Wildlife guide
This wildlife travel guide is meant to be like a trailer for the new Attenborough series. Because we also have individual travel guides for more specific wildlife holidays, such as our safaris, bear watching and whale watching.
Tiger safari holidays guide
I am a grown man, and have travelled all over Africa. But, the first time I saw a tiger in the wilds of India, I cried.
The tiger is both revered and feared. Elusive and exalted. It is the national symbol of India and yet it is, ironically, royalty, be it Mughals, Maharajas or British who were responsible for wiping out vast numbers of its tiger population. Hunting tigers became the favourite pastime of the rich and regal as far back as the late 1800s. The magnificence of the tiger has always been central to literature too, from Winnie the Pooh to William Blake. And yet, when Rudyard Kipling wrote The Jungle Book in 1897, there were 10,000 wild tigers on the Indian subcontinent. Today there are just over 3,000 worldwide, the shrinking population due also to diminishing habitats caused by deforestation and development. There are now six subspecies remaining in the world: the Bengal tiger, Siberian tiger, South China tiger, Indochinese tiger, Malayan tiger and the Sumatran tiger. You can see most of them on a tiger safari in India but also in Bangladesh, Butan, Nepal and Siberia. The impact of seeing a tiger is a highly emotional one, touching the psyche in multi-dimensional ways - discovering something precious you feared was lost, being transported back to your childhood dreams, witnessing poetry in motion or, for some, simply a deeply spiritual moment. Read more about watching the most captivating big cat of all in our tiger safaris travel guide.
Our Tiger safari Holidays
Tiger tour in India, land of the Tiger tour
Wildlife tour through India
From
£2499 to £2899
16 days
inc UK flights
Wildlife holiday in Central India
Best of Indian wildlife with tiger, leopard and sloth bear.
From
Rupee165000 to Rupee195000
12 days
ex flights
Tiger watching holiday in India
A chance to see the majestic tiger in the wild
From
£725 to £950
9 days
ex flights
Central India holiday, culture and wildlife
The very best of central India's wildlife and history
From
Rupee145000 to Rupee195000
16 days
ex flights
Tadoba National park tiger safari, India
Tadoba the best tiger reserve of India
From
£950 to £1250
8 days
ex flights
Tiger & wildlife tour in Central India
A tour for those who wish to see tigers and other wildlife
From
Rupee135000
10 days
ex flights
Golden Triangle with Ranthambore tour, India
Brilliant experiences including Tigers and Temples
From
£1149
11 days
ex flights
Rural India holiday, culture & wildlife
Authentic exploration of Central Indian village life
From
£2500 to £3000
14 days
ex flights
Tiger safari in India, Bandhavgarh & Kanha
Ultimate wilderness experience in two of the best parks!
From
US $1230 to US $2250
7 days
ex flights
Bandhavgarh and Kanha tiger safari in India
10 Day Tiger Safari in Bandhavgarh and Kanha National Parks
From
£1395 to £1595
10 days
ex flights
Tigers safaris in India
Explore India's National Parks in search of elusive Tigers
From
£1630
9 days
ex flights
Tiger and Kerala beaches tour in India
Tigers safaris in central India with backwaters of Kerala
From
Rupee182000
17 days
ex flights
Wildlife photography holiday in India
Photograph superb wildlife & even the illusive tiger
From
£750 to £950
10 days
ex flights
Tigers and rhinos tours in India
Go on safari & see Bengal tigers and Rhinoceros
From
£1200 to £1400
10 days
ex flights
Golden Triangle & tigers holiday in India
Rajathan's palaces, the Taj Mahal & tigers
From
£750 to £900
9 days
ex flights
Tiger and wildlife safari, India
this trip will deliver unrivalled tiger-viewing success
From
£2229
9 days
inc UK flights
India cycling holiday and tiger safari
Off road cycle adventure through wild India to help tigers
From
£1695
8 days
ex flights
Tiger watching tours in India
Discover the wildlife and scenery in four national parks.
From
£2675 to £2815
14 days
inc UK flights
Southern India tailor made tour, Jungle trails
Private journey to discover the unique beauty of South India
From
£2695
14 days
ex flights
India wildlife and tiger safari
Indian wildlife safari, tigers and more
From
£1933 to £2268
10 days
ex flights
Tiger conservation project in India
Join this once in a lifetime Tiger Trail Tour!
From
£2995
13 days
ex flights
India tigers and temples tour
Explore India's wonderful temples & track down its Tigers
From
£2545
8 days
ex flights
Northern India holidays
The best of northern India in a short itinerary
From
£1459 to £2099
10 days
inc UK flights
Bangladesh tiger safari holiday
Cruise the Sunderbans Mangroves and Track Elusive Tigers
From
£1995
8 days
ex flights
Chitwan accommodation, Nepal
Beautiful Lodges, along the mesmerizing river Rapti
From
US $350 to US $999
per accommodation per night
Satpura tiger reserve safari in India
Wlderness experience at Satpura Tiger Reserve.
From
US $1300 to US $2400
6 days
ex flights
India luxury NP wildlife holidays,
The best national parks in India with abundant wild/birdlife
From
£2399
14 days
ex flights
The Heart of Nepal trek, tailormade
Trekking, wildlife, culture and temples
From
£2500
14 days
ex flights
Is a tiger safari for you?
Do go and see tigers in the wild if…
Don’t go and watch tigers in the wild if…
Our top Tiger safari Holiday
Tiger tour in India, land of the Tiger tour
Wildlife tour through India
From
£2499 to £2899
16 days
inc UK flights
Small group travel:
2019: 29 Mar, 5 Apr, 12 Apr, 11 Oct, 26 Oct, 1 Nov, 8 Nov, 15 Nov, 20 Dec
2020: 31 Jan, 14 Feb, 28 Feb, 13 Mar, 27 Mar, 3 Apr, 10 Apr, 9 Oct, 23 Oct, 6 Nov, 13 Nov, 20 Nov
2019: 29 Mar, 5 Apr, 12 Apr, 11 Oct, 26 Oct, 1 Nov, 8 Nov, 15 Nov, 20 Dec
2020: 31 Jan, 14 Feb, 28 Feb, 13 Mar, 27 Mar, 3 Apr, 10 Apr, 9 Oct, 23 Oct, 6 Nov, 13 Nov, 20 Nov
Helpdesk
Hello. If you'd like to chat about Tiger safari or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help. Rosy & team.
what does a tiger safari entail?
The majority of tiger safaris take place in India in their national parks and tiger reserves, all now protected since 1971 when the new prime minister, Indira Gandhi went on a mission to stop the devastating demise of tigers by setting up Project Tiger, which still exists today, but is more commonly known as the National Tiger Conservation Authority. Tiger safaris have, therefore, become fairly bureaucratic, which is why you need to book well in advance and use an experienced operator to ensure you get the best possible experience out of what will be, for most people, a long awaited dream come true.
And when that dream becomes reality, you will need to spend at least four or five days in tiger watching landscapes to allow for a sighting. Ideally you will be staying in a lodge, in the immediate environs of the tiger reserve so that you can start your game drive early.
In India, tiger safaris generally take place in an open jeep, a minibus known as a canter or, less common nowadays, on the back of an elephant. Known as tiger shows, these are controversial, as discussed on our Responsible Tourism page, however these treks have become an important source of income for tiger conservation in some parks in India. In general, outside national parks that provide tiger safaris, we do not support elephant trekking at Responsible Travel. Read our guide on elephant trekking here.
In any case, you get much better interpretation and wildlife knowledge from a guide on a jeep tour, as elephant guides are ‘mahouts’ or elephant trainers, where the focus is on controlling the elephant rather than promoting the environment. An ideal number of people in your jeep is four, keeping the noise impact to a minimum and also ensuring you comfort on the game drive. In more remote tiger habitats, such as in Nepal, Bhutan and Siberia, exploring by foot is more common.
More about Tiger safari
There are several places in the world where this elusive and endangered creature still roams, including Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and even Siberia.
No matter what time of year you choose, it is worth remembering that it's always the tiger who calls the shots about making an appearance.
People travel a long way to see tigers, and it is definitely worth the trip when you do, but it makes good sense to pick a trip that has plenty of other activities alongside the tiger safari.
At Responsible Travel we are lucky to work with some of the world’s most dedicated conservationists, leader guides, naturalists and scientists when it comes to tigers.
Read about the issues affecting tigers today, from habitat loss to poaching and learn how responsible tourism is playing its part in conservation.
Dig a little deeper into the detail of travelling to see tigers in the wild, and find out what tiger safaris entail, so you can plan and prepare with confidence.
Beautiful landscapes, a growing population of tigers and the atmospheric Ranthambore Fort presiding over all make Ranthambore National Park a must-visit for wildlife lovers.
Pench National Park is not one of India’s best known parks and won’t always deliver tiger sightigs, but that has the advantage of keeping visitor numbers low.
Big, wild and beautiful, Kanha National Park is home to around 100 Bengal tigers, plus an abundance of other fascinating wildlife and birdlife.
More relevant guides
Why book with Responsible Travel
Photo credits: [Page banner: Aditya "Dicky" Singh] [Bengal tiger: Bernie Catterall]
[Tigress and cubs: Brian Gatwicke]
[Tigres in bandhavgarh: Archith]
[Tiger in Ranthambore: Bjoern]
[Open top jeep: Brian Gatwicke]
[Tiger at bhadra sanctuary: Dineshkannambadi]
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