Best Wildlife Safari Tours in India: National Parks & Itinerary Guide

India is a heaven for wildlife lovers. India is a country of the most exotic and endangered species in the world due to its wide variety of landscapes of dense forests, grasslands, desert, and wetlands. It is seeing a mighty Bengal tiger, watching the elusive leopards or hearing the trumpeting of the elephants in the wild. Indian wildlife will be an experience that will be remembered ever after. Namaskar India Tour is one of the top tour and travel companies in India that provide well-designed wildlife safari tours, which are both adventurous, comfortable and safe. This travel guide covers the top wildlife tours and national parks and a sample itinerary to assist in planning the ultimate wildlife adventure in India.

1. Jim Corbett National Park – The Tiger Capital

The oldest national park in India is the Jim Corbett National Park and a key tourist destination among the tiger lovers. It is the home of the great Bengal tiger, leopards, elephants and more than 600 varieties of birds spread across the foothills of the Himalayas. The safaris are offered in the open top jeeps and occasionally on boats along the Ramganga River. Tourists can see the sambars, the fishing cat which is hard to find and sloth bears. Corbett is also suitable in nature photography and watching birds. It is advisable to have early morning and late afternoon safari to have the best wildlife view.

Best Time to Visit: November to June

Sample Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival at Corbett, evening nature walk
Day 2: Morning and evening jeep safari
Day 3: Bird watching and departure

2. Ranthambore National Park – Tiger Spotting in Rajasthan

Ranthambore National Park is a tourist attraction site in Rajasthan, which is characterized by the Bengal tigers and ancient forts. This is because the park is both a wildlife and heritage park. When on jeep safaris, one can find tigers, leopards, jackals, hyenas and marsh crocodiles. The park also boasts of ancient temples and Ranthambore Fort which are rated as beautiful scenery. The safaris in the mornings have a better possibility of finding tigers in their habitat.

Best Time to Visit: October to June

Sample Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Sawai Madhopur, local sightseeing
Day 2: Morning and afternoon jeep safari
Day 3: Visit Ranthambore Fort, return

3. Kaziranga National Park – The Land of One-Horned Rhinos

The Kaziranga National park in Assam is a UNESCO world heritage site that is known to house Indian one-horned rhinoceros. Elephants, swamp deer, tigers, and a variety of migratory birds are also available in the park.
The safaris are done in the jeeps and elephants, which gives a close encounter with the wildlife. The park is perfect in terms of the photographer and families seeking to have a safe and exciting wildlife experience.

Best Time to Visit: November to April

Sample Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Guwahati, transfer to Kaziranga
Day 2: Jeep and elephant safari in the park
Day 3: Local village visit and return

4. Bandhavgarh National Park – Tiger Trails in Madhya Pradesh

Bandhavgarh National Park is known to be the place of dense Bengal tigers. It is a place of wilderness, ancient caves and old forts and a place of paradise to both wildlife and history lovers. The safaris are done in the morning and evening in open jeeps and well trained guides not only point out wild animals such as leopards, wild boars but also various species of birds. The Bandhavgarh Fort will provide some cultural aspect to the safari.

Best Time to Visit: October to June

Sample Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival at Bandhavgarh, evening safari
Day 2: Morning and afternoon jeep safari
Day 3: Explore Bandhavgarh Fort, return

5. Sundarbans National Park – The Mangrove Tiger Reserve

The Sundarbans National Park is known to have Royal Bengal tigers and the special mangrove ecosystem. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is sprinkled all over India and Bangladesh and is the best place to visit in India if one is adventurous and loves wildlife. The most popular form of exploration is boat safaris which give a visitor an opportunity to see tigers swimming among islands, saltwater crocodiles and many migratory birds. It is also inhabited by estuarine dolphins, fishing cats and monitor lizards.

Best Time to Visit: November to February

Sample Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival at Godkhali, Sundarbans village tour
Day 2: Morning and afternoon boat safari
Day 3: Birdwatching and return

6. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary – Elephants of Kerala

The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary of Kerala is known to be the home of the elephants, tigers and biodiversity. Periyar Lake also provides the scenic part to your safari. Tourists are allowed to do boat safaris over the lake to see the herds of the elephants drinking water at the lake banks. Exploration of wildlife by walking the forest trails, nature walks and bamboo rafting are all immersive experiences. Exotic birds, wild boars and Nilgiri langur, which is elusive, are also found in Periyar.

Best Time to Visit: October to March

Sample Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Thekkady, guided nature walk
Day 2: Boat safari on Periyar Lake
Day 3: Trekking and departure

7. Gir National Park – The Home of Asiatic Lions

The Gujarat Gir National park is the only natural habitat of Asiatic lions. Leopards, striped hyenas, and various species of the antelopes also find their way in this park. Jeep safari will also bring the visitors to the deepest parts of the dry deciduous forests and grasslands and provide close experience with lions and other animals. The safari is a combination of nature and culture as local tribal villages around the park give an insight into the culture.

Best Time to Visit: December to April

Sample Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Sasan Gir, local village visit
Day 2: Morning and afternoon jeep safari
Day 3: Explore nearby temples, return

8. Kanha National Park – Tiger and Barasingha Reserve

Kanha National Park was the source of inspiration to Rudyard Kipling in his The Jungle Book. It is famous with its green sal forests, open meadowlands as well as its rich wildlife which includes tigers, leopards, sloth bears and the rare barasingha (swamp deer). Jeep safaris will give you a chance to cover both the thick forest and grasslands where you can see hunting activities, birds and beautiful sceneries. Kanha is a good place to be when a photographer wants to have an experience of real wildlife.

Best Time to Visit: October to June

Sample Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival at Kanha, evening nature walk
Day 2: Morning and afternoon jeep safari
Day 3: Visit tribal villages, return

Conclusion

The national parks and wildlife reserves found in India are all adventure, immersive and transforming experiences. Starting with the legendary Bengal tigers of Ranthambore and Corbett, all of the safaris have a story of conservation, biodiversity, and the wonders of nature. In Namaskar India Tour, you will be able to have comfort, safety and authentic experiences in well-planned wildlife safaris which will result in lifetime memories.