Embarking on a Kaziranga safari is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, promising breathtaking encounters with the park’s iconic wildlife. However, for first-time visitors, the process of Kaziranga safari booking can be complex and daunting. The internet is teeming with fraudulent websites, making it imperative to exercise caution when securing your safari reservations. The multitude of safari options is enticing, but choosing wisely is essential to avoid compromising your experience. Furthermore, a fundamental understanding of the four distinct ranges within Kaziranga National Park is crucial. Each range offers its unique charm and wildlife spectacles, necessitating informed decisions to ensure a memorable and enriching adventure in Kaziranga. In this blog, you will get a comprehensive understanding about Kaziranga National Park and Kaziranga Safari Booking.
Basic Details of Kaziranga National Park
Kaziranga National Park, nestled in the northeastern state of Assam, India, is a true wildlife paradise. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is renowned for its thriving population of the Indian one-horned rhinoceros, a critically endangered species. In addition to the rhinos, Kaziranga is home to the majestic Bengal tiger, wild elephants, wild water buffalo, and the barasingha, or eastern swamp deer. The park’s diverse ecosystems, including grasslands, wetlands, and dense forests, provide a perfect habitat for these iconic animals and numerous bird species. With a sprawling geographical expanse and diligent conservation efforts, Kaziranga offers visitors a unique opportunity to witness these magnificent creatures in their natural surroundings. The park is open for safaris from November to April, providing a prime chance to explore this wilderness and encounter its remarkable wildlife.
How to reach Kaziranga National Park
The nearest city to Kaziranga National Park with air connectivity is Guwahati, situated at a distance of 190 kilometers. Guwahati boasts both international and domestic flight services through LGBIA Airport, Guwahati. For travelers coming from outside Assam, flying to Guwahati is a convenient option. Alternatively, one can opt for a train journey to Guwahati Railway Station. From Guwahati, you can easily arrange for a cab ride to Kaziranga, typically costing around 6000 rupees. The road conditions are excellent, with a four-lane highway leading from Guwahati to Kaziranga, ensuring a smooth and comfortable journey to the park.
Tourist Track Map of Kaziranga National Park
As for your information, there are four ranges of Kaziranga National Park: Kohora in Central Range, Bagori in Western Range, Agaratoli in Eastern Range and Ghorakati in Burapahar Range. All four ranges are shown in red coloured squares in the above map. If you are travelling from Guwahati, you can directly drive to the range location by car. Of all the four ranges, Kohora is the most famous range since it give access to central and core regions of the Kaziranga National Park. Detailed study of the map is necessary for Kaziranga safari booking.
Type of Safari in Kaziranga National Park
Kaziranga National Park caters to the diverse preferences of wildlife enthusiasts with two distinctive safari options: Elephant Safari and Jeep Safari. The Elephant Safari provides an unparalleled, unfiltered connection with the wilderness. It’s a unique experience to witness the majestic one-horned rhinoceros from atop an elephant, immersing yourself in the jungle’s untamed rhythms. The panoramic views from this vantage point are truly mesmerizing, offering a perspective unattainable through a jeep safari. On the other hand, Jeep Safaris have their own merits, allowing visitors to cover more ground in a shorter time frame. Jeeps provide access to various key spots and watchtowers for excellent wildlife viewing. While the Elephant Safari is an extraordinary adventure, it may not be suitable for elderly visitors due to its physical demands. In contrast, Jeep Safaris offer the flexibility to stop at your preferred locations, ensuring you capture incredible moments and photographs along the way. Nonetheless, each kind of safari has its own beauty.
Elephant Safari
Elephant safaris in Kaziranga National Park offer a unique and up-close experience with the park’s incredible wildlife. These safaris are structured as day visits, and they operate on fixed shift timings. Two of the park’s ranges, Bagori in the Western Range and Kohora in the Central Range, are available for elephant safari bookings. Bagori Range primarily caters to Indian travelers, while Kohora Range is exclusively reserved for foreigners and VIP delegates. If you are an Indian citizen, to secure a safari in the Kohora Range as a VIP delegate, one typically needs to have a well-connected gazetted officer or possess significant political influence. Do not make any perception about a particular safari zone. All safari zone take you to the heart of Kaziranga National Park.
The safari slots are limited and are conducted during two fixed time slots: 5 AM to 6 AM and 6 AM to 7 AM. Each elephant can accommodate up to four tourists at a time, ensuring an intimate and memorable wildlife adventure. In general, elephant safari for tourists opens on First week of November and closes on last week of April.
Elephant Safari Route
The elephant safaris follow designated routes within the park, covering specific zones where wildlife sightings are common. The routes are carefully planned to maximize the chances of encountering various animals while minimizing disturbance to their natural habitats.
Central Range or Kohora Range : The starting point of the central range is Mihimukh riding tower. Guests can take elephant safari in this range maximum for one hour. Safari rides passes through the Dagland and Foliomari area. The designated safari routes for central range is : (Mihimukh – Kathpora -Daphlang – Diffolu River Bank -Mona Beel – Karasing & back). Please see the tracking map above for reference.
Western Range or Bagori : he starting point of this famous economic zone is at Bagori headquarter. Usually, guests prefer to take safari in the western zone where they will have chance to get close view of the one-horned rhinos. The designated safari routes: (Ongabeel -Rouman – Rajapukhuri -Monabeel & back). Please see the tracking map above for reference.
Kaziranga Safari Booking for Elephant Safari
Booking an elephant safari in Kaziranga National Park can be a bit different from the process for jeep safaris. The official Kaziranga National Park website typically doesn’t offer an option for elephant safari bookings. However, jeep safaris can be booked through the official website, ensuring a confirmed reservation and peace of mind.
When it comes to Kaziranga Safari Booking for Elephant Safari, there are online booking platforms operated by travel agencies, but their authenticity and customer reviews may not be as reliable. A practical alternative is to book an elephant safari on the spot by visiting the Bagori Range (for Indian citizens) or the Kohora Range (for foreigners and VIP delegates). To secure your spot, it’s advisable to arrive at the range entry point about 30 minutes before the safari’s scheduled time.
A convenient approach is to work with travel agencies affiliated with your hotel or resort. By doing so, you can arrange your elephant safari with ease. Simply inform the hotel a day in advance, and they will handle all the necessary formalities, including obtaining entry passes, booking your safari, and providing pick-up and drop-off services. This streamlined process ensures a hassle-free and memorable wildlife adventure in Kaziranga.
The pricing for safaris in Kaziranga National Park varies based on the visitor’s nationality and the range they choose. For Indian visitors booking safaris in the Bagori Range, the cost is INR 1500 per person. On the other hand, for foreigners looking to explore the Central Range in Kohora, the price is INR 3200 per person. These prices include all entry fees, permits, mahout charge and booking.
Jeep Safari
Jeep safaris in Kaziranga National Park are a popular and exhilarating way to explore this wildlife haven. They offer the flexibility to cover a wide area of the park in search of the iconic one-horned rhinoceros, tigers, elephants, and other wildlife. With knowledgeable guides, visitors can embark on a thrilling adventure while maintaining a safe distance from the animals. Jeep safaris provide an excellent opportunity for photography and wildlife enthusiasts to witness the diverse ecosystems and remarkable biodiversity of Kaziranga.
Jeep Safari Route
The jeep safaris follow designated routes within the park, covering specific zones where wildlife sightings are common. The routes are carefully planned to maximize the chances of encountering various animals while minimizing disturbance to their natural habitats.
- Kohora (Central) Range (around-27 KM Safari route): Mihimukh-Kathpora-Daphlang-Diffolu River Bank-Mona Beel-Karasing & back
- Bagori (Western) Range (around -22 KM Safari route): Dongabeel-Rouman-Rajapukhuri-Monabeel & back
- Agratoli (Eastern) Range (around -23 KM Safari route): Agratoli Sohola Beel-Rongamotia-Maklung-Turturoni-Dhoba & back
- Burapahar (Ghorakati) Range ( around -16 KM Safari route): Ghurakati-Potahi Beel-Diffolu-Phuloguri-Tunikati
Please see the tracking map above for reference.
Jeep Safari in Kaziranga is a regular activity so the vehicles are permitted only from 07:00 AM to 04:00 PM every day. Once you enter the park, you have to abide by the certain rules and regulations of the Kaziranga Park authority. It is strictly prohibited to get down from the vehicle other than the identified landing points. Every safari vehicle is provided armed escorts, no unescorted vehicle is allowed inside the park. You are required to pay the requisite entry fee for vehicles (Jeep Safari vehicles), camera and video camera etc.
Kaziranga Safari Booking for Jeep Safari
Offline Booking: A convenient approach is to work with travel agencies affiliated with your hotel or resort. By doing so, you can arrange your elephant safari with ease. Simply inform the hotel a day in advance, and they will handle all the necessary formalities, including obtaining entry passes, booking your safari, and providing pick-up and drop-off services. This streamlined process ensures a hassle-free and memorable wildlife adventure in Kaziranga.
Online Booking: When booking online, it’s strongly recommended to use the official website of Kaziranga National Park for the most authentic and reliable service. Many third-party websites may not guarantee availability and authenticity, so relying on the official website ensures a hassle-free and trustworthy reservation process. Here is the link of official website.
Kaziranga Safari Booking: How To Book Online Jeep Safari
- Visit the official website – https://kazirangasafari.in/booking/
- Log in with your mobile number
- Select safari type (Jeep/Elephant)
- Select Safari Range (Kohora/Bagori/Agaratoli/ Burapahar)
- Fill up your basic details (Name, Nationality, Address etc.)
- Upload the photo of govt. approved id card (Pan Card/Aadhaar Card/Driving License etc.)
- Select the safari time slot (07:30 Am- 10:00 AM/ 01:30 PM – 03:00 PM)
- Choose the no of jeep (Maximum person in a jeep is 6)
- Select camera equipments you are carrying (you will have to pay extra for this)
- Then make the payment.
- Make sure enter correct date for making the payment
- Once you have paid the amount, you can check the status of your booking on the dashboard.
Here is the screenshot of a booking and price from the official website (with one professional still camera)
As you can see, the price of Kaziranga safari booking is Rs 510 per person for Indian citizen if you are not carrying any camera. However, booking prices increases depending on your camera.
Note: Jeep hiring and pickup fee are not included in the ticket of Kaziranga safari booking from official website. You have to pay it at the start of your journey Per person jeep hiring and pickup price is normally 4000 for Indian citizen and 7000 for foreigners for Kohora range. Jeep hiring price changes with demand.
Alternative Method to book jeep safari
A convenient approach is to work with travel agencies affiliated with your hotel or resort. By doing so, you can arrange your jeep safari with ease. No more hassle in Kaziranga safari booking. Simply inform the hotel a day in advance, and they will handle all the necessary formalities, including obtaining entry passes, booking your safari, and providing pick-up and drop-off services. This streamlined process ensures a hassle-free and memorable wildlife adventure in Kaziranga.
Kaziranga Safari Booking: Price of Jeep Safari Booking
The pricing for jeep safaris in Kaziranga National Park varies depending on the selected range and the nationality of the visitor. For Indian tourists, the rates are INR 4000 for the Kohora Range, INR 4000 for the Bagori Range, INR 4600 for the Eastern Range, and INR 5400 for the Burapahar Range. Foreign tourists will find rates of INR 7700 for both the Kohora and Bagori Ranges, INR 8600 for the Eastern Range, and INR 9700 for the Burapahar Range. Each jeep can accommodate a maximum of six persons, with a minimum of one person required per booking. Jeep safaris are conducted on a non-sharing basis, offering an exclusive experience. Children under 4 years are complimentary, while those aged 4 and above are treated as adults. The duration of the safari is approximately 2 hours, providing ample time to explore the remarkable wildlife and landscapes of Kaziranga. The jeep safari price includes the permit charges, driver and jeep charges, so you don’t have to pay any extra charges to them.
Additional reading:
→ Learn about big five animals of Kaziranga national park and where to spot them.
