The mystical wildlands of the Bandhavgarh National Park are snuggled in the heart of India. Blessed with diverse habitats including rich sal forests, rugged mountainous terrains, grasslands and tall bamboo groves, Bandhavgarh nurtures one of the healthiest tiger populations on the planet! It is a major tourist attraction, luring the likes of wildlife lovers and first-timers alike to venture on a safari in Bandhavgarh!
The park also shelters other magnificent species of wildlife such as leopards, jungle cats, sloth bears, striped hyenas, chinkaras, chousinghas and some magical bird species too! These wild denizens beckon people to frequent the park and these enchanting woods seldom fail to amaze visitors!
Let us now break down the Bandhavgarh National Park safari booking process and go through all the available options.
Bandhavgarh safari options
Madhya Pradesh is blessed with breathtaking forests and spectacular wildlife. A wildlife safari is the means to explore the state’s forests and witness its wildlife. Be it on a jeep, a canter, or on elephant back, a safari in Bandhavgarh is truly an exhilarating experience. Following the rustic forest path, scanning every shrub and open grassland, straining one’s ears to catch a distant alarm call and finally catching a big cat trail - one can expect all this on a Bandhavgarh safari.
1. Jeep safari in Bandhavgarh
A jeep safari in Bandhavgarh is arguably the best and most comfortable way to experience its wildlife and natural beauty. A jeep’s seating capacity is for a maximum of only six people so one can sit comfortably and witness wildlife from up-close. The other benefit is that photographers have ample space to manoeuvre their telephoto lenses and make some incredible frames. Unlike the canter, the jeep is open like a convertible, so one can feel the invigorating cool breeze all along the way and breathe the freshness of the soil. Moreover, one has maximum opportunities to sight an animal or any signs of one on the ground or in the canopy, in front or behind and on either side! All in all, a jeep safari in Bandhavgarh is a truly unique and intoxicating experience to be had at least once in one’s lifetime!
2. Canter safari in Bandhavgarh
One can also explore the charming woods of Bandhavgarh in a canter. If one is on a tight budget or travelling in a large group of over 15 people, a canter safari in Bandhavgarh is the go-to option. A canter safari takes you on the same paths a jeep would. However, canter safari in Bandhavgarh is restricted to the Magadhi and Khitauli zones. Also, one’s range of vision is limited as compared to a jeep safari and one can observe the jungle mainly through the window beside one’s seat. The canter safari is not ideally suited for avid nature lovers and enthusiastic wildlife photographers. But for children on school trips or a large group of people who just want to witness wildlife and have a first taste of the forest, a canter safari in Bandhavgarh is a thrilling experience.
3. Elephant safari in Bandhavgarh
One of Bandhavgarh’s most unique features is the elephant safari. Only a couple of other National Parks in India offer such an exciting activity. Also known as an elephant joy ride, this mode of safari is exciting, especially for children and first-timers, as it gives them a different perspective of the mesmerising woods.
The advantage of an elephant safari in Bandhavgarh is that it enables one to get access to areas of the forest where neither the jeep nor canter can reach and sometimes this directly results in a big cat sighting!
If a tigress and her cubs have been located in an area that is tough to get to via gypsy or canter, an elephant safari is extremely fruitful. However, it is not the most befitting option for photographers, because although one gets a different perspective of the forest and its wild denizens, it is tough to get an eye-level photograph.
Bandhavgarh safari charges
Now that we have clearly chalked out the different options, let us look at the Bandhavgarh safari charges and how to go about making a Bandhavgarh safari booking.
The Bandhavgarh safari charges vary depending on which aforementioned options one chooses. The jeep safari and the canter safari are three-hour-long ventures into the forest that occur twice a day. The jeep safari costs roughly Rs.6000 and is divided by the number of people on safari and the canter safari charges are Rs.550 per head.
The elephant safari happens only in the Tala zone and it is a ride of only half an hour. A maximum of four people can go at one go. It costs Rs.1500 per head.
A full-day safari in the Bandhavgarh National Park has several benefits, but it costs significantly more than the regular jeep safari charges. Read our blog “Full-day vs regular safari in Bandhavgarh” to know more.
How to make a Bandhavgarh safari booking?
One of the most frequently asked questions by tourists is “how to book a Bandhavgarh safari?” There are multiple ways in which one can make a Bandhavgarh safari booking. If the resort one is staying at is associated with the forest department, one’s resort can help one book one’s jeep safari(s). Usually, its expenses will be included in the resort’s tariff.
For booking one’s seat on a canter safari, one has to purchase its ticket from the Forest Department booking counter present just outside the main entrance of the Bandhavgarh National Park. These counters open about 30 minutes before the start of the safaris, and hence punctuality is crucial to make the bookings and enter the forest on time.
However, one can escape this tedious process and book one’s seat on a jeep as well as a canter safari well in advance via online platforms. Know more in the upcoming section titled “Making a Bandhavgarh safari booking online”.
An elephant safari occurs only in the Tala zone and tickets can be booked at the ticket counter at Tala.
Making a Bandhavgarh safari booking online
Quite recently, the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department has launched an online portal for facilitating wildlife safari bookings across the National Parks of the state. One can easily book a Bandhavgarh safari from this site - (https://forest.mponline.gov.in/).
This online addition really helps tourists, allowing them to book safaris from the comfort of their home and within just seconds, instead of the previous method of standing and waiting in queues for long hours to fetch a ticket from the counter.
Steps to make your booking
- Visit the official website of the MP forest department, which is https://forest.mponline.gov.in/
- Go to the ‘tiger reserves’ section of the website and click on ‘Bandhavgarh’
- Click on the ‘Book now’ option
- Provide the relevant details asked for
- Select the date and timings of the Bandhavgarh safari as per your requirements
- Crosscheck all the details provided
- Proceed to make your payment
The same document number as entered on the website while making the online booking has to be in hand at the time of one’s Bandhavgarh safari.
Summarising the Bandhavgarh National Park safari booking process
The magnificent gamut of wildlife species that Bandhavgarh hosts offer extraordinary game viewing. The different options and means of a Bandhavgarh safari make the forests more accessible to everyone and promises a cherishable experience to all.
The jeep and canter safari takes you through the winding forest paths and the elephant safari offers one a totally different perspective of the jungle. The process of booking any of these safaris in Bandhavgarh has been simplified thanks to the online portal provided by the Madhya Pradesh government. If one is staying in a resort associated with the forest department, one’s booking is taken care of by them and one has a hassle-free most wonderful experience.
The teeming wildlife in Bandhavgarh is sure to leave one spellbound! It is a perfect getaway from the hustle-bustle of city life and one can feel completely rejuvenated within 24 hours! Bandhavgarh welcomes everyone with open arms and most often, one leaves with a piece of its heart!
