Bengal Tiger Safaris

The Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) is the largest of all big cats, growing up to 3 metres in length and weighing around 300kg. With their iconic orange coats and unique black stripes — no two tigers have the same pattern — they are perfectly camouflaged hunters, stalking deer, buffalo, and wild pigs through India’s forests and grasslands. Solitary by nature, tigers are also powerful swimmers, often cooling off or resting in rivers and pools, while females raise litters of 2–6 cubs for up to three years before they venture off to claim their own territories.

Once widespread across Asia, Bengal tigers are now classified as Endangered, with fewer than 3,200 left in the wild. India is home to over 70% of the global population, protected in more than 50 reserves. Conservation efforts like Project Tiger, launched in 1973, have been vital in halting their decline, creating safe habitats where travellers can still witness these magnificent predators in the wild. A Bengal tiger safari offers not only a once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounter but also supports the ongoing survival of one of the world’s most iconic animals.

India is home to more than 50 tiger reserves, but a handful offer the best opportunities for sightings:

• Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh – Once the hunting reserve of the Maharajas, Bandhavgarh is now one of India’s best parks for tiger sightings, with a high density of around 60 tigers. Leopards, over 250 bird species, and countless butterflies also thrive here.
• Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh – Home to around 500 tigers, Kanha offers vast grasslands and forests reminiscent of African reserves. It is also famous for swamp deer, sloth bears, leopards, and wild dogs.
• Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan – One of India’s most famous reserves, known for its tigers roaming among temples and lakes beneath the ruins of Ranthambore Fort. Popular and busier than other parks, but offers iconic photo opportunities.
• Tadoba Tiger Reserve – with a thriving tiger population, Tadoba offers a fantastic tiger safari experience, less busy than other tiger parks and providing some unique and comfortable lodging.
• Corbett National Park – located in the northeast of India, Corbett National Park is India’s oldest and most prestigious national park and has a healthy population of tigers. Again, Corbett takes you away from the busier parks listed above and provides a wilder more natural world experience.