15 Best Jungle Safari Destinations in South India

Wildlife sanctuaries, national parks and biosphere reserves are the places where animals as well as plants are protected from disturbance and provided a comfortable living. These places are established to protect and maintain natural habitats and wildlife populations. And, India has become one of the top countries in protecting the natural habitats of our planet. Being famous for its vast and varied geographical features, India is indeed a paradise for an incredible number of wildlife species.

You can find a huge number of national parks all across India. However, South India has been playing a crucial role in attracting hordes of wildlife enthusiasts throughout the year. The densely populated forests of the South Indian states (Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana) located in the lap of the Eastern and Western Ghats mountains are the main reason behind this popularity.

Compared to North India, the national parks in South India are untouched and their beauty is unparalleled. These parks have been taking a major part in creating South India the best for wildlife tourism. We have created a list of the best national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in South India below. Without travelling to these places your South India wildlife tours could not be completed.

15 Best Jungle Safari Destinations in South India

• Bandipur National Park
• Periyar National Park
• Silent Valley National Park
• Mathikettan Shola National Park
• Guindy National Park
• Eravikulam National Park
• Mudumalai National Park
• Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary
• Nagarhole National Park
• Bannerghatta National Park
• R. Hills Wildlife Sanctuary
• Kudremukh National Park
• Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary
• Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
• Viralimalai Wildlife Sanctuary

Most Popular South India Jungle Wildlife Safari Tour Packages

Bandipur National Park, Karnataka

Previously treated as the private hunting grounds for Britishers and the kings, Bandipur National Park is now an important part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. It is located in the lap of Western Ghats and is regarded as one of the most popular national parks for Jungle Safari in South India. Bandipur National Park covers an area of around 872 square kilometres located in Karnataka on the Mysore-Ooty highway.

Bandipur National Park is the home to endangered Asiatic wild elephants, tigers, sloth bears, sambar, mouse bear, spotted deer, flying lizards and over 200 species of birds. You can explore the diverse flora and fauna of Bandipur National Park by availing of jeep safari tours.

How to Reach Bandipur National Park?

• The nearest airport to Bandipur is Mysore Airport from where you have to take a bus or car to cover a distance of 215 kilometres.
• The nearest railway station to Bandipur is Mysore City Junction (80 kilometres) and you have to hire a car to reach the national park.
• The park is located on the highway and can be reached via bus from various cities such as Bangalore, Coimbatore, Mangalore and Cochin.

Best Time to Visit Bandipur National Park for Jungle Safari

• Winter is the best time to visit Bandipur National Park during the months between November and February. It is the best time to watch migratory birds like Warblers, Peregrine Falcon and Flycatchers.
• However, for tigers sighting, the best time is during the months between March and June, because it is the best time tigers step out of their zones.

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Periyar National Park, Kerala

Periyar National Park, Thekkady, is surrounded by the banks of a huge lake and located in a dense hilly forest, famous for serving as a haven for a diverse variety of flora and fauna. Also known as a tiger reserve, the park is one of the best places for jungle safari in South India. Internationally acclaimed for its unfathomable natural beauty, it is blessed as being home to rich biodiversity across the country.

Periyar National Park is one of the popular national parks in South India and one of the places where you can avail your own jungle safari. There are several options for a river cruise, hiking trip and tiger safari and you must pay an entry fee when you arrive and take a guide along with you. The park is famed for over 30 species of mammals, especially Asian Elephants, Sambar, Gaur etc., butterflies, birds, fish and Royal Bengal Tigers.

How to Reach Periyar National Park?

• There are two nearest airports to Periyar National Park – Madurai and Kochi. The distance of the park from the airports is 146 kilometres and 190 kilometres, respectively.
• The nearest railway station is Kottayam and the distance between the park and the station is 114 kilometres.
• The park is also connected with the major cities of India by road. Travellers can take bus service to Thekkady from Kochi, Madurai and Kottayam.

Best Time to Visit Periyar National Park for Jungle Safari

• Summer (March to May) is the best time to visit Periyar National Park as it is the ideal time to spot various flora and fauna.
• Travellers can also choose one of the months between October and February as a preferred option owing to pleasant weather.

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Silent Valley National Park, Kerala

Being the central part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Silent Valley National Park is famed for offering a perfect undisturbed ecosystem to a huge variety of flora and fauna. It is located in the Palakkad District of Kerala and bordered by Nilgiri Plateau in the north and Mannarkkad Plain in the south. An ideal place for trekkers and wildlife explorers, the national park was called Sairandhrivanam centuries ago as it was believed to be the hidden space for Sairandhiri along with her five husbands (the tale of Mahabharata).

It was declared a national park in 1984 for being home to a rich collection of biodiversity. A jungle safari in Silent Valley National Park will let you see animals from tigers, snakes, elephants, and leopards to more than 1,000 species of plants including 110 species of orchids. As per the official data, there are more than 400 species of moths and over 200 species of butterflies are found in the Silent Valley National Park.

How to Reach Silent Valley National Park?

• Peelamedu Airport is the nearest airport to Silent Valley National Park, located at a distance of around 155 kilometres.
• The nearest railway station is Olavakkode Railway Station at a distance of around 75 kilometres.
• Travellers can take a bus to Palakkad and reach Mukkali from where they have to take entrance tickets and a guide to enter the park.

Best Time to Visit Silent Valley National Park for Jungle Safari

• You can plan a jungle safari trip to the Silent Valley National Park during the period between December and February as the weather becomes pleasant this time.
• However, one can also visit the park in the months of March and April.

Also Read: Wildlife Tourism in Kerala

Mathikettan Shola National Park, Kerala

Mathikettan Shola National Park is located in Poopara Village in Kerala. A tropical rainforest, and an important elephant strip, this park was declared a national park in 2008. Home to a wide variety of endangered species, Mathikettan Shola National Park is located about ten kilometres from Munnar.

The varying heights of the terrain house dense verdant forests, which are fed by the streams like Mathikettan Puzha, Uchillkuthi Puzha and Njandar. The aftermath is a perfect ecosystem as a shelter for a rich collection of flora and fauna. The wildlife enthusiasts love to visit the park for animals like gaur, sambar, langur, and many more birds.

How to Reach Mathikettan Shola National Park?

• The nearest airport to Mathikettan Shola National Park is Kochi International Airport, which is connected to all the major cities and countries across the globe. It is located at a distance of 142 kilometres from the park.
• The nearest railway station to the park is Theni Railway Station, which is connected to other cities in India via Madurai Railway Station.
• There are several state-run bus services available that connect the park with the cities like Cochin and Madurai.

Best Time to Visit Mathikettan Shola National Park for Jungle Safari

• The best time to visit Mathikettan Shola National Park is between April and September.
• However, you can also visit the park throughout the year.

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Guindy National Park, Tamil Nadu

The eighth smallest national park in India, located in the middle of Chennai City, Guindy National Park was established back in the year 1978. It is 2.70 square kilometres protected area that houses a rich collection of biodiversity. The park is an extended part of the grounds enclosing Raj Bhavan (residence of the governor of Tamil Nadu), which was previously known as the ‘Guindy Lodge.’

The authority takes utmost care to protect the park and its ecosphere. A wide variety of flora and fauna found in Guindy National Park attract over seven lakhs of travellers throughout the year. The park houses 2,000 chitals, 400 blackbucks, various snakes and turtles. There are also more than 130 species of birds, over 60 species of butterflies and 14 species of mammals, which make the trip to the park memorable for a lifetime.

How to Reach Guindy National Park?

• The nearest airport to the Guindy National Park is Chennai Airport, which is eight kilometres away and has domestic and international terminals. It is connected with all the major cities in India as well as across the world.
• Guindy National Park can also be reached via train. The nearest railway station is just one kilometre away. Moreover, there are two stations near the park, Chennai Central Station and Chennai Egmore and respectively, they are 12 kilometres and 9 kilometres away.
• Guindy National Park in Chennai is also connected with the major cities via bus services. So, you can also reach the park by road.

Best Time to Visit Guindy National Park for Jungle Safari

• The best time to visit Guindy National Park is between October and May. You can expect soothing weather this time and see various animals in their habitat. Moreover, this is the time when migratory birds come to the park from different corners of the world.
• It is recommended not to visit the park during monsoon as the surroundings become muddy and slippery.

Also Read: Wildlife Tourism in Tamil Nadu

Eravikulam National Park, Kerala

Kerala’s first-ever national park, also known as Rajamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Eravikulam National Park is located in Idukki. Previously treated as a game reserve till 1971 under Kannan Devan Hill Company, the area was declared a national park in1975 in order to protect the endangered species of Nilgiri Tahr. It is situated at the top of a hill in the Western Ghat range, covered by verdant grasslands and shola forests.

Eravikulam National Park attracts thousands of scientists, ornithologists, wildlife enthusiasts and photographers throughout the year for being home to a plethora of flora and fauna. Apart from the Nilgiri Tahr, you can also see other animals like dhole, leopard, sambar, golden jackal, Nilgiri marten, Indian porcupine and many more. There are also more than 132 species of birds including Nilgiri pipit, black and orange flycatcher, Kerala laughingthrush and many more.

How to Reach Eravikulam National Park?

• The nearest airport to Eravikulam National Park is Kochi International Airport, which is 135 kilometres away from the park.
• The nearest railway station is Aluva Railway Station, which is 115 kilometres away from Munnar, from where you have to take a bus or taxi or private car to reach the park.
• The park is located at a distance of around 15 kilometres from Munnar City Centre, which is connected to the major cities of India via bus services. You can reach the entry point of the park, Rajamalai by road and then need to travel on foot.

Best Time to Visit Eravikulam National Park for Jungle Safari

• The months between September and October are the best time to visit Eravikulam National Park as it is the ideal time to spot Nilgiri Tahr amidst the full-blooming grasslands.
• April to May is also a preferred time to view various indigenous animals in the park.

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Mudumalai National Park, Tamil Nadu

One of the best places to see tigers in South India, Mudumalai National Park is situated on the Northwest side of Nilgiri Hills. Being an important wildlife corridor in the Nilgiri Biosphere, the national park is adjoined by other parks and wildlife reserves such as Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Silent Valley National Park, Bandipur National Park and Mukurthi National Park.

Mudumalai National Park offers a balanced ecosystem, which makes it a perfect place for being home to over 13 per cent of total mammal species and 8 per cent of bird species in India. It houses some rare medicinal plants like Mangifera indica, Terminalia arjuna, Pongamia glabra and many more. Moreover, you can expect to see various animals like leopards, tigers, jungle cats and many more species. This national park is also an amazing place for night safari. The connecting roads to the adjoining national parks and forests are the places where you can expect the wildlife during the safari.

How to Reach Mudumalai National Park?

• The nearest airport to the national park is Coimbatore International Airport, which is 127 kilometres away from the park.
• There are two railway stations near Mudumalai National Park, Mysore Railway Junction and Coimbatore Railway Junction. The stations are located at a distance of 90 kilometres and 120 kilometres away from the park, respectively and are well-connected with most of the major cities in India.
• There are several bus services operating between Thepakadu (the main bus stop for the park) and the cities such as Mysore, Coimbatore, Ooty, Bengaluru etc. So, you can also reach the park by road.

Best Time to Visit Mudumalai National Park for Jungle Safari

• The best time to visit Mudumalai National Park is between the months of October and May. The weather remains favourable this time and you can expect to spot various kinds of flora and fauna in the park.

Also Read: Anamalai Tiger Reserve Information

Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka

Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, located in the North Kannada District of Karnataka is an ideal place to experience the activities like river rafting, trekking, bird watching, and other water adventures. The sanctuary is home to over 200 species of birds, which attract thousands of bird-watchers and wildlife enthusiasts over the years.

Apart from the birds, Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the places for tiger sighting in South India. As per the official data, there are around 40 tigers living in the core part of the sanctuary. Moreover, you can also spot animals like monkeys, leopards, elephants and birds like falcons and some exotic species in Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary.

How to Reach Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary?

• The nearest airport to Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary is Belgaum. It is connected with cities like Mumbai and Bangalore.
• The nearest railway station is at Dharwad from where you have to travel 57 kilometres to reach Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary.
• You can also travel to the sanctuary by road. There are several bus services operating between the sanctuary and the cities like Hubli, Dharwad, Belgaum, Goa, Bengaluru and Karwar.

Best Time to Visit Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary for Jungle Safari

• Similar to other popular national parks in South India, Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary is also surrounded by shola forests. Though it offers a moderate atmosphere throughout the year, October to May is the ideal time to visit the sanctuary.

Also Read: Wildlife Tourism in Karnataka

Nagarhole National Park, Karnataka

Previously known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park, Nagarhole National Park and Tiger Reserve is a nationally acclaimed tiger reserve for its high-density tiger population in the country. The park is spread across an area of 850 square kilometres in Mysore and Kodagu districts in Karnataka. It is enclosed by Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary to the south and Bandipur Tiger Reserve in the southeast.

Nagarhole National Park lies as a connecting corridor for tigers and elephants to the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats. It is one of the major hubs of conservation under Project Elephant and Project Tiger. The park is famous for being one of the best places for exploring wildlife. Apart from tigers and elephants, one can also see gaur, sambar, chital, antelope and other animals in Nagarhole National Park.

How to Reach Nagarhole National Park?

• The nearest airport to the Nagarhole National Park is Bangalore Airport, at a distance of 220 kilometres.
• You can also reach the park via rail. The nearest railway station is Mysore Junction, located at a distance of 89 kilometres away from the park.
• There are regular bus services available to reach the national park from nearby major cities like Bangalore, Mysore etc.

Best Time to Visit Nagarhole National Park for Jungle Safari

• Summer, during the months of April and May, is the best time to visit Nagarhole National Park as the waterholes in the park are dry and the animals come out for water at the lake.
• However, to explore in a better weather condition, one can also visit the park between November and February.

Also Check Out: Complete Karnataka Tourism Guide

Bannerghatta National Park, Karnataka

Bannerghatta National Park is undoubtedly one of the best national parks to explore in South India. The park is located near Bangalore (25 kilometres south) in the Anekal range, Karnataka and is regarded as home to a wide variety of wildlife. It was declared a national park in 1974 and in 2002, a small portion of the park was turned into a biological park or zoo.

Bannerghatta National Park spreads across an area of around 261 square kilometres and is bordered by 16 villages. Being a part of the wildlife corridor for elephants connecting Sathyamangalam Forest and BR Hills, the Bannerghatta National Park is one of the ideal places for a jungle safari tour. It offers a guided bus tour along a six-kilometre stretch to spot various species of animals such as elephants, leopards, gaur, peacock, Royal Bengal Tiger and many more.

How to Reach Bannerghatta National Park?

• The nearest airport to Bannerghatta National Park is Bengaluru or Bangalore Airport, which is around 46 kilometres away.
• The nearest railway station to the park is Yeshwantpur Junction, which is connected to all major cities via rail.
• You can also reach the park via metro railway. The nearest metro railway station is Yelachenahalli.
• There are also bus services available to reach Bannerghatta National Park from cities like Bengaluru, Mysore etc.

Best Time to Visit Bannerghatta National Park for Jungle Safari

• The best time to visit the park is during the months between October and June owing to the perfect weather conditions.

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B.R. Hills Wildlife Sanctuary & Tiger Reserve, Karnataka

BR Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, also popular as BR Tiger Reserve is considered to be the wildlife corridor that connects the Western Ghats to the Eastern Ghats. It is located at a height of about 1,551 metres from sea level and spread across an area of 540 square kilometres in a hill range in Karnataka (Chamarajanagar District).

The sanctuary was declared a tiger reserve by the Karnataka State Government in 2010. Apart from being a tiger reserve in South India, B.R. Hills Wildlife Sanctuary is also home to a huge variety of animals. Some of them are elephants, deer, bison, sloth bears etc. A place for tiger sighting in South India, BR Tiger Reserve is also covered with more than 250 species of birds. It is one of the best places in South India to experience bird watching, elephant bathing and jungle safari in one place.

How to Reach B.R. Hills Wildlife Sanctuary?

• The nearest airport to the wildlife sanctuary is the Mysore airport, which is about 80 kilometres away.
• One can also reach the sanctuary by rail. The nearest railway station is Mysore Railway station (around 89 kilometres).
• You can also reach BR Tiger Reserve by road. Bus service is available from cities like Bangalore and Mysore.

Best Time to Visit B.R. Hills Wildlife Sanctuary for Jungle Safari

• The best time to visit BR Hills Wildlife Sanctuary is between the months of October and March as the weather this time becomes pleasant and perfect to enjoy various adventurous activities.

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Kudremukh National Park, Karnataka

Home to a wide variety of wildlife, spread across an area of around 600 square kilometres, Kudremukh National Park is located at a junction of Chikkamagaluru, Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts in Karnataka. The park has derived its name from a hilltop which looks like the shape of the head of a horse. Entirely covered by dense forests, the park includes four ranges, named Kudremukh, Kalasa, Kerekatte and Shimoga.

Being a popular wildlife destination in South India, Kudremukh National Park is home to several species of birds like the imperial pigeon, Malabar trogon, great pied hornbill and many more. There are several options for bird-watching available here. Apart from the birds, Kudremukh National Park is also a renowned ecospace for jungle safari in India, as well as South India. You can get some glimpses of leopards, tigers, common langurs, sloth bears, Malabar giant squirrels and many more species in the park.

How to Reach Kudremukh National Park?

• Travellers can reach Kudremukh National Park by air. The nearest airport to the park is Mangalore International Airport, which is 95 kilometres away from the park.
• The nearest railway station is also 95 kilometres away, Mangalore Railway Station.
• One can also travel to Kudremukh National Park via bus from nearby cities.

Best Time to Visit Kudremukh National Park for Jungle Safari

• The best time to visit the park is during the months between October and May, after the monsoon.

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Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, Karnataka

The largest bird sanctuary of Karnataka, Ranganathittu is located in the district of Mandya, in the historic town of Srirangapatna. The bird sanctuary, comprising six islets, situated on the bank of River Kaveri, is popularly known as ‘Pakshi Kashi,’ which means birds’ paradise. Due to the ideal location of the islets and the presence of aqua insects in abundance, the bird sanctuary has become a perfect place for the migratory birds that come from countries like Siberia, Australia and North America. The place has been referred to as one of the popular tourist attractions in South India.

Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary was declared a sanctuary after famous ornithologist Dr Salim Ali pressured the government to do so in the year 1940. It has been regarded as a haven for wildlife enthusiasts across the globe. The sanctuary is home to the largest population of marsh crocodiles in Karnataka. Apart from the crocodiles, you can also get glimpses of about 170 avian species such as Oriental darter, river tern, Indian shag, painted stork and kingfishers.

How to Reach Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary?

• The nearest airport to the bird sanctuary is Mysore International Airport, which is around 30 kilometres away.
• The nearest railway station to Ranganathittu is Srirangapatna at a distance of five kilometres.
• You can also reach the sanctuary by bus from cities like Bangalore and Mysore.

Best Time to Visit Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary for Jungle Safari

• The best time to go to Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary is between the months of June and November. These months are the best time for bird-watching as these are the nesting months for the birds.

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Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala

The second-largest wildlife sanctuary in Kerala, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the important regions of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. It is located between Bandipur, Nagarhole and Mudumalai reserve forests and is home to a huge variety of flora and fauna. The perfect environment in an evergreen setting along with a favourable climatic condition has made this place a perfect place for the species.

Home to several species of mammals, wildlife enthusiasts and photographers love to explore Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. You can easily spot elephants, deer, panthers, jungle cats and especially tigers here. It is also popular as a home to a large number of endangered species of birds. There are several options for jungle safari in Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. One must pay an entry fee and take a forest guide for the safari.

How to Reach Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary?

• The nearest airport to the sanctuary is Karipur International Airport in Kozhikode at a distance of 125 kilometres. There are several bus services available between the airport and the sanctuary.
• Travellers can also reach the sanctuary via rail. The nearest railway station is Kozhikode at a distance of 100 kilometres.
• Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is also connected to other cities via bus service. One can avail buses from cities like Kasargod, Calicut, Cochin and Trivandrum.

Best Time to Visit Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary for Jungle Safari

• The ideal time to visit the best jungle safari destination in South India is between August and February. However, the place remains open throughout the year.

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• Top 15 Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks in Kerala

Viralimalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu

Viralimalai Wildlife Park is one of the best places to explore our national bird, the peacock. It is a renowned wildlife destination in Tamil Nadu and attracts a huge number of tourists to watch varied species of peacocks closely in their natural habitat. It is located in a town at a distance of 30 kilometres from Trichy.

Apart from the peacock sanctuaries, there is also a Murugan temple, where the eminent form of dance, Bharatnatyam flourished. The temple is located at the top of a hill and travellers need to climb about 210 steps to reach there. There are a total of six species of peacocks in Viralimalai and the Murugan temple along with its surroundings is the main region where they are found mostly.

How to Reach Viralimalai Wildlife Sanctuary

• The nearest airport to Viralimalai Wildlife Park is Tiruchirappalli International Airport at a distance of 30 kilometres.
• The nearest railway station is Tiruchirappalli Junction, which is connected to all the major cities of South India, as well as India.

Best Time to Visit Viralimalai Wildlife Sanctuary

• The best time to visit the wildlife park is during the months of October to April because one can find pleasant weather at this time.
• However, if you want to see the peacocks tapping their feet in the rain, then the monsoon (July to September) is the best time to go.

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Wildlife holidays in South India cannot be completed if you do not add one of these places to your itinerary. These are some of the places where you will have the best jungle safari experience of your life. However, one needs to take permission, book rooms in hotels or resorts, safari cars and many more in advance to plan South India Jungle Safari wildlife holidays. This might become hectic for you.

So, if you need any assistance in booking your holidays, you can call us or browse our website for some best packages for the best jungle safari experiences in South India.

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