Explore the mysteries of the deep dark woods, wildlife tours in South India offer a golden opportunity to satiate your desire of adventure. South India is endowed with a galore of wildlife including, birds, mammals, insects, reptiles, amphibians and more. Boasting of housing 25 percent of the World’s tiger population and almost 60 percent of India, wildlife parks in South offer some of the exciting jungle safari experiences in India. Bird watching, boat safaris, and stay in tree houses add to the thrill.
Contents
- 1 Here are the 10 best places for wildlife tours in South India:
Here are the 10 best places for wildlife tours in South India:
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Periyar National Park
The cardamom plantations of Thekkady in Kerala houses the Periyar National Park. Noted for its green beauty, tourists favor this place for adventurous activities. Two main rivers Periyar and Pamba sunder the park and are vital source of water for the flora and fauna. Rendezvous of adventure, nature and beauty, it’s one of the best wildlife sanctuaries in South India.
Features of the Periyar National Park
- Kottamalai – highest peak in the park
- Mangala Devi temple – A historic temple where entry is permitted only once in a year.
- Periyar Lake – Known for river rafting, bamboo rafting, bird watching and boat ride.
What to do in Periyar?
- Wildlife Safari
- River Rafting
What to see in Periyar?
- Elephants
- Eucalyptus grooves
- 171 species of grass
- 140 species of orchids
- Bengal tigers
- Birds
- Reptiles
- 160 species of butterfly
Best season to visit Periyar
December to March
Wildlife safari in Periyar
- Elephant – 6:00 am to 5:00 pm for 30 minutes each
- Jeep
- Full day – 5:00 am till 3:00 pm
- Night – 11:00 pm to 3:00 am
- Boat cruise on Periyar lake 7:25 am to 4 pm, for 30 minutes
How to reach Periyar National Park?
Nearest Airport – Madurai (136 km)
Nearest Railway Station – Kottayam (114 km)
Nearest Bus Terminal – Kumily (10.4 km)
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Bandipur National Park
Bandipur National Park is a beautiful National Park in Karnataka. This place is an essential part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Although numerous tourists visit here but it is still counted as the well-maintained national parks of India. The thrill of Bandipur jungle is evident that even the Maharaja of Mysore couldn’t resist himself from hunting here.
Features of the Bandipur National Park
- Nugu River
- Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta summit – the highest summit in the park
- Kabini reservoir
What to do in Bandipur?
- Bird watching
- Trekking
- Boating
- Bicycle tours
- Night trekking
What to see in Bandipur?
- Elephants
- Tigers
- 200 species of birds
- Top reptiles like flying lizard
- Numerous beetle
Best season to visit Bandipur
October to March
Wildlife safari in Bandipur
- Elephant – 10:00 am to 11:00 am and it lasts for 20 minutes each
- Jeep – It lasts for 2-3 hours
- 6:00 am to 9:00 am
- 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
- Bus Safari – 6:00 am to 5:30 pm and lasts for 45 minutes
How to reach Bandipur National Park?
Nearest Airport – Bangalore (220 km)
Nearest Railway Station – Mysore (80 km)
Nearest Bus Terminal – Ooty (80 km)
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Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary
Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary is the first and most beautiful sanctuary and finest wildlife destination in India. Nestled in Tamil Nadu, a part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. It is home to 13 percent of all mammal species in India including several endangered and vulnerable species like elephant, Bengal Tiger, Gaur and Indian Leopard.
Features of the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary
- Moyar River – ideal place to spot animals quenching their thirst
- Elephant Feeding Camp – observe the gentle elephants
What to do in Mudumalai?
- Bird Watching
- Camping
- Tree house stay
- Visit to nearby waterfalls
- Water hole visit
- Village Tour
- Swimming in the natural pool
What to see in Mudumalai?
- 50 species of fishes
- 21 species of amphibians
- 34 species of reptiles
- 227 species of birds
- 55 species of mammals
- Critically endangered Indian White-rumped Vulture
- Long-billed vulture
Best season to visit Mudumalai
December to June
Wildlife safari in Mudumalai
Elephant – 06:00 am to 08:00 am and 04:00 pm to 6:00 pm
- Van/Road – It lasts for 2-3 hours
- 6:00 am to 08:00 am
- 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
- Jungle Safari – 06:00 am to 08:00 am and 04:00 pm to 6:00 pm
How to reach Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary?
Nearest Airport – Udagamadalam station (64 km)
Nearest Railway Station – Coimbatore (160 km)
Nearest Bus Terminal – Gudalur (16 km)
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Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary
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Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary in Karnataka, is the largest bird sanctuary in the state. Alternatively known as known as ‘Pakshi Kashi of Karnataka’, it attracts numerous people. The fame of Ranganthittu is quite apparent from the statics that about 3 lakh tourists visited here during 2016 – 2017 making it one of the best place for bird watching in India.
Features of the Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary
- Six small islands on the banks of the river Cauvery
What to do in Ranganthittu?
- Ranger-guided boat tours
- Bird watching
- Boating
- Photography
What to see in Ranganthittu?
- Streak-throated swallows
- Bonnet macaque
- Colonies of flying fox
- Palm civet
- Indian gray mongoose
- Monitor lizard
- The mugger crocodile
Best season to visit Ranganthittu
June to December
Wildlife safari in Ranganthittu
- Boat Ride – 8:30 am
How to reach Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary?
Nearest Airport – Bangalore (125 km)
Nearest Railway Station – Mysore (18 km)
Nearest Bus Terminal – Mysore (19 km)
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Nagarhole National Park
The picturesque location of Nagarhole National Park makes it one of the best places jungle Safari India. Settled at the foothills of Western Ghats, the park covers hills, small streams, rich forest cover, waterfalls and valleys. The national park is under consideration to be declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It houses the highest density of herbivores in Asia and is an essential part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
Features of the Nagarhole National Park
- Hills, waterfalls, streams, valleys and forests
- Kabini river
- Kabini backwaters
What to do in Nagarhole?
- Spotting predators
- Bird watching
- Wildlife safari
What to see in Nagarhole?
- Tigers
- Indian bison
- Elephants
- Leopard
- Wild dog
- Sloth bear
- Hyena
- 250 species of birds
Best season to visit Nagarhole
October to May
Wildlife safari in Nagarhole
Jeep safari – 5:30 am to 10:00 am and 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm
- Coracle ride – 9:00 am to 11:00 am and 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm
- Bus safari – 6:00 am to 9:00 am and 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm
How to reach Nagarhole National Park?
Nearest Airport – Mysore (96 km)
Nearest Railway Station – Mysore (80 km)
Nearest Bus Terminal – Mysore (93 km)
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Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary
Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary in Karnataka is very famous for sloth bears. The name Daroji is believed to derive from the word ‘Darwaze’ or gates, signifying that this was a gateway to the nearby UNESCO World Heritage Site Hampi. This sanctuary has a legend from Ramayana associated with it. It is believed the lone bear of the vanar-sena (monkey army) of Lord Rama settled here. His progeny grew and now are the natives of the sanctuary. These bears are vegetarian and like to eat berries and wild fruits, which grow in abundance here.
Features of the Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary
- A watchtower – The best view of the bears descending from the adjacent hillocks at dusk.
- Anegundi – a nearby mythical town
- Kishkindha – the “monkey kingdom” of the Ramayana
What to do in Daroji?
- Bird watching
- Nature Walk
What to see in Daroji?
- Sloth bear
- Leopards
- Wild boars
- Hyenas
- Jackals
Best season to visit Daroji
August to April
Wildlife safari in Daroji
Wildlife Safari – 6:00 am to 6:00 pm
How to reach Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary?
Nearest Airport – Hubli (143 km from Hampi)
Nearest Railway Station – Hospet (22 km)
Nearest Bus Terminal – Bangalore (199 km)
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Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary
Located Kerala, Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary is one of the best of the wildlife tours in South India. This pristine land is enclosed by the hillocks and marks the confluence of Kadalundi River and Arabian Sea. It is surely a paradise for wildlife enthusiast and nature lovers. Don’t forget to carry a camera with you so that you can capture and show your discoveries to others.
Features of the Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary
- A nearby hillock – offers a splendid view of the river mouth and the sea
- Kadaludi River
What to do in Kadalundi?
- Bird Watching
- Boat Rides
- Trekking
- Photography
What to see in Daroji?
- Hundred species of native birds
- 60 species of migratory birds
- Wide variety of fish
- Mussels
- Crabs
- Otters
- Jackals
Best season to visit Kadalundi
November to April
Types of Wildlife safari in Kadalundi with timings
Wildlife Safari – 7:00 am to 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
How to reach Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary?
Nearest Airport – Calicut International Airport (20.1 km)
Nearest Railway Station – Kozhikode (19 km)
Nearest Bus Terminal – Mananthavady (114 km)
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Silent Valley National Park
Located in Nilgiri International Biosphere Reserve, the Silent Valley National Park is one of the best wildlife places in Kerala. The name reveals it all about the park, it is totally silent, and not even calls of birds are heard. This is one of a kind experiences that can’t be put in words and better be felt personally. The absolute bliss of nature always seeks the attention of the biologists, naturalists and other researchers.
Features of the Silent valley national park
- The Kuntipuzha River – divides the park
What to do in Silent Valley?
- Bird Watching
- Trekking
What to see in Silent valley national park?
- Endangered species of primate called lion-tailed macaque
- Nilgiri langur
- Malabar giant squirrel
- Nilgiri wood-pigeon
- Nilgiri tahr
- 15 endemic species including the black-and-orange flycatcher
- Ceylon frogmouth
- Great Indian hornbill
Best season to visit Silent Valley National Park
September to March
Wildlife safari in Silent valley
Jeep Safari – 7:00 am to 2:00 pm
How to reach Silent valley national park?
Nearest Airport – Coimbatore International Airport (91 km)
Nearest Railway Station – Palakkad (69 km)
Nearest Bus Terminal – Mukkali (23 km)
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Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary
Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary is the second elephant reserve in Karnataka. It is most attractive place for wildlife tours in South India. Spot the gentle beasts and also many of the endangered species of flora and fauna is one of its kind. Further, this sanctuary is also acknowledged as the part of the Anshi Dandeli Tiger Reserve.
Features of the Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary
- Breathtaking valleys
- Meandering rivers
- Syntheri Rock – a 300 ft. tall monolithic granite
What to do in Dandeli?
- Bird watching
- Rafting
- Wildlife photography
- Rappelling
- Angling
- Caving
What to see in Dandeli?
- Malabar giant squirrel
- Black Panther
- Civet
- Magpie robin
- Crested serpent
- Eagle
- Golden backed woodpecker
- Great hornbill
- The Malabar pied hornbill
- Elusive black panther
Best season to visit Dandeli
March and October
Safari in Dandeli
Jungle Safari – 6:00 am to 9:00 pm and 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm
- Boat Safari – 6:00 am to 9:00 pm and 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm
How to reach Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary?
Nearest Airport – Hubli Airport (66 km)
Nearest Railway Station – Alnavar (24 km)
Nearest Bus Terminal – Dandeli (0 km)
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Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
Located in ‘God’s Own Country’ Kerala, the Wayanad wildlife sanctuary is the highlight of the favored hill town. It is the second largest wildlife sanctuary in Kerala and one of the best in India. Home to rich wildlife and lush green forests, the sanctuary enjoys the blissful essence of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. It is under consideration for being selected as a World Heritage Site.
Features of the Wayanad wildlife sanctuary
- Spot some of the endangered and rare species of flora and fauna
What to do in Wayanad wildlife sanctuary?
- Elephant rides
What to see in Wayanad wildlife sanctuary?
- Indian bison
- Elephant
- Deer
- Tiger
- A few unusual birds
Best season to visit Wayanad wildlife sanctuary
August to May
Wildlife safari in Wayanad sanctuary
Jeep Safari – 7:00 am to 10:00 pm and 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm
How to reach Wayanad wildlife sanctuary?
Nearest Airport – Kozhikode Airport (140 km)
Nearest Railway Station – Kozhikode (105 km)
Nearest Bus Terminal – Wayanad (18 km)
So all the wildlife enthusiasts out there, South India calls you to explore these best places for wildlife tours.
