Along with number of safaris, this guide will answer other questions like best time to visit, safari slots, best zones and so on.
Before we move on to number of safaris, there are few things first timers should know about Bandhavgarh National Park.
Bandhavgarh National Park is rich in both wilderness and glorious history in the Satpura Hills of Madhya Pradesh. This tiger reserve is named after an ancient history of Lord Ram, who gifted a fort to his dearest younger brother, Laxman. As the name suggests, “Bandhav” refers to brother and “garh” refers to fort. Along with Royal Bengal Tigers, Bandhavgarh tiger safari is also famous for visiting several archeological landmarks around the national park.
What to spot in Bandhavgarh?
First of all, many foreign and national tourists visit Bandhavgarh for increased tiger population. Stretched over 1500 sq. km, Bandhavgarh serves as a home ground for 120-150 tigers with marshes, hills, valleys, rivers, and meadows, making it ideal for biodiversity to flourish.
Speaking of wildlife, you should book Tiger Safari Bandhavgarh to spot over 37 species of mammals (including tigers, sloth bears, leopards, spotted deer, sambar, and jackals) and 250 bird species (like white-necked stork, pond heron, sarus crane, bee-eater, peacocks etc.).
Best Time to Visit
In the core areas, safaris start from October 1 to 30th June every year and remain closed during monsoons, while buffer areas are open all the year round. For birds and animals, don’t forget to visit during summer months. Natural water bodies and vegetation in deep forests dry up and artificial water bodies are the only way to stay hydrated for those animals and birds, which are located near safari zones, offering best change to spot maximum species.
For lush greens, be sure to visit during October and February, along with wildlife spotting with tiger tours Bandhavgarh. One can easily spot tigers roaming freely around their habitat.
What are the slots and timings to visit Bandhavgarh?
Basically, there are two slots during daytime. Morning safari starts from 6:45 am till 11:30 am, while afternoon safari starts from 3 pm to 6 pm. As per the seasons and sunrise and sunset timings, these slots are subject to change slightly. To maximize the chance for spotting tigers, morning slot is recommended due to longer duration. If you want to enjoy more thrilling night safaris, you can also go for it from 7pm to 10pm. However, it is not recommended because visibility is low and you will depend only on vehicle’s headlight.
Here comes the main point – How many safaris?
Before number of zones, your question should be how many zones are there in Bandhavgarh? There are basically three core zones (Magadhi, Tala, and Khitauli) and four buffer zones (Johila, Dhamokar, Paljha, and Panpatha). Buffer zones are also frequented by locals from nearby villages to collect timber and other forest sources for their livelihood. Buffer zones are not good choice because of fewer animal sightings due to human movements and activities.
Tala is the oldest safari zone in the park and highly recommended by guides. From the well-known Shesh Shaiya, Charan Ganga River flows through the Tala zone, increasing odds to spot many mammals and birds around this water body.
To increase the chance to spot wildlife, at least one safari is recommended in each core zone in order to make the most of Bandhavgarh safari experience. Animals freely roam around these zones because of no boundaries or fences between them.
Along with wildlife spotting, hotels and resorts around the park also arrange nature walk, bird-watching tours, and heritage walk to tribal villages for more immersive experience.
