In class 10 mathematics, we were all taught about the concept of Probability. Without revisiting too much of that horror of maths, just a small recap – that a “certain event” has a probability of 1 or 100%!
That’s what your chances are of spotting a tiger in the Tadoba Jungle Safari! Well not that a sighting can be guaranteed, but the number of tigers in the National Park and my own experience of six safaris made me type this statement!
Where is Tadoba?
For the uninitiated, Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve is the oldest and largest national park and one of India’s 47 Tiger Reserves. It lies in the Chandrapur district of Maharashtra state and is approximately 150 km from Nagpur city. The total area of the tiger reserve is 1,727 Sq.km, The word ‘Tadoba’ is derived from the name of God “Tadoba” or “Taru,” which is praised by local tribal people of this region and “Andhari” is derived from the name of Andhari river that flows in this area.
When to visit?
As a thumb rule it is said, winters are a better time for jungle safaris. That way you can enjoy the jungle much more. Although spotting animals in summers is easier as you can generally find them near the water bodies. So take your pick.
Disclaimer : We visited in December 2024, packed with our jackets and caps, only to realise that winters were hiding in some far far land. But better to be safe than sorry.
How to reach?
The city of oranges, Nagpur is the nearest Airport and Railway Station. Nagpur is well connected with majority of the metropolitan cities. This is followed by an approximate 3 hour road journey to your resort in Tadoba. As we are approaching Tadoba, the road becomes one way and isn’t very well maintained, hence the journey time is a little long for 150 kms. You can even plan to reach Nagpur early morning and kick off your trip with an afternoon safari that day itself.
P.S. : Sighting tigers in Tadoba Jungle Safari was easier than sighting Oranges in Nagpur. The only Oranges I saw were at the airport hoardings.
What to wear?
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all jungle safaris hold good here as well. But also be prepared for surprises, afterall its a jungle!
Where to stay?
Tadoba has a variety of resorts in the nearby vicinity and you can find one as per your budget. Just keep in mind that if you are going for both morning and evening safari in a day, time spent in your resort is minimal. So decide accordingly! Also there aren’t many eating options or restaurants available outside, so make sure to include all the meals as a part of your stay package.
Just ensure your resort provides packed breakfast for the morning safaris. Enjoying breakfast amidst the jungle is an experience in itself.
We stayed at the Tadoba Jungle Camp. With a strong focus on conservation, sustainability and local community Tadoba Jungle Camp sits in an enviable position near to the Moharli Gate of Tadoba National Park. It is tucked into 10 acres of reforested lands, with a stunning view of Irai Lake. With their warm hospitality and sumptuous meals, they ensured that we spent a lot of time in their dining area!
How many Safaris are enough?
Well, if you are fortunate enough to spot the striped cat in your first safari itself, you start thinking in two ways :
(a) I have seen enough! I can now rest in peace.
(b) Maybe I am quite lucky and can have much better sightings!
Choosing between these two options, will decide how you next few days will turn out to be!
So coming back to the question of how many safaris are enough? Truly speaking I don’t have an answer to that! We went for six safaris, each safari beating the previous safari’s experience!
There are a total of 22 zones (both core and buffer ) of the Tiger Reserve. Safari timings depend on what zone you are visiting. Gypsy has a seating capacity of 6 passengers plus one driver and one guide. Bigger canters are also available. Its better to pre-book all the safaris, so that you can rest in between the safaris and be geared up for the next safari!
P.S. : The concept of Core and Buffer seems to be non-existant for this Jungle Reserve! There are tigers and cubs everywhere! As told by our guides, there are 32 Cubs in this National Park! Read again – 32 CUBS!
Things no one told us beforehand!
- Mobile phones are not permitted in the jungle premises. So your dreams of having a selfie with the tiger are shattered right there!
But if you are willing to shell out a fine of Rs 5000/- for that selfie, the choice is yours.
- Cameras are available on rent outside the Safari Gates. (Brilliant marketing strategy)
- Single use plastics are banned! Ask your Kudos to the management for strictly implementing this rule. Hence your resort gives you water in reusable steel bottles. Also glass water bottles are available at the gate (again a brilliant marketing tactic).
1 Tiger. 3 Tigresses. 7 Cubs. 1 Sloth Bear.
Infinite memories!!
Ending this blog with some inspirational statistics of the insane sightings we managed to have!
Day 1
- Evening Safari (Moharli Gate – Core Zone) – C3 Tigress enjoying her afternoon siesta (barely managed to see her)
Day 2
- Morning Safari (Moharli Gate – Core Zone) – Chhoti Tara and her 2 cubs, walking on the road. The Mother went ahead and the cubs searching for her. They emerged right next to our Jeep after having water. Playing, jumping and charging each other.
- Evening Safari (Devada Gate – Buffer) – Spotted Chhoti Madhu in the bushes and she decided to cross the road. The trail continued and she saw her heading towards our jeep diagonally. She passed by right next to the jeep. A moment where we almost froze! Then was her most majestic swim in the water!
Day 3
- Morning Safari (Junona – Buffer )- Chhota Dadiyal, a male tiger emerging from behind a tree, crossed in front of our gypsy! In no sense of the word was he Chhota!
- Evening Safari (Moharli Gate) – Collarwaali and her 4 cubs, swimming in water. The cubs had a swimming class to attend. Followed by walking along the lakeside. Crossed yet again just near the exit gate!
Day 4
- Evening Safari (Nimdhela – Buffer) – Chanda & Chandni, the two sisters enjoying in the water. Simultaneous sighting!
Disclaimer : It always helps to have a “Sighter” (who can even spot them swimming in the water from across the road) and a photography enthusiast with a Hubble telescope look-alike camera!
Happy Sightings!
I am still wondering which National Park can match the thrill of the Tadoba Jungle Safari!
For more such first-hand experiences, please stay tuned to A Pixelated Perspective
P.S. : Photo Credits shared between Siddharth Goel, Nand Kishore and Self 📸
The amazing clicks and your description is the reason for Tadoba to make a place on my Travel Bucketlist … . ☺️
Paaji Tussi Great ho !! 🙏🏻
Hope this bucket gets filled soon!
Wow, this guide is such a treasure trove of information for anyone planning a Tadoba Jungle Safari!!!! The blend of humor, personal experiences and practical tips makes it a delightful read., I loved the detailed safari diary—especially the thrilling tiger and cub sightings; it felt like I was right there in the gypsy!
This blog is perfect not just for first-timers but even for seasoned wildlife enthusiasts who want to explore Tadoba. I’m already inspired to plan my own trip—will definitely be keeping an eye out for C3, Chhoti Tara, and the 32 cubs!
Thanks for sharing such an engaging perspective. Looking forward to more such adventures on A Pixelated Perspective! Keep up the amazing work!”
PS : Thanks Ankit 😉
Thank you Samidha & Ankit! 😊