Tiger Safari in India

Tiger Safari in India – Top 06 National Parks for Tiger Safari India. As per the Tiger census conducted in India, India had 2997 wild tigers residing in the 20 states in 52 Tiger reserves. This is approx. 75% of the world wild tiger population. Out of these 52 tiger reserves, 15 are very popular because of good Tiger sightings. This does not mean that there are no Tiger sightings in the other parks. So which are the 6 best parks for a tiger safari in India? This is the first question often asked by almost all tourists who wish to do tiger safaris in India. The answer to this question is easy and tricky simultaneously. The reason this is tricky is that answer to this question can change depending on a few extrinsic factors. I have done a separate blog on this, you may read it here. As of June 2021 our naturalists and drivers are reporting tiger sightings in practically every tiger safari in these national parks. The doubling of the tiger population in these parks in last 12 years has certainly helped in improved tiger sightings during the tiger safaris in India.

Bandhavgarh NAtional park
Although seeing a tiger is rare, Bandhavgarh National Park is known for its tiger sightings and it wouldn’t be unusual to spot one here. The Park is situated within the Madhya Pradesh region in Central Northern India and although a little out of the way it is fairly simple to get to. A flight from Delhi to Jabalpur takes roughly 2 hours which is followed by a 4 hour drive to the park; the journey is worth it and a must if you want to see these beautiful animals in the wild. Bandhavgarh is a small but wildlife-rich and picturesque park and is a great location for an Indian tiger safari. The ruins of Bandhavgarh Fort dominate the 800m high central plateau that look out over the rocky hilltops, monsoon and sal forests of the park that are home to a variety of fauna and flora including approximately 90 tigers, 25 leopards, chital, sambar, langur monkeys, jackals and a number of birds including the crested serpent eagle, white-eyed buzzard and parakeets! Bandhavgarh National Park is one of the newer members of Project Tiger but its history is believed by some to date back as far as the 1st century BC; with its numerous cave systems and ancient ruins, discoveries are still being made today! The park has the highest density of tigers in India and is one of the smallest parks.

Kanha national park
Kanha National Park is also a fantastic location and one of the best places to see a tiger in India and works very well in combination with Bandhavgarh National Park. Kanha National Park is one of the biggest national parks in India and was where ‘The Jungle Book’ was set. Kanha is also located within the Madhya Pradesh region of India and is a similar distance from Jabalpur Airport. A safari here is fantastic and having two entrances to the park means you are able to drive from one side of the park to the other. The scenery here is fantastic and driving through this park searching for the tigers is truly a great experience. This striped predator blends effortlessly into the forest undergrowth making it even more of a thrill when you eventually spot one! Kanha's rich diversity of wildlife and strong eco-system makes this one of the best areas to track tigers in the wild.

Jim Corbett National Park
Tiger Safari in India – Third in the list for the Top 6 National Parks for a Tiger Safari in India 2021, is Jim Corbett National Park. Named after the legendary hunter James Edward Corbett who shot only man-eating tigers of Kumaon and other regions, this was declared the first national park of India in 1936. It was initially named as Hailey National Park, then Ramganga National Park, and finally named as Jim Corbett National Park in memory of the famous hunter, turned conservationist, who also is a renowned author with the bestselling books on Indian Wildlife.

Corbett Tiger Reserve has the largest tiger population in any single protected area in the world. This park has close to 231 tigers as per the latest census done in 2018. It can most certainly be called as the mecca of Indian wildlife when it comes to fauna and flora diversity. Apart from tigers, Corbett is very good with sightings of wild Asian Elephants. The Ramganga river flowing through the forest with a huge reservoir right in the heart of the park, is the life and light of Corbett. The two unique points for visiting this park are: Firstly, along with tiger safaris in India this place is a birder’s haven. For serious birders, there are close to 550 species of birds here. Therefore, a birding tour to this tiger park can also prove very fruitful. Then there are areas around Corbett like Nainital and Pangot which can be combined to add to the checklist of your birding tour.

Ranthambore national park
Ranthambore is a fantastic tiger safari location, not only for the sightings but for the fantastic fort and the varied landscapes. As well as being one of the best places to spot the tigers in the wild, the steep rocky hills, dry forest, and grassy fields and lakes make this a fantastic location just for the scenery. There are many tigers in this park and although never guaranteed, your chances of seeing them are relatively high. Ranthambore is one of the most popular parks in India, but a recent expansion into five new areas and the addition of a new fleet of jeeps has helped to spread out visitors and encourage more tigers to cross the park's borders. Although visitor numbers are high, once you spot your first tiger you will understand why so many people travel here on a tiger safari.

Pench National Park
Tiger numbers are on the rise in this national park, making it a great choice for travellers wanting to see one of these big cats in the flesh. Visitors have a high chance of seeing the predators as they stalk their prey through the few hundred square miles of dry deciduous forest. Straddling two states located in Central India – Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra – these rich hills served as the setting for Rudyard Kipling’s classic The Jungle Book. Visitors to Pench have a good chance of sighting their very own Shere Khan here due to the area being prime tiger territory, supporting a rich array of prey animals like chital, sambar, nilgai and wild boar. Well-developed routes into the park make access easy.

Satpura National Park
Although not one of India’s premiere locations for tiger sightings, the predator’s population is growing here, and they can occasionally be seen stalking through the park’s rugged hills, forests, gorges and ravines. Satpura shouldn’t be at the top of your list if tiger sightings are the sole aim of your safari, but this seldom-visited park is a fantastic destination for those wanting to head off the beaten path and experience some of the best wildlife and wilderness that Central India has to offer. Sandstone peaks make for a dramatic backdrop, as healthy numbers of leopards, dhole and sloth bears make their way through the highlands, while mugger crocodiles lurk in coves and Indian giant squirrels flit through the trees.

Tadoba National Park
One of the biggest up-and-coming parks in India, Tadoba is another park which isn’t particularly feted for its tiger viewing but nonetheless boasts a growing population – estimates place the number at over 100. Dominated by teak forest and bamboo, this park has just a handful of lodges within its borders, making it one of the quieter parks in India, and as such an ideal destination for travellers wanting to experience true wilderness. Other distinctive Indian animals can be seen within the park’s borders – like the leopard, sloth bear, dhole and sambar – but there are also other less-common sightings to be had. Look out for migratory birds flocking to Tadoba Lake and packs of striped hyena among the undergrowth.

Panna National Park
Tiger Safari in India – Located in North Eastern part of the tiger state of India (Madhya Pradesh), this park has significant conservation importance. In 2009 it was declared that Panna had lost all its tigers due to poaching. The state forest department got into swift action and brought in one male tiger from Pench, and one tigress each from Bandhavgarh and Kanha. Dedicated efforts of the Forest department led by a committed Field Director in Shri Murthy, Panna became home to tigers again in just 3 years. This was the first national park, which was repopulated with wild tigers. Today this population is over 50 tigers in the national parks.

Panna is not as popular as Bandhavgarh, Kanha and some other premium tiger reserves as not many know that the tiger sightings in Panna have improved remarkably over last 3-4 years. This is the positive aspect as the tourist rush in this park is not as much, thus the tiger safari experience is good here. Panna is also home to a good population of Leopards due to its topography. Hyenas are also seen on the periphery of the national park. Ken river passes through the forest, so you get an opportunity to do a boat safari in this park. The river has a healthy population of the Mugger Crocodile. There was once a good population of Gharials as well here, but that has reduced drastically.