11 Famous Wildlife Safaris to Visit in Mumbai

source: wildkasarwadi

Mumbai is India’s largest city. This commercial capital of India is a city that offers several places of entertainment to reconcile with nature. There are approximately 50 sanctuaries, 15 conservation reserves, and 6 national parks in and around Mumbai in the state of Maharashtra. 

Let’s look at the most adventurous jungle safaris near Mumbai to get a comprehensive idea about the venues, special attractions, wildlife species, etc. while choosing your next jungle safari near Mumbai.

Mumbai is not all about business and industries. Rather, this city can be a great example of perfectly blending urban and rural properties. It attracts tourists regularly with its collection of diverse wildlife. 

Here is a list of 11 leading wildlife safaris near Mumbai that one cannot miss.

1. Sanjay Gandhi National Park

source: thinkrightme

Sanjay Gandhi National Park is one of the most remarkable jungle safaris near Mumbai. It consists of several trails like Shilonda, Malad, Kanheri or Upper, Bamboo Hut or Gaumukh, Highest Point and Nagla Block. Visitors can expect to see spotted deer, leopards, barking deer, crocodiles, pythons, monitor lizards, butterflies and if one is lucky enough, a Royal Bengal Tiger.  

• Area Covered: 103 km2 
• Best Time to Visit: October to April
• Average Time to Spend: 2-3 hours
• Operational Hours: 7:30 am to 6 pm
• Nearest Airport: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaja International Airport
• Entry Fee: 
  • Adult - ₹30, ₹50 (for Lion and Tiger Safari Fees)
  • Children - ₹20 (both for entry and  Lion and Tiger Safari Fees)
  • With a car - ₹100, ₹500 (for Lion and Tiger Safari Fees)
• How to reach: Arrive at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaja International Airport and then take a bus or cab.

2. Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary

source: whatshot

Bhimashankar wildlife sanctuary's main purpose was to protect the endangered species of Indian Giant squirrels. A visitor can expect to find leopards, barking deer, langurs, hyenas, black eagles, Malabar whistling thrush, Hornbill and more. 

Bhimashankar wildlife sanctuary is one of the 12 biodiversity hotspots of the world. One can also enjoy treks at this sanctuary that leads to ruins of old forts such as Shivneri, Padargad, Siddhagad, Kothaligad etc. 

• Area Covered: 131 km2
• Best Time to Visit: October to May
• Average Time to Spend: 1 night 2 days 
• Operational Hours:5:30 am to 9:30 pm 
• Nearest Airport: Pune airport 
• Entry Fee: No entry fee for those without vehicles
  • Two-wheelers - ₹ 10
  • Four-wheelers - ₹ 50 
  • Heavy vehicles - ₹ 100 
• How to reach: Fly to Pune airport or take a train to Pune Railway Station. You can get buses or cabs from here.

3. Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary

source: jenjon

Phansad wildlife sanctuary consists of four trails that cover the main water holes Chikhalgaan, Ghunyacha Maal, and Phansadgaan. 140 km away from Mumbai city, Phansad wildlife sanctuary is one of the best jungle safaris near Mumbai. 

A visitor can expect Indian Giant Squirrels that got separated from the Western Ghats. Other than that, this sanctuary is home to barking deer, Indian gaurs, leopards, sambars, mouse deer, southern birdwing butterflies, pythons, and Bombay earth snakes.   

• Area Covered: 70 km2
• Best Time to Visit: November to March 
• Average Time to Spend: 1 day 1 night
• Operational Hours: 6 am to 6 pm 
• Nearest Airport: Mumbai airport 
• Entry Fee: 
  • Individual tourists - ₹30
  • For two-wheelers - ₹50 
  • For four-wheelers - ₹100 
• How to reach: You can get buses from the Mumbai Airport to this sanctuary.

4. Karnala Bird Sanctuary

source: dynamic

Karnala bird sanctuary is one of the most preferred destinations for Mumbai hikers and bird watchers. Visitors will find various species of wildlife such as grey-fronted green pigeon, Malabar Parakeet, white-cheeked barbet, Nilgiri woodpigeon, Malabar grey hornbill, Malabar lark and much more. It can surely be a noteworthy wildlife safari tour in Mumbai.        

• Area Covered: 446 km2
• Best Time to Visit: June to September and December to January 
• Average Time to Spend: 2 to 3 hours
• Operational Hours: 7 am to 6 pm
• Nearest Airport: Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport
• Entry Fee: 
  • Adults - ₹30 
  • Children - ₹15 
  • Parking charge - ₹25 (two-wheelers), ₹100 (four-wheelers), and ₹150 (heavy vehicles)
• How to reach: Arrive at Khandeshwar railway station or Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. Then, take a bus or cab.

5. Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary

source: dynamic

A Mumbai jungle safari must include the Koyna wildlife sanctuary. Situated near the Western Ghats, Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary covers the northern part of the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve. 

People mainly come attracted to the Royal Bengal Tigers, leopards and Indian Gaurs. However, one can find a diverse variety of animals here, such as barking deer, grey langurs, sloth bears, smooth-coated otters and many more. 

• Area Covered: 423.55 km2
• Best Time to Visit: June to August 
• Average Time to Spend: 2 to 3 hours 
• Operational Hours: 9:30 am to 8 pm 
• Nearest Airport: Kolhapur airport 
• Entry Fee: ₹ 20 per person  
• How to reach: Arrive at the nearest railway station Kolhapur. You can also take bus or a taxi too.

6. Sahyadri Tiger Reserve

source: toiimg

In 2008, the Indian Government created a tiger reserve, which has a 600.12 km2 core area and a 565 km2 buffer area covering the Sahyadri ranges of the Western Ghats of Maharashtra. 

Visitors can expect to find Royal Bengal Tigers, and Indian leopards, among the faunal diversity in the forest. Sahyadri Tiger Reserve is surely one of the must-visit jungle safaris near Mumbai. 

• Area Covered: 1,166 km2 
• Best Time to Visit: November to February 
• Average Time to Spend: 3 hours
• Operational Hours: 6 am to 6 pm 
• Nearest Airport: Kolhapur airport 
• Entry Fee: ₹ 30 for each individual, ₹ 150 for vehicles 
• How to reach: Fly to Kolhapur airport and then take a bus or a cab to this sanctuary.

7. Chandoli National Park

source: holidify

Chandoli National Park nests at the junction of Satara, Kolhapur, Ratnagiri and Sangli districts. It has vegetation that houses a wide variety of animals, especially a large array of birds making it one of the most famous jungle safaris near Mumbai. 

A visitor can expect sloth bears, Indian bison, Royal Bengal Tigers, leopard cats, leopards, and giant squirrels among the 23 species of mammals that have made Chandoli Park their habitat.

• Area Covered: 317.67 km2
• Best Time to Visit: October to February 
• Average Time to Spend: 2 to 3 hours 
• Operational Hours: 6 am to 6 pm 
• Nearest Airport: Urun-Islampur Airport at Kolhapur
• Entry Fee: ₹ 30 for each individual and ₹ 300 for safari
• How to reach: Take a bus or cab from Urun-Islampur airport.

8. Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary

source: deccanherald

This sanctuary is one of the must-visit jungle safaris near Mumbai due to its different feel. The semi-arid and drought-prone land of this sanctuary is divided into woodlots where the forest department has planted trees, grassland plots, stony grazing land, and crop fields. Apart from the Great Indian Bustard, visitors can expect to see various birds like the Indian bush lark, southern grey shrike, white-eyed buzzard and more. 

• Area Covered: 1,222 km2
• Best Time to Visit: September to February 
• Average Time to Spend: 2 to 3 days 
• Nearest Airport: Solapur International Airport 
• Entry Fee: ₹ 30 per individual 
• How to reach: Arrive at Bhuj railway station or Solapur International Airport and then take a bus or hire a cab.

9. Dajipur Wildlife Sanctuary

source: worldlandtrust

Dajipur wildlife sanctuary is a territory decorated with dense forests and rugged mountains that is situated on the border of Sindhudurg and Kolhapur. This hilly area is completely devoid of human touch and is a must-visit during a Mumbai wildlife safari. The main attraction of Dajipur is its bison. Apart from that one can also expect to find wild deer, chital and more. 

• Area Covered: 351.16 km2
• Best Time to Visit: December to January 
• Operational Hours: 7 am to 2:30 pm 
• Nearest Airport: Kolhapur airport 
• Entry Fee: NA
• How to reach: You can get buses or cabs from Kolhapur airport to this sanctuary.

10. Sagareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary

source: blogspot

If one has an interest in observing to what extent humankind can go one must not miss Sagareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary. It is a forest that is completely man-made. People cultivated the forest in a land without a perennial water supply and introduced wildlife later into the forest. Visitors can find several types of deer like sambar deer, chital, blackbucks, muntjac and other animals like peacocks, wild boars, porcupines, foxes and pythons. 

• Area Covered: 10.87 km2
• Best Time to Visit: August to February 
• Average Time to Spend: 1 to 2 hours 
• Operational Hours: 8 am to 4 pm 
• Nearest Airport: Kolhapur airport 
• Entry Fee: ₹55 for each individual 
• How to reach: Fly to Kolhapur airport and then take a bus or cab to this sanctuary.

11. Yawal Wildlife Sanctuary

source: tripoto

The Yawal wildlife sanctuary got its name from its location which is the Yawal tehsil of Jalgaon district. However, with support from several environmental organisations including the local Government and indigenous groups, the forest is gradually recovering from serious deforestation at the beginning of the century. A visitor can expect to see tigers, sambar deer, leopards, sloth bears, chinkara, wild boars, jungle cats, flying squirrels and more.

• Area Covered: 178 km2
• Best Time to Visit: October to May 
• Average Time to Spend: 2 hours 
• Nearest Airport: Jalgaon airport
• Entry Fee: NA 
• How to reach: After arriving at Jalgaon airport, take buses or cabs to this sanctuary. 

This article provides a list of 11 jungle safaris near Mumbai that one has to consider before making a plan and starting packing. This list, along with the names of the places, provides necessary information like favourable times to visit, operational hours, entry fees, the Nearest Airport etc. to further aid a journey.