes, tigers and various migratory birds. spread in the floodplains on both sides of the great Brahmaputra River Kaziranga is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Best time to visit: During the monsoon season in April, the park is closed but the ideal time to explore the park would be November to end of April.
Explore wildlife in India with these Jungle Safari destinations and do let us know about your WILD experiences below!
