Wildlife guide
The perfect introduction to getting your head around the extraordinary life on earth, and where to go to find it.
Tiger safari advice
Taking time for tigers
Belinda Wright, OBE, Executive Director, Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI):
"India is about the only place in the world where you are likely to see tigers in the wild, and only in a few tiger reserves where these secretive big cats are now fairly used to tourists in vehicles. Some of the tigers have become surprisingly bold and these reserves are now popular destinations for huge numbers of tourists both from within India and abroad. Despite this, you must always remember that these are wild predators and that it is an extraordinary privilege to see these glorious and extremely rare big cats in the wild. Allow at least three or four days to increase your chances."
Managing expectations
Guy Marks gives advice for tiger safaris:
“Don’t expect this to be like an African safari experience. The way the parks are run, the quality of guiding and the seeming lack of a need to be silent, all have a very unique Indian style”.
Keep your eye on the tiger
Paul Goldstein, tiger expert at one of our leading psrtners, Exodus:
“Much like mountain gorillas, you have to be aware that this is a desperately endangered species, so please try and look beyond your camera. I have led countless tiger safaris in India, but probably only have half a dozen really good photos. So, particularly when you see your first one, put the camera away because, firstly, you might not see another one and also, it is a deeply emotive moment. The photo will probably be rubbish anyway as you will be sobbing or shaking, as you should be.“
Looking beyond the tiger
Sophie Hartman, owner of our supplier Chinkara Journeys, specialising in central India:
“I think that name ‘tiger watching’ should be banned. Don’t go with tigers as your sole focus, there is so much to see in India’s national parks and spending the whole of your safari charging around the park on a hunt for a tiger is such a wasted opportunity. Ask your guide and driver to stop for ten minutes by a lake or stream, listen to the sounds of the jungle, watch the birds, enjoy the beauty of the light coming through the forest. SO much more fun than just thumping along in a jeep.”
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Wildlife vacation in Central India
Best of Indian wildlife with tiger, leopard and sloth bear
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Small group travel:
2026: 15 Nov
2027: 28 Jan, 4 Mar
2026: 15 Nov
2027: 28 Jan, 4 Mar
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Vacation reviews from our travelers
At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travelers are often... other travelers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do - and opinions about what not to.
We have selected some of the most useful tiger safari travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your vacation - and the space inside your suitcase.
Enjoy the scenery, the wildlife and the atmosphere.![]()
- Rosy Everitt
“Take all your camping gear! Including trekking towels and loo rolls. These do not exist anywhere. Do your homework before. Good, stout foot wear and a trekking pole for gradients and loose rocks. Torchs, headlamps and candles are a very good idea. It gets cold at night and very hot during the day. There are no shops, no doctors etc... for miles around so once on the eastern side you are out on a limb. If you wish for a conventional vacation do not embark on this trip!!!” - Beatrice Claire Potter
“Manage your expectations. Tigers bears and leopards are very hard to spot and very elusive. Go into the park looking to enjoy the scenery, the wildlife and the atmosphere.” – Rosy Everitt
“We would advise that travelers ensure that they book a jeep safari at Ranthambhor and not the 20 seater canters. We were advised that we would be able to change our booking for at least one of our 12 safaris for a jeep when we got there but we were informed by the hotel/reserve that the jeeps are booked out many months in advance. The jeeps are more expensive but if you want to see a tiger they give you the best chance. Although we saw a tiger at Ranthambhor from a canter we were extremely fortunate since the canters are too noisy full of very excited local people!” - Julia Gallagher
“Manage your expectations. Tigers bears and leopards are very hard to spot and very elusive. Go into the park looking to enjoy the scenery, the wildlife and the atmosphere.” – Rosy Everitt
“We would advise that travelers ensure that they book a jeep safari at Ranthambhor and not the 20 seater canters. We were advised that we would be able to change our booking for at least one of our 12 safaris for a jeep when we got there but we were informed by the hotel/reserve that the jeeps are booked out many months in advance. The jeeps are more expensive but if you want to see a tiger they give you the best chance. Although we saw a tiger at Ranthambhor from a canter we were extremely fortunate since the canters are too noisy full of very excited local people!” - Julia Gallagher
Dust can be an issue for camera equipment especially digital SLR's![]()
- Stuart Holt
“Be prepared for early rises, cold drives to park in open vehicle, stamina is required.” - Susan Groves
“Dust can be an issue for camera equipment especially digital SLR’s so make sure you take something to cover your camera and cleaning materials.” - Stuart Holt
“Take plenty of small change. It is the custom to tip virtually everyone and it can get expensive. A universal sink plug is useful as hotels do not use them. Indian traffic doesn't seem to have any rules and the roads have cows and dogs wandering about in between rickshaws trucks, pedestrians and potholes- but all very amicable. Just a bit scary.” - Gillian Ash
“Dust can be an issue for camera equipment especially digital SLR’s so make sure you take something to cover your camera and cleaning materials.” - Stuart Holt
“Take plenty of small change. It is the custom to tip virtually everyone and it can get expensive. A universal sink plug is useful as hotels do not use them. Indian traffic doesn't seem to have any rules and the roads have cows and dogs wandering about in between rickshaws trucks, pedestrians and potholes- but all very amicable. Just a bit scary.” - Gillian Ash
More Tiger safari articles
We capture a lot of details in this gudie, but we can’t capture that feeling of seeing into the eye of a tiger.
There are several places in the world where this elusive and endangered creature still roams.
It's worth remembering that it's always the tiger who calls the shots in the forest.
Boasting between 60 and 70 tigers within its modest footprint, Bandhavgarh is one of the best places in India to see tigers.
Come for beautiful landscapes, a growing population of tigers and the atmospheric Ranthambore Fort presiding over the park.
Big, wild and beautiful, Kanha National Park is home to around 100 Bengal tigers, plus an abundance of other wildlife.
Whilst it's not the best known wildlife park, Pench has managed to keep its visitor numbers low, a big advantage.
Tiger safaris in Nepal explore Bardia and Chitwan national parks in the Terai region bordering the Himalayas.
Dig a little deeper into the detail of traveling to see tigers in the wild.
Read about the issues affecting tigers today, from habitat loss to poaching and learn what conservation goes on.
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