17 Famous Wildlife Safaris to Visit in India

Gifted by nature, India is home to various flora and fauna. Its diversity includes several rare and endangered species of plants, mammals, reptiles, birds and many more. Embarking on a wildlife safari here is the best way to witness the different forms of India's rich wilderness.

Keep reading to find out some of the best wildlife safaris in India, along with its special attractions and all the relevant details.

Here is a list of the 17 best wildlife safaris every wildlife enthusiast or adventure-lover must check out in India.

1. Ranthambore National Park

One of the largest Indian national parks, Ranthambore National Park, is located in the Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan. It is best known for offering magnificent views of the Indian Tiger in its natural habitat. Moreover, the park houses around 300 species of birds, 40 species of mammals and 35 species of reptiles.

• Area Covered: 1,334 km2
• Best Time to Visit: October to June
• Average Time to Spend: 3 days
• Operational Hours: 7:00 AM to 10:30 AM and 2:30 PM to 6:00 PM
• Distance from the Airport: 180 kilometres from the Jaipur Airport
• Entry Fee: ₹1500 per person for Indians and ₹2900 per person for foreigners
• How to Reach: Catch a train and arrive at Sawai Madhopur Railway Station. You can easily avail a cab from the station to reach the Ranthambore National Park.

2. Hemis National Park

source: toiimg

Situated at a high altitude in Ladakh, Hemis National Park is one of the best places to experience an animal safari in India. It is the largest national park in South Asia and the second-largest protected area in India.

The park is the royal abode of snow leopards and other endangered mammals and bird species. Besides safari, tourists can indulge in popular activities like bird watching, sightseeing, trekking and photography at this park.

• Area Covered: 4,400 km2
• Best Time to Visit: May to September
• Average Time to Spend: 2-3 days
• Operational Hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM 
• Distance from the Airport: 47 km from Leh Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport
• Entry Fee: ₹20 per person for Indians and ₹100 per person for foreigners
• How to Reach: Book a cab via Leh-Srinagar Highway or Leh-Manali Highway.

3. Jim Corbett National Park

source: travelandleisureasia

Jim Corbett National Park is the first and oldest national park in India. Along the foothills of the Himalayas, this national park lies in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand. It is one of the best places to witness the rich wilderness of India, recording the highest number of Indian Tigers and Asiatic Elephants.

• Area Covered: 1,318 km²
• Best Time to Visit: October to February
• Average Time to Spend: 2 days
• Operational Hours: 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM and 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM
• Distance from the Airport: 83.7 km from Pantnagar Domestic Airport
• Entry Fee: ₹200 per person for adults, ₹900 per person for foreigners and free for children under the age of 8
• How to Reach: Catch a train and get down at Ramnagar Railway Station.

4. Bandhavgarh National Park

Once a hunting ground, Bandhavgarh National Park is now one of the most-visited national parks and a popular wildlife reserve in India. The key feature of this national park is the high population density of the Royal Tigers. Apart from the tigers, one can also witness Swamp Deer, Chital, Asiatic Jackal, Elephant, Black Buck and many more.

• Area Covered: 1,536 km²
• Best Time to Visit: November to February
• Average Time to Spend: 3-4 days
• Operational Hours: 6:00 AM to 10:30 AM and 2:30 PM to 7:00 PM
• Distance from the Airport: 160 km approximately from Jabalpur Airport
• Entry Fee: ₹2200 per person for Indians and ₹4300 per person for foreigners
• How to Reach: Catch a train and get down at Umaria Station, which is about 33 kilometres away from its location. You can then book a cab or taxi.

5. Sasan-Gir Wildlife Sanctuary

source: tripsavvy

An interesting fact about this national park is that it is the only destination where one can spot Asiatic Lions in their natural habitat in India. Sasan-Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, situated in Gujarat, shelters around 425 different species of birds, making it one of the most spectacular bird-watching sites.

• Area Covered: 1,410 km²
• Best Time to Visit: December to March
• Average Time to Spend: 3 days
• Operational Hours: 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Distance from the Airport: 116.9 km from Keshod airport
• Entry Fee: ₹75 per person for Indians and ₹100 per person for foreigners
• How to Reach: Catch a train and reach Rajkot Railway Station, the nearest railhead. You can book a state bus service or cab to reach Sasan-Gir Wildlife Sanctuary.

6. Kaziranga National Park

source: wikimedia

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kaziranga National Park lies partly within two districts of Assam, Golaghat and Nagaon. This place is also listed as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International for playing a significant role in the wildlife conservation of bird species. Kaziranga National Park boasts a two-thirds population of rhinoceros in the world.

• Area Covered: 430 km²
• Best Time to Visit: November to April
• Average Time to Spend: 3 days
• Operational Hours: 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM
• Distance from the Airport: 114.3 km from the Jorhat Airport
• Entry Fee: ₹100 per person for Indian citizens and ₹650 per person for foreigners
• How to Reach: Catch a train and get down at Guwahati Railway Station. You can then book a cab or taxi to Kohora.

7. Kanha National Park

source: pugdundeesafaris

Kanha National Park is the largest national park located in Madhya Pradesh. Originally a reserve forest, it also served as a wildlife sanctuary, which further grew into becoming one of the finest national parks. The park welcomes millions of tourists annually and entertains them by conducting elephant rides, jeep/cycle safaris, and garden or museum tours.

• Area Covered: 940 km²
• Best Time to Visit: October to March
• Average Time to Spend: 4 days
• Operational Hours: 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM
• Distance from the Airport: 130 km from Jabalpur Airport
• Entry Fee: ₹3000 for adults and free for children below the age of 5
• How to Reach: Catch a train and get down at Jabalpur Railway Station. It is just a 4-hour ride from the station to Kanha National Park.

8. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

Lying amidst the scenic ranges of the Western Ghats, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is the most protected wildlife area in South India. It is also one of Kerala's most renowned and largest national parks.

One can explore exclusive species of fauna, including Indian Wild Dog, Nilgiri Langur, Nilgiri Tahr and several others, through jeep safaris. Along with such wildlife safari, one can indulge in activities like trekking, bamboo rafting, tiger trail, border hiking and boating at Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary.

• Area Covered: 350 km²
• Best Time to Visit: September to June
• Average Time to Spend: September to June
• Operational Hours: 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM
• Distance from the Airport: 155 km approximately from Cochin International Airport
• Entry Fee:
  • Indians: ₹45 per person for adults and ₹15 per person for children
  • Foreigners: ₹500 per person for adults and ₹180 per person for children
• How to Reach: Book a flight to Kochi via Cochin International Airport and get a taxi to reach the park.

9. Manas Wildlife Sanctuary

source: yatra

Another famous wildlife safari park in India, Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, is in Assam's biodiversity hotspot area. Moreover, it is another wildlife park listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This wildlife sanctuary serves as a Project Tiger Reserve and an Elephant Reserve.

• Area Covered: 1000 km² approximately
• Best Time to Visit: October to April
• Average Time to Spend: 3 days
• Operational Hours: 5:30 AM to 6:30 PM
• Distance from the Airport: 141.2 km from Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport
• Entry Fee: ₹200 per person for Indians and ₹2000 per person for foreigners
• How to Reach: Get down at the nearest airport, which is Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport and book a cab for the rest of the journey.

10. Sundarbans National Park

source: wikimedia

Sundarbans National Park in West Bengal holds the distinction of having the world's largest mangrove network of forests. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this national park features a wide variety of endangered species and 64 species of plants.

Its formation at the mouth of three rivers, Ganga, Brahmaputra and Meghna, makes it the best place to enjoy a boat animal safari in India.

• Area Covered: 1,330 km²
• Best Time to Visit: September to March
• Average Time to Spend: 3 days
• Operational Hours: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM on weekdays and 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Saturdays. However, the park remains closed on Sundays.
• Distance from the Airport: 109 km from Netaji Subhash International Airport
• Entry Fee: ₹60 per person for citizens and ₹200 per person for international tourists
• How to Reach: Book a flight to Kolkata via Netaji Subhash International Airport, the nearest airport. From the airport, you can get a taxi or cab.

11. Tadoba National Park

source: tadobajunglecamp

Situated in the hilly terrain of Chandrapur district, Tadoba National Park is Maharashtra's oldest and biggest national park. It mainly consists of Southern Tropical dry deciduous forest type, making it a prominent breeding ground for tigers.

Tadoba National Park conducts several jeep and canter safaris where tourists can witness and learn about such majestic beasts.

• Area Covered: 625 km²
• Best Time to Visit: October to June
• Average Time to Spend: 2-3 days
• Operational Hours: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM every day except Sunday. The park remains closed on Sundays.
• Distance from the Airport: 135.8 km from Nagpur International Airport
• Entry Fee: ₹20 per person
• How to Reach: Get down at Chandrapur Railway Station, the nearest station to the park. You can then get a taxi or catch a bus to reach its location.

12. Pench National Park

source: pugdundeesafaris

One can also visit the Pench National Park to explore the thrilling experience of wildlife safari in India. The wildlife safari here lets several tourists spot Indian Bison, Small Indian Civets and Indian Pitta frequently.

Other than animal spotting, one can go on cycling/walking excursions, enjoy boating at Kamthikhairy Dam or explore tribal bazaars organised at this park.

• Area Covered: 758 km²
• Best Time to Visit: November to February
• Average Time to Spend: 4 days
• Operational Hours: 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM
• Distance from the Airport: 103.3 km from Nagpur International Airport
• Entry Fee: ₹15 per person for Indians and ₹150 per person for foreigners
• How to Reach: Catch a train and get down at Seoni Railway Station, which is about 72 kilometres away from the park. From the station, you can get a cab or taxi.

13. Satpura National Park

Nestled in the southern bank of River Narmada, Satpura National Park is the first biosphere reserve of Madhya Pradesh. Declared the most visitor-friendly wildlife destination, this national park received the TOFT Wildlife Tourism Award in 2010.

• Area Covered: 524 km²
• Best Time to Visit: October to June
• Average Time to Spend: 3 days
• Operational Hours: 5:30 AM to 6:30 PM
• Distance from the Airport: 115.5 km from Bhopal Airport
• Entry Fee: The entrance fee varies for citizens and foreign tourists. However, the cost of a jeep safari at this park for Indians starts from ₹3800 and ₹5800 for foreign tourists.
• How to Reach: The most convenient way to reach Satpura National Park is to book a cab or taxi via NH12.

14. Dudhwa National Park

source: tigersafari

Another addition to the list of wildlife safaris in India, Dudhwa National Park is located in Uttar Pradesh, alongside the Indo-Nepal Border. This national park serves as a Project Tiger Reserve as well as a protected area.

Some of the wildlife attractions of this park include Bengal Tiger, Indian Rhinoceros, Porcupine, Python, Rhesus Monkey, Bengal Florican and Red Jungle Fowl.

• Area Covered: 490 km²
• Best Time to Visit: November to April
• Average Time to Spend: 1 day
• Operational Hours: 6:00 AM to 9:30 AM and 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
• Distance from the Airport: 231.9 km from Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport
• Entry Fee: ₹50 per person for Indians and ₹300 per person for foreigners
• How to Reach: Get down at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, the nearest airport and book a cab ahead.

15. Panna National Park

Panna National Park is located in the northern hilly terrain of Madhya Pradesh. Rich in biodiversity, it shelters different types of flora and fauna. In addition to wildlife exploration, one can enjoy boat rides at the calm riversides of Ken and spot one of the highest Indian waterfalls here.

• Area Covered: 543 km²
• Best Time to Visit: November to April
• Average Time to Spend: 2 days
• Operational Hours: 6:30 AM to 10:30 AM and 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM
• Distance from the Airport: 24 km from Khajuraho Airport
• Entry Fee: ₹40 per person for Indians and ₹300 per person for foreigners 
• How to Reach: Book a cab or taxi from Khajuraho airport. This airport is well-connected and closely located at Panna National Park. Or, you can also catch a train and get down at Jhansi Railway Station. From the station, you can easily access the local taxis.

16. Namdapha National Park

source: blogspot

Namdapha National Park is the 3rd largest national park, located in the Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh. This national park is also a protected area of the state and is nominated for the UNESCO World Heritage Site declaration.

The park organises several guided safari tours for tourists to spot the Big 4 Cat species, its major attraction, and other species.

• Area Covered: 1,985 km²
• Best Time to Visit: October to March
• Average Time to Spend: 3-5 days
• Operational Hours: 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Distance from the Airport: 218.5 km from Dibrugarh Airport
• Entry Fee: ₹10 per person
• How to Reach: Book a flight to Dibrugarh via Mohanbari Airport, which is the nearest airport to the park. From the airport, you can get a taxi to reach the site.

17. Desert National Park

source: a2z

Nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Desert National Park is the 2nd largest Indian national park situated in Rajasthan. It is the only national park in India to have a desert ecosystem. Despite its arid location, the park houses some of India’s significant wildlife attractions, including the Bengal Fox and the Blackbuck.

• Area Covered: 3162 km²
• Best Time to Visit: October to March
• Average Time to Spend: 1 day
• Operational Hours: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Distance from the Airport: 331.2 km from Jodhpur Airport
• Entry Fee: ₹100 per person
• How to Reach: Catch a train and get down at Jaisalmer Railway Station, which is about 13 kilometres away from the park. You can then book a cab or taxi from the station to cover the rest of the distance.

The above list of wildlife safaris in India is a guide for all those who are planning a trip to any of the above-mentioned national parks. A wildlife safari is the perfect way to captivate some picturesque and adventurous treasures of nature.

However, carefully plan and verify all the related details, especially the cost of the wildlife safari and have a hassle-free adventure.