Wildlife Safari

What is Wildlife safari ?

Rudyard Kipling had it down pat. The jungles are where the action is. A jungle safari is best undertaken through dense forests on foot. Chancing on a rare bird, watching a herd of elephants at a watering hole and feasting your eyes on a pride of lions are some of the great thrills a jungle safari can offer. If you have stimulating company, the right clothes and gear, and a sense of wonder uncorrupted by life in the concrete jungle, a wildlife safari can be the experience of a lifetime. In Swahili, a safari is a journey, a trip or an overland expedition. It has come a long way from being a walking tour that allows you to enjoy animals and birds in their natural habitats. With a growing emphasis on comfort and convenience, a jeep safari is preferred by people who want to pack a lot of activity into a limited amount of time. A safari on a camel, a horse or an elephant is categorised as a specialty safari. Adventure-seekers almost always choose the mobile tented-camp safari, which combines the joys of wildlife watching and camping. They get to pitch tents in the wild and move base every few days.

Where to go ?

Wildlife parks and sanctuaries spread across India offer a fascinating diversity of terrain, flora and fauna. Ranthambore in Rajasthan, Corbett National Park in Uttaranchal, Bandipur in Karnataka are the wildlife safari hot spots.Other destinations are Sunderbans in West Bengal, Manas Tiger Reserve and Kaziranga in Assam, Sariska in Rajasthan, Kanha National Park and Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh, Dudhwa National Park in Uttar Pradesh, Srisailam sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh, and Periyar wildlife sanctuary in Kerala.

What you need to know ?

Choose your guide well. Professional safari guides’ associations specify a few standard rules for guides, like a good reputation, intimate knowledge of the forests and training for emergency services. You and your guide should have a strong commitment to eco-tourism.

What you must carry ?

Pack lightweight, quick-drying travel clothing. If you’re planning to camp in the jungles you will need camping equipment too. Carry a good pair of binoculars and a camera. You could throw in a small video camera, batteries and a charger along with a lightweight flashlight. Carry a first-aid kit and mosquito repellant.

Wildlife Safari : Hotspots

Wildlife Safari : Do's and Don'ts