The mesmerising woods of Tadoba National Park are nestled in the heart of India and it is here that several people have realised their dream of spotting the magnificent tiger for the first time! The dry deciduous forest is home to a plethora of amazing wildlife species, captivating the hearts of veteran photographers as well as curious first-time enthusiasts.

Our skippers have led several tours to Tadoba and hundreds if not thousands of wildlife enthusiasts and happy first-timers have been blessed with unforgettable tiger sightings!  

As you continue to read this blog, you will get an insight into our hearts at Toehold, as we reveal why we love the mystical Tadoba National Park and what are our top reasons to visit Tadoba.

1. The Diverse Habitat

With the undulating Chimur hills in the background, the enchanting woods of the Tadoba National Park are blessed with diverse habitats. Rich dense woodlands, rocky and rugged mountainous terrains, tall grasslands, thick bamboo shoots and beautiful lakes all add to the forest’s surrealism and uniqueness. Spotting any animals against any of these habitats is a thrilling experience and one can make some extremely crisp and satisfying photographs!

2. Frequent Tiger sightings

One of the top reasons to visit Tadoba is because it offers frequent tiger sightings. These forests host one of the highest densities of tigers in the world! The sparse vegetation and the high temperatures of the summer months make it easier for one to spot a tiger here than in other forest reserves of India. It is believed that in Indian jungles, it takes at least four safaris to spot at least one big cat. But, in the case of Tadoba, one usually ends up spotting four or five individual tigers and depending on one’s luck, sometimes even more. Some extremely fortunate participants on Toehold tours have been blessed to sight multiple female tigers and their cubs over three days of action-packed safaris!

3. Opportunity to know tigers and their lineage

In this jewelled central Indian National Park, several tigresses have successfully nurtured their cubs and raised them to adulthood and this tradition has carried on till the present day. Over the recent years, Tadoba has witnessed a boom in tiger numbers. As a result, Tadoba has been home to some legendary tiger dynasties! Read our blog “Tigers of Tadoba” to know more about these fierce but charismatic big cats.Visitors are thrilled to see even one big cat and remember it for the seasons to come. But tracing the journey of a mother raising her litter of two or three cubs to adulthood over the seasons is one of the most fulfilling feelings for any nature lover!

4. Photography opportunities

As the searing summer heat dominates the forests in April and May, tigers are spotted more easily around the few remaining water holes in the parks. If one is lucky, one can spot and photograph an entire tiger family frolicking in the water or play-fighting in a glade. It is a gala time for big cat lovers and photography enthusiasts.

5. Amazing Opportunities in Buffer Zones

Another special reason to visit Tadoba is because several tigers and tigresses have made the buffer zones their home. This has helped take the pressure off the core zones as people do not mind going on a safari in the buffers as sometimes they have outperformed the core zones in terms of tiger sightings! Although denser than the core areas, the buffer zones of Tadoba have been home to several tiger families. They also host species such as dholes, sloth bears, barking deer and several birds which are frequently sighted. Unlike the core zones that are closed in the monsoon season, the buffer zones are open all year round! The monsoon turns the entire vegetation into a luxuriant Eden and any animal sighting against the verdant forest is truly a sight to behold!

6. Experienced naturalists

The naturalists at Tadoba are extremely well-educated and they have a huge role to play in making our trips successful. They know the forest like the back of their palms and their pinpoint accuracy and their almost flawless intuition help a long way in guiding guests to numerous sightings. Across our tours to Tadoba, we have built a close bond and camaraderie with these skilled naturalists. Their long hours of efforts and intense focus to ensure that every tourist venturing into the park has the best possible experience must not go unnoticed. Most often, tiger sightings are much celebrated but the thankless work of these unsung heroes is overlooked. These naturalists are some of the most friendly and sincere people. We have had the pleasure of working with them for more than a decade and they are a significant reason why we hold Tadoba very close to our hearts. We hope our trips to Tadoba continue to be as enjoyable as they have always been and that Tadoba National Park continues to surprise and inspire us!

7. Ambience

We love the forests of Tadoba, but we also cherish the comfort and hospitality of some of the lodges around the forest. We at Toehold operate our Photo Tours out of the Tadoba Tiger Village Resort for its proximity to the forest and the opportunities for a wildlife safari.

But, other lodges and resorts such as Tadoba Tiger King, Tadoba Jungle Camp, Svasara, and Vanya Villas around Tadoba offer incredible service to visitors and pamper them. Want to learn more about the various accommodation options in Tadoba? Check out our blog ‘Top 10 Tadoba resorts’.

But the one thing all these resorts have in common is their ambience and that is what we love. We are surrounded by nature and the peace helps in listening to the various ambient sounds of the great outdoors. We enjoy the company of the constant chirping of crickets, the occasional eerie hooting of owls, the croaking of a distant toad and we love the silence that prevails in all of them. We also love the stars shining over our heads and the crisp rejuvenating air we breathe. We love the crackling of the fire, the aroma of the delicious food and the sound of our laughter. We love living in the moment and making memories without knowing it!

You have to be there to experience all this!

Summarising why we love Tadoba National Park

For the past decade, Tadoba has been at the very top of our bucket list as one of our favourite destinations for a wildlife holiday. One of the top reasons to visit Tadoba is for its frequent big cat sightings and the endless game-viewing and photography opportunities it provides.

These mystical woods charm not just avid wildlife photographers or big cat lovers, but also are a great escape for anyone needing a break from the hustle-bustle of city life. A few days in the lap of nature, the amazing comfort of the lodges and the potential sightings of some of the most magnificent wildlife species is sure to help refresh you and make you fall in love with the experience of visiting the wild!

We have listed out our favourite reasons to visit  Tadoba National Park. Have we missed anything? Do let us know in the comments!