Published 15th Sep. 2025
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Searching for the best safaris in India? We’ve got you covered. Whether you’re keen to track tigers in Madhya Pradesh, admire Asiatic lions in Gujarat or photograph forest eagle owls in Kerala, your India holiday awaits. While Bengal tigers steal the limelight in Bandhavgarh National Park, don’t forget about the shaggy sloth bears (though they’re not as cuddly as they look). Feeling up for the adventure? Read on for our roundup of India’s top safari spots...
Best for: tigers
With the highest density of tigers in the country, Bandhavgarh National Park is among the best tiger safaris in India; around 80 of these striped predators can be spotted prowling through the bamboo forests and unfurling grasslands. Despite being the smallest of Madhya Pradesh’s three national parks, Bandhavgarh packs a punch when it comes to wildlife. Beyond the Bengal tigers, the park is home to over 30 other mammals – keep an eye out for jackals, nilgais, sloth bears and striped hyenas.
After a morning tracking tigers, it’s time for a dose of history. Head to the hilltop Bandhavgarh Fort (one of India’s oldest forts) in the centre of the park and explore the ancient cave inscriptions for a glimpse into the past.
Image by Brian Flaherty
Best for: greater one-horned rhinos
India safaris are all about close encounters with wildlife, and Kaziranga National Park is no exception. Sitting pretty in the heart of Assam, the park is home to the country’s highest population of greater one-horned rhinos (over 2,400) and was granted UNESCO World Heritage status in 1985.
Beyond majestic rhinos, plenty of animals lurk in the park’s tall elephant grass, dense woodlands and reed-fringed marshlands. For a different view, jump aboard a boat and float down the Brahmaputra River, looking out for wild water buffalo and Gangetic dolphins, or explore on foot for a possible run-in with sloth bears and wild boars.
Image by Utopia_88/Getty Images
Best for: Asiatic lions
Next up is Gir National Park, the Asiatic lions’ last remaining natural habitat. For the best chance to spot these star residents, visit in March when the forest begins to dry up and wildlife congregates around the park’s water sources. While sightings are also high between April and May, prepare for soaring temperatures (as high as 40 degrees Celsius). Widely considered one of the best safaris in India, the park is home to over 37 other mammal species, including chitals, chinkaras and golden jackals.
Image by DrRave/Getty Images
Best for: leopards
If you’re keen to go leopard spotting – no pun intended – look no further than Sujan Jawai Camp. Tucked between Rajasthan’s cities of Jodhpur and Udaipur, this remote safari destination is a must-visit. The camp’s owners, the Singhs, are deeply committed to conservation, working with local farmers to rewild the land and support the growing leopard population.
Hop in a 4x4 and enjoy a bumpy journey past ancient granite rocks, lush hills and rolling grasslands in search of these slinking big cats. Or, visit the nearby Jawai Bandh (dam) to witness salmon-pink flamingos and long-legged cranes lining the banks of the reservoir. In the evening, settle down in one of ten luxury tents and drift off to a soundtrack of low (and friendly) growls and rustling grass.
Image by Sourabh Bharti/Getty Images
Best for: sloth bears
Satpura National Park should be on everyone’s list of the best safaris in India. While the park is home to tigers, wild dogs and sambar deer, the sloth bears are the main event. Nestled in the mountains of Madhya Pradesh, keep your eyes peeled for their snouts foraging in the trees as you enjoy an open-top jeep safari through the hilly landscape. The popular Madhai zone provides some of the best chances to encounter these shaggy-coated bears.
Aside from jeep rides, you can opt for a scenic walking safari against the backdrop of the Pachmarhi hills, or cruise along the Denwa River in a motorboat while on the lookout for Indian freshwater crocodiles and brown fish owls.
Image by AmitRane1975/Getty Images
Best for: birds
Calling all birdwatchers, Kerala’s leafy Thattekad Bird Sanctuary is the place for you. With 350 bird species nestled in the verdant forests and swooping past rocky outcrops, you’re in for some feather-filled views. Keep your binoculars on hand to catch a glimpse of majestic great hornbills and the ever-elusive Ceylon frogmouth. For a chance to see cormorants gliding above the water and kingfishers diving beneath the surface, hop aboard a boat and drift through the lush landscape that borders the Periyar River.
Image by Dennis Marcus Mathew / Getty Images
Written by Amy Larsen | Header image by Stock Adobe
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