Discover India: The Ultimate Safari Adventure

The world’s second most populous country is a wildlife wonderland, home to some of the most endangered animals on the planet.

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Jillian Dara

The Search for Bengal Tigers

Two hours into my first safari, the hazy light of a fading Indian sun punctuates the inconvenient reality that time is not on our side. Bouncing along one dusty jungle road after the next, we had come up empty in our search for Ranthambore National Park’s iconic inhabitant: the elusive Bengal tiger, one of the rarest, most visually stunning animals to walk the earth. While I trust the Hindu gods of fate for an auspicious karmic conclusion, the success of our evening game drive hangs in the balance of a 30-minute window. That’s when our driver kills the engine in the heart of the dense wilderness.

“We are just listening,” my guide, Batti, says from the front seat. “No walkie talkies, but we do have monkeys.”

Wrapped in a monastic silence, we wait and hope for the jungle to tip us off with the alarm call of a prey animal. In the backseat, Sachin, an in-house naturalist from The Oberoi Vanyavilas Wildlife Resort, a five-star eco-camp on the park’s fringe, studies the jungle floor for fresh tracks left behind by the colossal feline. This land, laden with temples and lakes, once served as the royal hunting ground for Jaipur’s maharajas. Today, Ranthambore is a protected area and tiger reserve, home to an estimated 70 tigers in an area a hair smaller than Rhode Island. It is teeming with leopards, monkeys, wild boars, sloth bears, crocodiles, and a plethora of birds.

Honk! A distant peacock alerts the animal kingdom of an apex predator on the prowl. Honk! Two samba deer, a tiger’s favorite meal, dart out of the thick canopy. Honk! Hastily, our driver turns the ignition and beelines towards the disturbance. Suddenly, a swarm of 10 safari vehicles envelops the scene, none we’ve seen before today. Word has it that two tiger cubs were spotted in the vicinity before vanishing into the brush like phantom cats. Now, amidst a sea of camouflaged tourists and telephoto lenses, we wait again.

Fifteen suspenseful minutes later, the magic happens—the cubs, Riddhi and Siddhi, emerge a football field’s length away. At nine months old, they’re much bigger than I had imagined. Slowly, they traipse towards us—playful, behaving like household kittens—before settling a few steps closer. Yes, that close.

At one point, Siddhi stops completely to gaze at her audience, stamping a transcendent imprint on my memory, sending chills down my spine. “It gives the feel of the ‘Jungle Book,'” Sachin says. Indeed, the jungles of India inspired Rudyard Kipling’s famous 19th-century tome.

The Unique Pulse of Indian Safaris

Unlike an African safari, where travelers are typically placed straight into a private reserve, an Indian safari immerses you in the sights, sounds, and smells that define this vibrant country. The sounds of children playing cricket, honking tuk-tuks, and morning prayers echo through the air, while cardamom, incense, and marigolds perfume local markets. Wildlife coexists with the country’s 1.3 billion-plus people, allowing safari-goers to experience daily life while journeying through the heart of the subcontinent.

With 106 national parks and more than 500 designated wildlife sanctuaries, travelers have ample choices. For my safari, I traveled with Greaves Tours, a family-run operator noted for delivering luxury service, which includes meals, transport, and park permit arrangements. “India is a complex land, and many parks require road travel,” explains Shahrookh Cambata, CEO of Greaves Travel LLC. “Wildlife parks must be pre-arranged, and working with a reputable company that knows how to navigate safely is crucial.”

India has its own “big five”: the Bengal tiger, Indian elephant, one-horned rhinoceros, Asiatic lion, and Asiatic leopard. “India uniquely offers tigers, lions, and leopards in a single country,” Cambata continues. “It’s also home to some of the best hotels in the world, enriching the experience.”

Exploring Must-Visit Safari Destinations

Are you dreaming of a safari? These can’t-miss Indian locations showcase a variety of extraordinary wildlife.

Jhalana Leopard Reserve

Less than four miles from Jaipur International Airport, over 30 leopards thrive within this 13-square-mile forest bordering Rajasthan’s largest city. With no competition for sustenance, sightings of these remarkable animals are frequent due to the abundance of deer, boar, and blue bulls available. We encountered two leopards in the backwoods, observing a cub’s hunt attempt and an adult dining on a mongoose. For additional wildlife experiences, consider glamping with rescued elephants and camels at Dera Amer.

Sasan Gir National Park

The only lions outside Africa, the Asiatic lions, inhabit Western India’s Gujarat Peninsula near the Arabian Sea coast. Their numbers have risen steadily from the brink of extinction at the turn of the century, with over 600 majestic cats roaming the rugged hills and open savannas across the Bay of Cambay from Mumbai. Due to its geography, Sasan Gir receives fewer visitors; plan your visit between December and April for the best chances of sighting.

Corbett Tiger Reserve

Home to both tigers and wild elephants, India’s first national park (established in 1936) is located 200 miles north of New Delhi in Uttarakhand. Often cited as the country’s premier wildlife experience for its pioneering conservation of Bengal tigers, this serene escape in the Himalayan foothills also hosts hundreds of Indian elephants traversing its vast grasslands and crossing the Ramganga River.

Kaziranga National Park

In the eastern reaches of India, a network of four major rivers courses through this pristine marshland, recognized as one of the best wildlife refuges globally. Nestled between Bhutan and Bangladesh in Assam, Kaziranga is cherished by UNESCO for its conservation successes, particularly in protecting the one-horned rhinoceros, with about two-thirds of the world’s population residing here (approximately 2,500 rhinos). Thanks to its abundant waterways, travelers can indulge in birdwatching opportunities (think grey-headed fish eagles) and, with some luck, spot the critically endangered Ganges river dolphin.

On Safari

Greaves Tours sets the benchmark for top-tier service, offering customized safaris across the Indian subcontinent. Their 15-night “Jungle Journey” itinerary encompasses Ranthambore National Park, Pench National Park, and more, commencing in Delhi and concluding in Mumbai.

andBeyond safaris offers an 11-day tour of India that combines cultural experiences with wildlife encounters, including visits to the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Kanha National Park, and Bandhavgarh National Park—two of India’s finest safari destinations.