Nagarhole - Rajiv Gandhi National Park

Tiger and Leopards are spotted infrequently, however Bison, Gaur, Elephant herds and crocodile can be spotted in large numbers.  A high canopy of trees- up to thirty metres tall in some places- harbours rare birds such as the endangered Malabar trogon, the Malabar pied hornbill and the crested hawk-eagle. 

Forest department conducts Jeep Safaris and Canter Safaris and Resorts here provide two safaris per day (Morning and late afternoon - 3 hours each). Elephant safaris are provided at the Elephant training camp.

Accommodation options

Location

Kabini River Lodge - Jungle Lodges

Karapur

Orange County Kabini

Karapura

Waterwoods

Karapura

Cicada Resort

Karapura

Jungle Inn

Near Hunsur

King's Sanctuary

Near Hunsur

Biligiri Ranganna Hills (B.R Hills)

More than 270 species of birds exist here, including the scarlet minivet, velvet-fronted nuthatch, gold-fronted chloropsis, lorikeet, blossom-headed parakeet, heart-spotted woodpecker and malabar whistling thrush.

The commonly sighted animals are leopard, elephant, tiger, gaur, wild dog, sloth bear, barking deer, spotted deer, sambar, wild boar, porcupine, python, Malabar giant squirrel, to name a few.

K Gudi Camp at BR Hills conducts Jeep safaris.

Accommodation options

Location

B R Hills - K. Gudi (Kyathadevara Gudi) Wilderness Camp - - Jungle Lodges

K Gudi 

Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary 

Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary and its adjacent Anshi National Park house huge tracts of moist- deciduous forest. Although a know habitat of the rare black panther, the large size of the forest makes spotting them very difficult. Still one can look for spotted deer, sambar, barking deer, sloth bear, gaur (Indian bison), wild boars, fox, jackal, pangolin, elephants, great pied hornbill, yellow footed pigeon, crested serpent eagle, adjutant stork, black crested baza and peafowls. The forests of Dandeli and Anshi are home to over 200 species of birds. 

Park Safaris can be organised by Resorts in the Area.

Accommodation options

Location

Kali River Lodge - Jungle Lodges

Dandeli 

Bison River Resort

Ganeshgudi near Dandeli 

Bandipur National Park

Bandipur forests with its deciduous habitat is the ideal spot for viewing animals like elephant, gaur, wild boar, sambhar, spotted deer or wild dogs and there is always the bonus of sighting the elusive predators like tiger or leopard.

You may also spot birds such as Peafowl, Grey Jungle Fowl, Partridge, Quail, Paradise Fly-Catcher, Hornbill, Woodpecker, Thrush, Crested Hawk Eagle, Serpent Eagle, Drongo, Cuckoo, Oriole, Minivet, Wagtail, Myna, Blue Jay, Kingfisher etc.

Resorts in Bandipur Area conduct Jeep safaris.

Accommodation options

Location

Tusker Trails

Village Mangala, Bandipur

Bandipur Safari Lodge - Jungle Lodges

Mysore-Ooty Highway, Bandipur

Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary (Shimoga Dist.)

WILDLIFE The Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary boasts of following Birds and Animals:

• Birds : The Grey junglefowl, Red spurfowl, Painted bush quail, Emerald dove, Southern green imperial pigeon, Great black woodpecker, Malabar parakeet and Hill myna just to name a few. 

• Reptiles : Marsh crocodiles are usually found in the upstream stretches of the Bhadra River and Monitor lizards are also a common sight. The common otter and the smooth Indian otter can usually be sighted at the Bhadra Reservoir. 

• Animals : Gaur certainly are the pride of Bhadra which is a common sight. Leopards are also fairly common, particularly in the Lakkavalli area. Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary has been recently adopted under ‘Project Tiger’. This is an ideal tiger habitat although it is rare to see one! Wild dog tracks are also found all over the area. Elephants occur in all parts of the sanctuary and seem to migrate locally between Muthodi and Lakkavalli. 

• Other Mammals : Palm civet, Stripe necked mongoose, Sloth bear, Large brown flying squirrel, Sambar, Spotted deer and the Wild boar.

Accommodation options

Location

River Tern Lodge - Jungle Lodges

Bhadra Project 

The Daroji Bear Sanctuary 

The Daroji Bear Sanctuary is the first sloth bear sanctuary in Asia and is situated 25 kms away from Hospet. The total area of the sanctuary is around 55.873 sq.kms. The area is full of white rocky out crops, boulders, caves and crevices that are ideally suited as a habitat for sloth bears. There are more than 150 sloth bears reported to exist in the sanctuary. Apart from the bears one can also find wolves, jackals, striped hyenas, monkeys, leopards and peacocks.

Accommodation options

Location

Hotel Malligi

Hospet

Hampi Boulders Resort

Narayanpet

Kishkinda Heritage Resort

Sanapur

Laxmi Golden Beach Resort

Hampi Island

Bannerghatta National Park (Near Bangalore)

Bannerghatta is located just 25 kms from Bangalore. Wild elephants are spotted regularly in the dense forests of Bannerghatta. The other mammals to be sighted here are bonnet macaques, spotted deer, barking deer, slow loris, wild boar, porcupine, three-striped palm squirrel and jackal. A birdwatcher’s delight, this park is abounding with about 200 species of birds like Honey Buzzard, Brahminy Kite, Indian Great Horned Owl, Spotted Owlet, Purple Sunbird, Loten’s Sunbird, Small Green barbet, Paradise, Tickell’s Blue, Fantail Flycatchers and Common Kingfisher. It also has Lions and Tigers Rescued from various Circuses and kept captive in natural surroundings of the Park. Bannerghatta Nature camp provides a day visit or overnight itinerary for park visits.

Accommodation options

Location

Bannerghatta Nature Camp

Bannerghatta

Dubare Elephant Camp and Reserve (Coorg)

The moist deciduous forests of dubare are home to many wild animals and a plethora of birds. Sighting of wild Asiatic Elephants are regular and so is spotting the sambhar and the spotted deer. With a little luck one can spot the elusive leopard and the gregarious wild dogs. The Indian Bison or Gaur and bears are also seen in these forests. Visitors also get to notice many crocodiles in the waters of River Cauvery at Dubare. The forests are also home to many reptiles non-venomous snakes. Bird life in Dubare is wonderful with peacocks, partridges, kingfishers and woodpeckers topping the list.

Accommodation options

Location

Dubare Elephant Camp

Dubare