Best wildlife & safari holidays in India
Delve into untamed India, a sprawling world of wild tigers, elephants and gutsy langur monkeys. Spot the rare Indian Great One-Horned Rhino, plod into the sunset on a camel safari and see sambar deer grazing in the early morning light.
It’s like watching the Jungle Book in action, so be prepared for an eye-opening experience.
Wild elephants in Periyar National Park
Kerala might be better known for its exotic beaches and emerald backwaters, but there’s some astounding wildlife hidden in the tropical undergrowth. Periyar National Park, buried in the lush jungles behind the coastline, is home to a healthy population of wild elephants, all thriving in the thick forest. Breakaway from the beaches to search for wandering elephants, wild boar, squirrels and possibly the odd tiger.
Camel safari in the Thar Desert
Sway off into the twilight and sleep under the stars of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan on a camel safari.
Travelling from the giant sandcastle of Jaisalmer, you’ll pass nomadic villages and traditional clay huts as you trudge into the rolling dunes on your clumsy steed. Later, watch the sun sink into the sand with a steaming cup of chai and gaze up at clear, star-studded skies.
Tiger spotting
If you fancy your chances of spotting Jungle Book‘s Shere Khan in real life, then head to Ranthambore National Park. A beautiful landscape sprinkled with regal ruins, crumbling lookouts and old forts, it’s an adventure waiting to happen. Here, you can set off on safari at sunrise, scouring the dense scrub for tell-tale tiger stripes, see Indian gazelles skitting between the trees and pass crocodile-filled lakes. Packed with both wildlife and nostalgia, it’s a pretty unbeatable place.
You can also spot the famous Bengal tiger on a jeep safari through the Bandhavgarh National Park. Despite being a relatively small park, it has the highest density of tigers in India.
Great Indian Rhino spotting in Kaziranga National Park
Escape into the remote floodplains of Kaziranga National Park, tucked away in the northeast region of Assam. This grassy haven is home to a large population of Great Indian One-Horned Rhino and, as a rarely-visited area, is crammed with plenty of raw natural beauty. Here you can pass the time by scouring the endless plains for rhino, embarking on an elephant-spotting safari and keeping your eyes peeled for quietly grazing sambar deer. To top it all off, at night you can experience something truly unique; falling asleep in your own secluded lodge, buried in the scrub. Wow.
Animal welfare in India
We work closely with our local partners on the ground to ensure that our wildlife experiences make a positive impact on you, our destinations and the animals that belong to them. Elephants, in particular, are a huge draw for tourists visiting India. Sadly, elephant riding safaris are still very popular and might be offered even at the parks, where captive elephants are used for patrolling the territory. We don’t include these experiences in any of our trips and will always discourage our travellers from taking part in these activities. You can read more about why we’ve said no to elephant riding.
By visiting protected areas, such as Periyar National Park, where you can watch elephants alongside other wildlife roam in their own space, you are helping various conservation programmes dedicated to wildlife preservation and research.
Take a peak at our favourite India wildlife itineraries
