Tadoba National Park
Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve
If you are a wildlife lover and particularly a tiger enthusiast then you must know the thrill of capturing the big cat’s aggressive look in the eyes and royal walk in your camera. Visit Tadoba Tiger Reserve, the largest and oldest tiger reserve of Maharashtra to experience that thrill.
Dense forest, lush grasslands, deep valleys, and lakes make it an ideal space for tigers and other wild animals. Well, it is a unique and awesome experience to sight a tiger, a top predator in its natural habitat. As the lockdown is now unlocked after almost two years, how about releasing all your stress and anxiety by doing a Tadoba Tiger Safari Tour?
The total area of Tadoba Tiger reserve is 1727 sq. km and it was established in the year 1955. Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary was formed in the year 1986 and was later merged into TATR in the year 1995.
There are two lakes and one waterway in the reserve Tadoba Lake, Kolsa Lake, and Tadoba River which gives essential fixings to the reserve’s wildlife.
Interesting Fact – Tadoba Tiger Reserve
The word “Tadoba Andhari” is derived, from the word “Taru” who was a mythological god. He is still worshiped by the tribal people living in that area. The word “Andhari” is derived from the Andhari river which flows through the forest.
Prime Predators
A good density of Royal Bengal Tigers are the apex predator in Tadoba Tiger Reserve
Famous For?
Tadoba is famous for the Tigress Maya, called the ‘Queen of Tadoba‘
Major Wildlife
Tiger, Leopard, Sloth Bear, Striped Hyena, Wild Dog, Bison, Sambhar, Rock Python, Peafowl, Rufous Treepie
Flora & Fauna in the Park
Tadoba Tiger Reserve is blessed with thick forests covered with teak trees and other vegetation such as crocodile bark, salai, tendu, karaya gum, and mahua madhuca. Additionally, pivot wood and palas add dynamic shading to the timberland. Also, you can find enormous Arjun trees at the waterhole at Panchadhara.
The reserve is adorned with patches of grasses and bamboo shrubberies.
A strong population of herbivores, rich water sources, and thick forests provide a safe natural habitat for big cats like Royal Bengal Tigers and Indian Leopards.
As many as 90-100 Tigers are there in Taboada Tiger Reserve. Hence this is considered one of the best places to spot tigers near Nagpur with huge tiger density and a better tiger sighting index.
Other mammals include Indian Panthers, Sloth Bears, Gaur, Nilgai, Dhole, Striped Hyena, Little Indian Civet, wilderness felines, Sambar, Chausingha, and Honey Badger. It also has reptiles such as Indian Python, Indian Cobra, and Russel’s snake.
Mammals
- Royal Bengal Tiger
- Indian Leopard
- Indian Wild Dog
- Striped Hyena
- Little Indian Civet
- Sambhar deer
- Spotted Deer
- Bison / Indian Gaur
- Jackal
Birds
- Indian Pitta
- Indian Roller
- Painted Francolin
- Peafowl
- Indian Black Ibis
- Asian Openbill
- Indian Scops Owl
- Jungle Prinia
- Rufous Treepie
Reptiles
- Indian Rock Python
- Sand Boa
- Checkered Keelback
- Banded Kukri Snake
- Russell’s Viper
- Common Vine Snake
- Common wolf Snake
- Spectacled Cobra
- Indian Flapshell Turtle
Safari in Tadoba National Park
Witnessing the diverse flora and fauna while riding through an open jeep is an exciting experience for every wildlife lover. But tiger sighting is something that is the main purpose of every tiger enthusiast. Wildlife Safari in Tadoba Tiger Reserve gives you a lifetime memorable experience
Four zones (Moharli, Kolara, Zari, and Navegaon) in the reserve provide entry gates for open jeep safaris. The safaris are conducted twice daily at fixed timings according to the season (winter or summer) in the morning between 6:30 to 10:30 am and evening between 2:00 pm to 5:30 pm. As per the restrictions from the park authority, a maximum of 122 jeeps can enter the jungle in the morning and evening drives.
Maya– Most famous Tigeress of Tadoba Tiger Reserve
Tadoba National Park and Tiger Reserve is easily accessible from Nagpur. There are a total of 22 gates out of which 7 Gates are in Moharli Zone, 3 Gates are in Navegaon Zone, 7 Gates are in Kolara Zone, 5 Gates are in Pangadi & Zari Zone.
As per many visitors, Moharli Zone is the best safari gate to spot a Tiger in Tadoba Tiger Reserve. However, many other gates including buffer gates have a good sighting index in Tadoba
For Tadoba safari booking, you have to visit the OfficialForest Department website but to book your end-to-end Permits, Accommodation, Meals, and Local transportation you may contact Big Cats India.
Tadoba Safari Tours
Tadoba Budget Safari
A specially designed package that merely focuses on Tiger Safaris by providing 4 or 6 tour options in Tadoba at a budget that you will love
Tadoba Weekend Safari
Have a break from the daily routine and explore the depths of the wilderness through our specially crafted Tadoba weekend safari package offering 2 tiger safaris
Tigers of Central India Tours
Join the Tigers of Central India Tour for an unforgettable journey through Tadoba, Pench, Bandhavgarh, and Kanha National Parks.
Safari Zones or Gates
Tadoba Tiger Reserve has four safari zones namely Moharli, Kolara, ‘Pangadi & Zari’, and Navegaon that provide access to the reserve.
Moharrli Zone – Tadoba
Mohorli is one off the best safari zone in Tadoba, the zonee has 7 entry gates for safari, out off which Mohorli and Khutwanda are Core gates and Adegaon, Agarzari, Junona, Devada & Mamla Gates are buffer gates.
Kolara Zone – Tadoba
Kolara Zone is another prominent zone in Tadoba, With another 7 Gates, Kolara is among the top zone for tiger sighting in Tadoba. Kolara, Palasgaon, Kolara Chauradev, Alizanza, Madnapur, Shirkheda, and Balera are the name of gates from Kolara Zone.
Navegaon Zone – Tadoba
Navegaon Zone in Tadoba has 3 Gates. Navegaon Gate, Navegaon Ramdegi Gate, Nimdele Gate. Out of which only Nagegaon is the core gate, the other two are buffer.
Pangadi & Zari Zone – Tadoba
Pangadi & Zari Zones comprise of 5 gates out of which 2 Pagandi gate and Zari gate are core areas, where as this zone has 3 are Buffer gates (Kelsa Ghat gate, Zari Peth Gate, & Pagandi Aswal Chuha Gate).
How to book Safari in Tadoba Tiger Reserve
To book an end-to-end safari package in Tadoba National Park including airport transfer, accommodation, meals, and internal transfer, you may contact Big Cats India, or schedule a free discussion with our experts to understand the best safari zone to book, based on your area of interest.
It is advised to plan your safari well in advance to get the best zones for sightings in Tadoba. If you are not sure which gate(s) to choose from, you can contact Big Cats India or message us for any assistance to book your safari in Tadoba.
You can also book Tadoba Safari online from Tadoba.org website. However, this websites only book your safari permits, not the jeep, accommodation, food and internal transfer to the reserve gates.
Open Jeep Safari
All the gates in Tadoba provide entry to Open Jeep Safari. The cost of booking a gypsy is ₹3000 for the core zone and ₹2500 for the buffer zone. For night safari i is ₹2200. You will have to book your vehicle separately from your Jungle Permit if you are booking directly from the official website. But, if you will book via a Wildlife Tourism Company, they will take care of everything.
Canter Safari
Canter Safari is not available at all the gates, you will have to check before opting for a Canter Safari in Tadoba tiger reserve. Usually, canter Safari opts only when you do not get Open Jeep Safari to permit for your dates. Canter Safari is only available in Moharli Core Gate. It is the best mode of safari type if you want to enjoy the wildlife in Tadoba national park in a large group.
| Summer | Pre-Winter | Winters |
|---|---|---|
| 06:00 to 10:00 Hrs | 05:30 to 09:30 Hrs | 06:30 to 10:30 Hrs |
| Summer | Pre-Winter | Winters |
|---|---|---|
| 14:30 to 18:30 Hrs | 15:00 to 19:00 Hrs | 14:00 to 18:00 Hrs |
Weather in Tadoba
Tadoba National Park experiences diverse weather throughout the year. January and February are cool and dry, with temperatures ranging from 7°C to 25°C (45°F to 77°F).
March to June sees the onset of summer, with temperatures soaring between 20°C to 45°C (68°F to 113°F).
The monsoon season from July to September brings heavy rainfall, transforming the park into a lush green landscape.
Post-monsoon (October to November) offers pleasant weather with temperatures ranging from 15°C to 35°C (59°F to 95°F).
December marks the beginning of winter, with cool and dry conditions, temperatures varying from 7°C to 25°C (45°F to 77°F).
Each season in Tadoba brings its own unique charm and wildlife experiences.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Min(°C) | 1 | 10 | 22 | 30 | 35 | 25 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 12 | 6 | 3 |
| Max(°C) | 15 | 25 | 35 | 40 | 42 | 41 | 34 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 27 | 25 |
| Month | Min(°C) | Max(°C) |
| Jan | 1 | 15 |
| Feb | 10 | 25 |
| Mar | 22 | 35 |
| Apr | 30 | 40 |
| May | 35 | 42 |
| Jun | 25 | 41 |
| Jul | 20 | 34 |
| Aug | 19 | 30 |
| Sep | 19 | 31 |
| Oct | 12 | 29 |
| Nov | 6 | 27 |
| Dec | 3 | 25 |
Tadoba in Winters
During the winter season (November – February) Tadoba gets a green cover and becomes one of the most beautiful national parks in central India. The sunny mornings are refreshing.
Tadoba in Summers
In the summer season (March-May) the temperature rises up to 47 degrees celsius. But this also increases the chances of sighting tigers near waterholes due to dried vegetation.
Tadoba in Monsoon
Tadoba Core is closed during the monsoon season (July-September) due to heavy rainfall of up to 1275 mm. However, some of the buffer gates are open for the beautiful monsoon Safari
Best time to spot tigers at Tadoba National Park
Every wildlife lover or tiger enthusiast is aware that sighting a tiger takes lots of patience. It is considered a matter of luck to see a tiger in the jungle safari. You have to spend hours to spot a tiger. So, you have to be careful to select the time to visit Tadoba. But the things get easy when you have an expert tiger tracker from our team, who uses all his experience of Tiger Tracking in spotting a tiger for you.
Recommended Tour
Tadoba National Park
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How to Reach the Tadoba Safari Park
By Air
Nagpur airport is the nearest landmark for air travel. Moharli Gate is 137 km away from the Airport, wher as Kolara Gate is 114 km from Airport.
By Road
Tadoba is well connected with Nagpur by road and Nagpur is very well connected with almost every big city in India. However our advice is to reach Nagpur then start with road travel.
By Rail
The nearest railhead is Nagpur. This is a major railway station and so, connected to all main cities through the country’s wide-reaching railway network.
| From | By Air+Road (Hrs) | By Road | By Rail+Road (Hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Delhi | 1.5 Air + 4.5 Road | 18.5 Hrs | 17.00 Rail + 0.5 Road |
| Mumbai | 1.00 Air + 3.00 Road | 17.5 Hrs | 16.5 Rail + 1.00 Road |
| Chandrapur (Nearest Railhead) | NA | 1.00 Hrs | NA |
| Nagpur (Nearest Airport) | NA | 3.00 Hrs | 2.5 Rail + 1.00 Road |
| Bangaluru | 1.5 Air + 3.00 Road | 18.00 Hrs | 19.00 Rail + 2.00 Road |
| Jabalpur | 4.5 Air + 2.5 Road | 8.15 Hrs | 11.00 Rail + 0.45 Road |
| Kolkata | 2.00 Air + 3.00 Road | 26.00 Hrs | 20.00 Rail + 1.00 Road |
| Agra | 4.5 Air + 2.00 Road | 17.00 Hrs | 15.00 Rail + 1.00 Road |
| Pune | 1.00 Air + 2.00 Road | 17.42 Hrs | 15.00 Rail + 1.00 Road |
| Hyderabad | .1.5 Air + 2.00 Road | 8.00 Hrs | 6.5 Rail + 2.00 Road |
| Aurangabad | 4.35 Air + 2.00 Road | 10.00 Hrs | 11.5 Air + 0.45 Road |
| Secunderabad | NA | 8.00 Hrs | 5.00 Air+ 1.00 Road |
| From | Time to arrive |
|---|---|
| Kanha TR | 8 Hrs Road |
| Bandhavgarh TR | 11 Hrs Road |
| Pench TR | 5 Hrs Road |
| Umred Karhandla | 3 Hrs Road |
| Corbett TR | 25 Hrs Air + 6 Hrs Road |
| Tippeshwar WLS | 4 Hrs Road |
| Nagzira WLS | 4.40 Hrs Road |
| Navegaon TR | 4.30 Hrs Road |
Things you should carry with you
Essential things to carry for your Tadoba Tiger Safari
Your DSLR or Camera to capture your memorable safari moment.
Binoculars to view the wildlife from a safe distance.
Plenty of water to keep you dehydrated on a sunny day.
Hat & Shades to protect from direct sunlight.
Bandanna or Cotton Scarf to cover your face and avoid dust.
Winter wear or jacket if you are doing safari during winters. It really gets cold very quickly after sunsets in Jungle.
Rain Cover to save you and your gears from water during rain.
Tadoba can get really colder very quickly in the evening so consider carrying woolens in the afternoon safari in Tadoba during winters season
Some History about Tadoba Tiger Reserve
Situated in the Chandrapur district of Maharashtra, Tadoba National Park is one of the oldest and largest national parks in the state of Maharashtra. It is now known as Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR). Spanning over 1727 sq. km of total area, the Tadoba Tiger reserve was established in the year 1955. Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary which was formed in the year 1986, was later merged into Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve in the year 1995.
The word ‘Tadoba’ is derived from the name of the God of locals,’ Taru’ whereas the word ‘Andhari’ is derived from the name of the river.
With the strong density of tigers up to 90-100 tigers, Taboada Tiger Reserve has become the favorite spot of wildlife and tiger lovers.
Why visit Tadoba?
Rich flora & fauna, lush grasslands, and the best tiger sightings – what more would a wildlife lover or photographer want? Being one of the largest and finest tiger reserves of India, Tadoba has been fascinating tourists from all over the world. The successful protection and conservation of the national animal of India have resulted in a healthy population of tigers in Tadoba. So, chances are more to capture the best shot of big cats in your cameras, right? Do you need any more reasons to visit Tadoba?
Tadoba General Info Card
- Total Area: 1727 sq. km
- Location: Chandrapur District
- Notified as National Park: 1955
- Notified as Tiger Reserve: 1995
- Nearest Airport: Nagpur (2 Hours)
- Nearest Railway Junction: Chandrapur (1.15 Hours)
Tadoba Wildlife Info Card
- Carnivorous: Tiger, Leopard, Jungle Cat, Dhole, Striped Hyneas
- Herbivorous: Sambar, Barking Deer, Chital, Gaur
- Omnivorous: Wild Boar, Sloth Bear, Rhesus, Mongooses, Lesser florican
- Birds: 195 Species of Birds
Tadoba Tour Info Card
- Ideal Tour Length: 3N4D or 6 Safaris
- Can extend with: Kanha, Pench, Bandhavgarh, Umered, Nagzira
- Tour Starting points: Nagpur, Delhi, Mumbai
- Is tour Customizable?: Yes
- Safari Options: Open Jeep, Canter
Tadoba is one of the largest and finest Tiger Reserves of the country. The success of protection and conservation of Tigers have established a good amount of this endangered specie in the forest. The Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve could boast a healthy forest due which it has sustained and grown since inception.
Inside the forest, there are still people residing and farming in a small village. When questioned, they say they don’t feel the danger and are residing in the area safely since long. With wildlife, you may even encounter women and children in the forest, and farmers driving their tractors. Though, listening to this, please don’t dare to step out of your jeeps in danger zones and listen and follow all the safety techniques as explained by your guide and jeep driver.
Do’s and Don’ts of having an awesome Safari experience in Tadoba
The best tiger sighting can be done in summers however you may have to deal with the scorching sun. In winters the animals are usually hibernating in their caves and are hard to see around.
The safaris are scheduled at two times a day, morning between 6:30 to 10:30 and in the evening between 2:00 pm to 5:30 pm. Mornings are usually cold, but it’s better rather than dealing with the scorching sun during midsummers.
Always pre-book your safari as the instant booking is subject to availability.
It’s compulsory to take your ID cards with you, also if possible printout your tickets beforehand.
It’s advised that you wear full sleeve shirts and full-length trousers to avoid any insect bites in the forest.
One must carry with them a hat, jacket, and dust mask with them to deal with sun, cold and blowing dust due to racing jeeps. Also, it’s good to carry a good point and shoot camera.
Though the main attraction of the safari is Tiger sighting but, you must not forget to enjoy other vegetation of the reserve. There is a lot more to explore.
There is mostly jungle and you may not find anything to eat during your safari hence its advised to carry some food and water along with you. It takes a good four to five hours in a single round of safari and you might feel the thirst and hunger.
Tadoba Tiger Reserve FAQs
Related National Parks & Tiger Reserves
Bandhavgarh National Park & Tiger Reserve
Jim Corbett National Park – Safari Details
Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve – Safari Details, History & Information
Panna Tiger Reserve & National Park – Safari Details
Ranthambore National Park and Tiger Reserve
Pench Tiger Reserve & National Park
