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 safaris in Bandhavgarh
If seeing a tiger is at the very top of your bucket list, make your way to Bandhavgarh in India. There are between 60 and 70 Bengal tigers living here, and while they’re not contractually obliged to appear for every visitor who passes through the park gates, their high density means you have a great chance of spotting one. In fact, it’s often said that you’re lucky if you spot a tiger in India’s other national parks, and really unlucky if you don’t spot a tiger in Bandhavgarh.
Bandhavgarh National Park lies within the Vindhyachal Ranges of Madhya Pradesh in central India and is one of the country’s smallest parks. The great majority of its tigers live in the relatively compact territory of Bandhavgarh National Park, which forms the core of the larger Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. Tigers are undoubtedly the superstars here – park signs read ‘Welcome to the Land of Tigers’ – and good sighting rates mean this little park has become the go-to destination for anyone hell-bent on seeing a tiger. Don’t ignore the park’s other offerings though – Bandhavgarh is a superb all-round wildlife destination, home to numerous deer species, macaques and langurs as well as more unusual creatures, including sloth bears, Indian foxes, jackals and wolves.
Our Tiger safari Holidays
Tiger tour in India, land of the Tiger tour
Wildlife tour through India
From
£2499 to £8899
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
Tadoba National park tiger safari, India
Tadoba the best tiger reserve of India
From
£950 to £1250
8 days
ex flights
Golden Triangle with Ranthambore tour, India
Brilliant experiences including Tigers and Temples
From
£1149
11 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
Tiger & wildlife tour in Central India
A tour for those who wish to see tigers and other wildlife
From
Rupee135000
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 safari in India, Bandhavgarh & Kanha
Ultimate wilderness experience in two of the best parks!
From
US $1230 to US $2250
7 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
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
Wildlife photography holiday in India
Photograph superb wildlife & even the illusive tiger
From
£750 to £950
10 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
Rural India holiday, culture & wildlife
Authentic exploration of Central Indian village life
From
£2500 to £3000
14 days
ex flights
Tiger and wildlife safari, India
this trip will deliver unrivalled tiger-viewing success
From
£2229
9 days
inc UK flights
Satpura tiger and sloth bear watching holiday, India
Find India’s rare predators, tigers, dhole, bears & leopard
From
€3795
11 days
ex flights
Bangladesh tiger safari holiday
Cruise the Sunderbans Mangroves and Track Elusive Tigers
From
£1995
8 days
ex flights
Chitwan jungle safari and home stay
Other treks north, we trek south on this short culture trek!
From
£699
11 days
ex flights
Tiger safari and Golden Triangle tour in India
Abundant culture, history and wildlife
From
£2650
11 days
inc UK flights
Bangladesh wildlife holiday
Searchthe Sunderbans and rainforests for Tigers and Gibbons
From
£1999
11 days
ex flights
Satpura tiger reserve safari in India
Wlderness experience at Satpura Tiger Reserve.
From
US $1300 to US $2400
6 days
ex flights
Central India wildlife holiday, stay in a treehouse
Authentic wilderness experience in Tree Houses, India
From
US $2275 to US $4250
10 days
ex flights
Siberian Tiger & Amur Leopard tours in Russia
Track Siberian Tigers in the Russian winter wonderland
From
£2995
14 days
ex flights
Nepal tiger safari holiday
Track tigers on foot and elephant-back in Nepal's best parks
From
£1630
11 days
ex flights
India tiger safari & Taj Mahal tour
Tiger safari in India's National Parks
From
£2633 to £4077
16 days
ex flights
Chitwan accommodation, Nepal
Beautiful Lodges, along the mesmerizing river Rapti
From
US $350 to US $999
per accommodation per night
Northern India holidays
The best of northern India in a short itinerary
From
£1459 to £2099
10 days
inc UK flights
Satpura Reserve Tiger safari in india
Adventure holiday in the jungles of Satpura Tiger Reserve
From
Rupee185000
7 days
ex flights
Diverse landscapes and manmade sites also add big personality to this small park. There are sal forests, stretches of bamboo and grasslands punctuated by 32 wooded hills, with the 2,000 year old Bandhavgarh Fort rising 300m above it all, and crowning the park’s highest point. The fort was deserted in 1935, and entry isn’t permitted, but vultures nest here and the views over neighbouring hills and the Chakradhara meadow are superb. Around the fort are 39 manmade caves, with the oldest dating from the 1st century. The caves at Three Cave Point are now used by tigers, sloth bears and leopards.
Ian Harrison travelled to India with Responsible Travel on a holiday that included Bandhavgarh, Kanha and Pench National Parks, and has this advice: “Enjoy everything about the trip, don’t be hooked up on seeing tigers, they are there and can be hard to find, and when the moment arrives it is magical!!! Pack less than you think (laundry service available), have old clothes for game drives can be really dusty in hotter months and you do get dust everywhere, have something to do for between game drives / evenings as resorts are quite isolated... Embrace the experience, the locals, the wildlife, the sights and the train, you may be surprised!!!”
Visiting Bandhavgarh National Park
Visiting Bandhavgarh on a tailor made or small group organised tour is the easiest option, with a tour operator arranging accommodation and park permits for you. Trips often start in Delhi and then use the sleeper train to Umaria, 40km from the national park. Access to Bandhavgarh is tightly regulated. The park permits game drives between set hours in the morning and the evening, starting at different times throughout the year, with each lasting three and a half hours. There are three zones – Tala, Magdhi and Khitauli – with jeep numbers restricted for each. Recent updates to game drive regulations and high demand mean it’s important to book a wildlife safari in Bandhavgarh well in advance. For the best chance of a tiger sighting, allow at least two days in Bandhavgarh and don’t expect to see a tiger on your first game drive. It’s possible to take two drives a day, so a two-day stay will allow you to enjoy four, which takes your chances of seeing a tiger from possible to probable.
Holidays focused on wildlife and tiger spotting often include time at the larger Kanha National Park, a six hour drive away, and Pench National Park, a further four hours away. Visiting more than one park provides a broad taste of Indian wilderness and wildlife. Kanha is a vast landscape of grasslands, plateaus and dramatic rocky escarpments while Pench is less famed for its tigers, but is home to leopards and large herds of gaur (Indian bison), chital, sambar, nilgai and wild dog. The feel of the game drives alters, too, with huge Kanha allowing you to disappear into the forests away from other vehicles for an immersive Jungle Book experience.
Even the most committed wildlife watcher should consider bolting on some cultural highlights to a trip to see tigers. Spend a day or two exploring the capital, Delhi, where most trips to Bandhavgarh begin, and consider extending your trip to include Agra, home to the Taj Mahal, or the temples at Khajuraho.
Our top Tiger safari Holiday
Tiger tour in India, land of the Tiger tour
Wildlife tour through India
From
£2499 to £8899
16 days
inc UK flights
Small group travel:
2019: 29 Mar, 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, 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.
Best time to see tigers in Bandhavgarh
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.
We can capture a lot of details in our tiger safaris travel guide about where to go and when to go, but we can’t capture that feeling when you finally get to see into the eye of a tiger.
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] [Tiger and crowd: Bernie Catterall]
[Bandhavgarh fort: Kalyan Varma]
[Tiger in water: Bernie Catterall]
[Tourists watching tigers: JP Bennett]
[Indian gaur: Vijay Sonar]
[temples of khajuraho: Arun.arunb]
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