Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary and Nagarhole are considered to be one of the best national parks in Southern India. The National Park is also known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park. Filled with sandalwood and teak trees and teeming with wildlife, it is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, and the Brahmagiri Mountains back the park.
Asiatic Elephants, elusive Tigers, Leopards, Sambar deer, peacocks, Kingfishers, and a variety of birds are some of the inhabitants of the Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary & Nagarhole National Park in Karnataka, India.
See other wildlife sanctuaries in India that should be on your wildlife lovers’ safari travel list.
Located on the Southeastern end of Nagarhole National Park, Kabini is home to one of the largest numbers of elephants in Asia. The river attracts these majestic animals. Over 300 species of birds are spotted throughout the year.
WHAT IS IN THIS POST
Kabini Tiger Reserve & Nagarhole National Park
Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary is a part of Nagarhole National Park which used to be the private hunting ground for the Royal Families of Mysore. The mystical forest later became a part of the Protected Tiger Reserve and Nagarhole National Park. The name Kabini comes from the rivers that wind through this jungle. While Kabini is a smaller part of the Nagarhole National Park it attracts many wildlife species since the flowing river attracts fauna and other wildlife.
Kabini or Nagarhole National Park has a lot to offer for wildlife lovers. The richness of Flora and Fauna is an absolute beauty to experience. One of the biggest advantages of this place is that when all the National Parks are closed during the Monsoon session, Kabini and Nagarhole are open throughout the year.
There are lots to experience in Kabini, one of the best is to go for a Boat ride in the River. If you are lucky you can see numerous animals as they come near the water bodies to quench the thirst. We saw a family of elephants including a couple of little ones come to the water to drink, bathe, and play.
Nagarhole National Park Safari(s)
The safaris are operated by the jungle lodges and resorts of Kabini which are owned by the government of Karnataka. This is the most common and popular way to visit and explore the exceptionally beautiful forests of Kabini Tiger Reserve. You can book either a canter (a mini-bus that seats 18 people) or a jeep safari. You can book online or the resorts where you stay can help book these safari trips.
These safaris take you to the heart of the forest to look for wildlife and the wilderness from up close. On these safaris, you have the opportunity to spot various wild animals like majestic tigers, leopards, elephants, langur monkeys, sloth bears, and sambar deer, as well as birds like a peacock and crested hawk-eagle as well in the safari. All of which we saw except the elusive leopard. There is supposedly a black panther roaming on these forests. We didn’t see him either. Photos from our Tiger safari here.
Kabini Jeep Safari
Jeep Safari is operated by jungle lodges and resorts of Kabini. Kabini jeep safari booking can be made through the resorts you are staying in if they are associated with the forest department. Jeep Safari can be a little expensive. Mini Bus Safaris (or Canters) which are operated by the Forest Department, are budget-friendly and are an ideal choice for people enjoying their trip with a large group of friends or family members. In addition to jeep and bus safaris, you can also do a boat safari on the Kabini River.
We booked the tickets (through our resort) for Nagarhole Tiger Safari – Kabini Gate. Within a few minutes of the safari, we spotted a tigress just sitting in the shade of a tree. All of us couldn’t believe our luck in spotting such a magnificent animal so quickly on the tour. We waited at that spot for more than 30 minutes. We were very lucky! We have been to Ranthambore and Bandipur and never had the same luck!!
Since luck was on our side, we decided to do another safari, this time on a Canter. A naturalist from the resort accompanied us. We saw many professional wildlife photographers with their cameras and big lenses. It was a unique experience. Along with us, there were 2 other buses and 5 to 6 jeeps. while we didn’t see any tigers we also spotted a beautiful peacock couple, hundreds of spotted deer, an Indian giant squirrel, and many langur monkeys.
Langur monkeys are called “A Chital Deer’s Best Friend” as they notice predators thanks to their keen eyesight and capacity to perch on tall trees. They frequently live side by side with herds of Chital Deer and make alarm cries when a predator gets close. The Chital Deer on the other hand uses its keen sense of smell to alert the Langur when something might be approaching while they are on land.
See: Photos from Kabini Tiger Safari. More photos here including an amazing Peacock we saw.
Kabini Boat Safari
The Kabini Backwaters Forest Safari is an extremely popular experience organized by the Karnataka Forest Department in the surreal Kabini River. The boat trip was the perfect way to admire the lush green surroundings and nearby flora and fauna and we saw a beautiful sunset on the way back.
The boat takes you for a ride on the smooth waters, not too far from the banks of the Kabini River… you may spot a herd of majestic Asiatic elephants peacefully bathing, feeding, having fun, and getting on with their lives. Amongst the plethora of wildlife present on the river banks, you may see otters playing in the water, marsh crocodiles lazing on the banks, as well as a myriad of ecstatic water birds dipping in and out of the beautiful backwaters. See the video of our boat safari here.
Don’t miss this boat safari. After seeing the Tiger, we thought we were done with but surely the boat trip turned out to be the most innovative and exciting way to explore the Kabini reserve and absorb its beauty. These safaris are operated by the jungle lodges and resorts of Kabini which are owned by the government of Karnataka. Plan and have the resort make the necessary booking.
Where to stay in Kabini or Nagarhole National Park
Getting there
Kabini is 80 Km away from Mysore, just a 2 hours drive from the town, and 220 Kms away from the State capital of Karnataka Bangalore, a 4–5 hours drive.
Bangalore has the nearest Airport which connects with the Major Cities in India, Cabs can be hired from the Airport. The roads were a little bumpy and rugged as we got closer to the National Park.
There are various lodges and guest houses in the area, some privately owned and some operated by the Government of Karnataka. For this trip, we stayed at the wonderful Serai Kabini.
The Serai Kabini
We stayed at a couple of waterfront villas with views of the river from our veranda. The modest-looking stone walls were outfitted with all the modern comforts like wooden floors, tiled roofs, and lovely white linens.
We were welcomed with some wine and fruits in the villa which had a hammock on the patch of green next to the pretty little sit-out. Mornings were spent on the veranda sipping coffee to the sound where of birds. The spacious bathroom inside was fitted with a fiber-glass top for an open sky shower.
The Serai has a lovely Spa OMA, in Sanskrit Oma means ‘life giver’. The Spa which is based on holistic and natural, wellness offers many treatments and facials. I had the OMA Signature treatment.
We ate all our meals at the Serai between the two restaurants onsite: Wildgrass or The Outpost, the bar and enjoyed sitting by the fire before dinner for snacks and an aperitif.
The best time to visit Kabini and Nagarhole National Park
Nagarhole National Park is open throughout the year, however, the best time to visit the Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary is from October to May as the chances of sighting wildlife including tigers and elephants are very high. We were there end of October.
Kabini or Nagarhole is one of the best getaways during the weekends. Just a 5-hour drive from Bangalore, you can experience the wildlife in their natural habitat. My favorite thing was, as you enter the Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary, you can see numerous birds. The sunsets were fabulous! It is a refreshing escape from the chaos of the cities. A sanctuary not just for the wildlife living here but for humans as well.
PIN IT FOR LATER
Note: This post may contain affiliate links, partnership or sponsored content. If you purchase an item via one of these links, we may receive a small commission at no extra charge to you. But as always images and opinions are our own. For more information on our affiliates and privacy policy at Outside Suburbia see here.
CONNECT WITH US