What does a tiger safari entail?

Remember, there is also lots to enjoy in the buffer zones of national parks and in some you can take guided walks or bike rides through the forest and villages. You’re unlikely to see a tiger but this is a chance to be immersed in the landscape. A good, local guide will teach you all about medicinal uses of plants, and have lots of stories about tiger sightings, customs, daily life and local events, giving you a sense of both animal and human life.

Most tiger safari vacations take place in India, which is home to 70 percent of the world’s tiger population. It’s also possible to see tigers in Nepal, and to track them in Bhutan or Siberia, on a specialist, tailor made, wildlife vacation. A tiger safari in India can be a small group trip or a tailor made vacation. It may be slotted into a wider itinerary that includes cultural highlights – the Golden Triangle, or just Agra and the Taj – or it may be the sole focus of the vacation. In the former, you can expect perhaps three game drives in a single park, but in the latter, where tiger spotting is very much the priority, you will take numerous game drives, usually in a handful of parks, but sometimes in a single reserve. On a two week trip, expect to do around 15 game drives.

In Chitwan and Bardia National Parks in Nepal it’s also possible to do walking safaris with a trained naturalist guide. Some parks also offer elephant safaris. At Responsible Travel, we do not support elephant rides with the exception of safaris in certain national parks, where using elephants to monitor wildlife numbers and poaching and the revenue generated by elephant safaris, is essential to wildlife conservation. You can read more on our stance on elephant safaris here. In Bhutan or Siberia, spotting tigers means trekking and tracking them, not sitting in a vehicle. You’ll need a good level of fitness for this.

When it comes to accommodation on a tiger safari, there’s a huge choice ranging from comfortable lodges with modern comforts such as air conditioning and en suite bathrooms, to friendly homestays. Look out for locally owned and run accommodation, as this puts money back into the community and reinforces the benefits of responsible tourism and the value of tigers within that community. All meals are generally included and supplied by the accommodation. In India in particular, vegetarians will do brilliantly, as this is one of the best and most delicious places in the world to be meat free. Some child friendly lodges will be happy to tailor the food to juvenile palates. Finally, find out where the accommodation is. The closer to the park gates, the less time you’ll have to spend traveling to start each game drive, which is crucial when heading out on those early 6am drives.