Up north, Corbett and Rajaji (Uttarakhand) also have a sprinkling of pachyderms.įor leopards, visit Bandhavgarh. To see elephants, head south (Mudumalai, Nagarhole, Bandipur, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary) the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, incorporating these sanctuaries, and straddling the gorgeous Nilgiri Hills, has a sizeable population of elephants. The states of Madhya Pradesh (Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Pench) and Karnataka (Bandipur) are tiger territory, though the Sundarbans can also offer glimpses of this king of beasts. Do, though, check with the national parks and sanctuaries for details, and to find out which season is peak. For birding, the winter months – between October and February – are perfect. ![]() Spring and early summer, therefore, is the time of year when wildlife ventures out into the open to look for water. Over winter, there’s comparatively less rainfall, and this elongated dry spell means there is less green cover. Know more about popular options for Wildlife Safari Tours in India.Ī pair of binoculars, a camera – and plenty of patience!įor the big animals, it’s recommended that one visit early on in the year (from March to May). Altogether, the country has almost 450 wildlife sanctuaries, close to 100 national parks and 18 biosphere reserves.Īmong some of the many highlights, one can visit the oldest tiger sanctuary in the country (Corbett National Park), see gharials (crocodiles) at the only reserve dedicated to these water mammals (in Chambal), admire the abundance of avian species in Bharatpur, set eyes on the Bengal Tiger (Sundarbans) and the magnificent one-horned rhino (Kaziranga) out east, and spot elephants and tigers down south (Nagarhole, Bandipur, Mudumalai, Wayanad, Eravikulam, Periyar). India ranks ninth in the world for the number of animal species (over 400), and also has 12 percent (approx.) of the planet’s birdlife. In India, one is constantly surrounded by animals – the Hindu faith worships creatures like the elephant, the monkey, the bull and the peacock. Although poaching is a serious issue, a safari here still offers one of the best chances on earth to get up close with wildlife in the natural habitat. India boasts a range of habitats, and an amazing store of biodiversity. But there is an increasing interest in wildlife safaris, and the challenge is to offer travelers a genuine game-reserve experience without intruding too much on wildlife’s space. ![]() Safaris lead the way in ecotourism, educating people on wildlife ecosystems and how best to conserve them on safaris, travelers can observe animals (and birds) from afar, without disturbing their peace. In a number of African countries, tourism based around safaris is the single biggest earner of income, overtaking agriculture in what were primarily agrarian societies. While some safaris end up being nothing more than money-making enterprises, with little understanding of wildlife and wildlife habitats on the part of the operators, many follow conservationist ideals, and a philosophy driven by respect for the environment. ![]() And safaris are not restricted to tourism in their line of work, naturalists and wildlife biologists can also be said to be going on ‘safari’.įrom its beginnings as a pursuit of colonial explorers – out all day spotting and chronicling wildlife (and, more than occasionally, shooting it), spending evenings boasting about their exploits over a whisky and soda – the wildlife safari has grown into a lucrative tourist industry. A safari can refer to any journey, but it has increasingly come to be associated with a trip out into the bush to watch and photograph wildlife. But the etymology of the word is Arabic (‘safar’), in which language it means, simply, ‘to make a journey’ (‘safariya’ means ‘journey’). The word became part of the English language during colonial Britain’s high noon in the African continent (explorer-soldier Sir Richard Francis Burton is thought to have introduced it into English). There are various types of safari experiences, ranging from guided safaris, walking safaris, jeep safaris and fly-in safaris to more specialized types, among them elephant safaris, camel safaris, horse safaris, river safaris, balloon safaris, photographic safaris and accessible safaris for the disabled. This is sightseeing out in the Great Wide Open. Nowadays (thankfully), people no longer “hunt” for wildlife but for observing (and capturing on camera) all creatures great and small, in their natural habitats. The term wildlife safari used to be associated with big-game hunts.
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