One of the many things that India proudly offers to its guest is its complex and scenic landscapes. Moreover, the country’s diverse environment is a great reason they also have an abundance of wildlife. With all these things being said, India falls nothing short when it comes to giving tourists a chance to witness such a scene, and it’s all through its several safaris.
India has several safaris, but we’ve compiled 13 of the best ones for you to consider. The list includes Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, Hemis National Park, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kanha National Park, Pench National Park, Jim Corbett, Satpura National Park, Gir National Park, Gujarat, Kaziranga National Park, Tadoba National Park, Maharashtra, Bandhavgarh National Park, Sundarbans National Park, and Ranthambore National Park.
In this article, we’ll cover the basic things you need to know about each one so you can quickly know which works best according to your preference. We also included the location and an estimated price to give you an idea to consider.
Without further ado, let’s get started!
Table of Contents
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
The first one on the list is a well-renowned UNESCO Heritage Site, and this one is the Manas Wildlife Sanctuary. It boasts of its unspoiled beauty of nature, and it’s the home of animals such as the Pygmy Hog and the infamous Indian elephant.
This wildlife sanctuary rests on the outskirts of Assam and Bhutan. Thus, if you happen to be in these provinces, you may as well pay a visit.
The best time to see the place is from October to April, and they offer guided tours in this place. Further, you can also enjoy other activities such as wildlife camping and rafting. The elephant safari takes around an hour, while the jeep safari can take up to four hours.
Location: Assam and Bhutan
Price: 2 USD (Indians); 15 USD (Foreigners);
Ranthambore National Park
The Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan is home to tigers, but its population is already declining over time. The safari park spans 1300 square kilometers of land. In such a vast setting, you’ll get to see the tigers in their natural setting. As a result, it gives a majestic feel to Ranthambore’s desserts.
The tigers aren’t the only animals in this park. You can also see Sloth Bears, Wild Boards, Indian Chameleons, and Flying Foxes, Sambars, and Monitor Lizards here.
If you’re a wildlife photographer, this place is a must-visit for you, as proven by the other photographers who visited it.
The best time to visit it is from March to May, and you can spend around three and a half hours roaming the place.
Location: Rajasthan, India
Price: 770 USD (Indians); 990 USD (Foreigners)
Related: Best African Safaris for Seniors
Hemis National Park
This safari is one of the world’s highest altitude parks. Located in Ladakh, the Hemis National Park often welcomes tourists and travelers with its brisk winds and even heavy snowfall.
With such a cold environment, you can see animals that adapt to it. Among these are the elegant snow leopards, blue sheep, snowcocks, ibex, and the Tibetan argali sheep.
Due to the heavy snowfall, the park closes during November. While the rest of the months are open, the best months to visit are still from May to September.
Location: Ladakh, India
Price: 0.5 USD for Indians; 4 USD for Foreigners
Jim Corbett
Jim Corbett National Park is Asia’s first national park and one of India’s most well-known parks. The park got its name from Jim Corbett, a famous tiger hunter, and explorer who only hunted man-eating tigers.
To prevent the tigers from extinction, he turned the entire area into a national park. Dhikala, Jhirna, Bijrani, and Durga Devi are the four zones to explore in Jim Corbett. Bengal tigers, chitals, deers, Asiatic elephants, black bears, otters, gharials, Golden orioles, and various bird species can all be seen.
It would be best to visit this place from March to May. Another thing to note is that it would take around 5 hours of riding to visit Jim Corbett.
Location: Nainital, Pauri Garhwal Uttarakhand, India
Price: 65 USD (Indians); 105 USD (Foreigners)
Bandhavgarh National Park
This national park in Madhya Pradesh is famous for being the former hunting ground of many royal families. As of the moment, it became a protected reserve where you can see the Royal Bengal Tiger.
One thing worth noting is that this place has the most number of tiger reserves in the country. It offers guided safari tours where you can understand more about these tigers and see them from a short distance.
Besides the tigers, you can also find other animals in the place. Among these are leopards, barking deers, Bengal fox, striped, hyenas, and more.
It would be best to visit the place from October to June. Another thing to note is that it would take around 3-4 hours to visit Bandhavgarh National Park.
Location: Madhya Pradesh, India
Price: 90 USD per jeep
Kanha National Park
The Kanha National Park started gaining attention when Rudyard Kipling’s Mowgli started airing on the screens.
As the book tells, the park has various animals that you can spot if you visit it. Among the said animals are bears, elephants, pythons, and the panthers.
The park comes with four different zones. They are Kanha, Kisli, Mukki, and Sarahi. The park also boasts of the pack of tigers roaming it.
It would be best to visit the place from October to the middle of June. Another thing to note is that it would take around 3 hours of jeep ride to visit this park.
Location: Madhya Pradesh, India
Price: 40 USD to 100 USD per person
Pench National Park
Situated on the borders of Maharashtra Province and Madhya Pradesh, the Pench National Park is also one of the best safaris to visit in India. This park has an area of 400 square kilometers, and it boasts of its fantastic tiger reserve.
The main thing that this park offers is its diverse plants. The living area is a mixture of various environments. Moreover, it’s also famous for being home to animals such as wild boars and leopards.
It would be best to visit the place from October to June. Another thing to note is that it would take around 3-5 hours of two jeep rides to visit this park.
Location: Madhya Pradesh, India
Price: 40 USD per gypsy/jeep per safari including guide fee of 5 USD
Satpura National Park
Satpura National Park is another safari in the province of Madhya Pradesh. It’s popular with both locals and tourists for its fantastic topography. It boasts of its rugged terrain and dense forest, making it the perfect settling place for many animals.
In general, this place is your go-to if you want to spot some of the best wildlife and get great background for every shot. You can find other animals: leopards, sloth bears, spotted dears, sambar, otters, and others.
It would be best to see this place from October to June. Another thing to note is that it would take around 4 hours of two jeep rides to visit this park.
Location: Hoshangabad, Madhya Pradesh, India
Price: 40 USD to 100 USD per person
Gir National Park
The Gir National Park, also known as Sasan Gir Wildlife sanctuary, is another best safari in the country. Located in the west of Gujarat province, this park boasts of its rugged lands and dry jungles.
It’s also where you can find the Asiatic lions. If you have no idea, this type of lion is exclusive only in the Gir sanctuary. Apart from the lions, you can also spot other animals. Among these are jackals, leopards, and the Indian fox.
It would be best to see this place from December to April. Another thing to note is that it would take around 3 hours of two jeep rides to visit this park.
Location: Junagadh, Gir Somnath, and Amreli Districts, Gujarat, India
Price: 60 USD/jeep (Indians); 200USD/jeep (Foreigners)
Tadoba National Park, Maharashtra
In the province of Maharashtra, you can also visit a famous safari favored by many wildlife enthusiasts. This place has a lake amidst gigantic hills and scenic jungles.
The lake in the center becomes a popular gathering spot for every animal living in it. Thus, it becomes one of the centers of attraction. Some of the animals it offers are the barking deers and the infamous Indian hyenas.
It would be best to see this place from October to June. Another thing to note is that it would take around 2 hours to roam this park.
Location: Chandrapur district, Maharashtra, India
Price: 11USD to 200 USD per person
Kaziranga National Park
This park situated in Assam is another UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Kaziranga National Park envelops an entire 420 square kilometers. If there’s one thing this place offers the travelers, it’s the sight of the one-horned rhinoceros. Besides the rhinos, it also becomes a home to many other animals. Among these are bears, panthers, and elephants.
It would be best to see this place from November to April. Another thing to note is that it would take around 2 hours to roam this park.
Location: Golaghat and Nagaon, Assam, India
Price: 55-65 USD per jeep
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Sundarbans National Park
Another place in India known for its Safari experience is the Sundarbans National Park. Located in the western part of Bengal, it consists of swamplands in an entire 4000 square kilometers.
The marshland and swampy environment become a protection for many animals such as the Royal Bengal Tigers, leopard cars, Indian grey goose, etc.
Some travelers get lucky enough to spot fishing cats swimming through the swamps and pouncing on their target.
It would be best to see this place from October to April. Another thing to note is that it would take around 4-8 whole hours to roam this park.
Location: South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India
Price: 35 USD per person
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Last but not least in the best safaris in India is the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Located in Kerala, this place is famous for its mesmerizing landscape due to the western ghats in its outskirts. The place is also enormous, with 192,000 acres packed with different kinds of plants.
The place offers sights of tigers and elephants. Moreover, it also offers boat rides and other activities.
It would be best to see this place from September to January. Another thing to note is that it would take around 4-5 hours to roam this park.
Location: Idukki and Pathanamthitta, Kerala state, India
Price: 30 USD per person
Summary
The 13 best safaris in India are Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, Hemis National Park, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kanha National Park, Pench National Park, Jim Corbett, Satpura National Park, Gir National Park, Gujarat, Kaziranga National Park, Tadoba National Park, Maharashtra, Bandhavgarh National Park, Sundarbans National Park, and Ranthambore National Park.
Each of these safari parks offers different settings and availability of animals. Thus, you may want to consider visiting at least a few if you happen to go to India. This way, you can maximize all your options and see the best of the wildlife in your vacation.
Resources
Image credits – Canva
