This morning enjoy a 4-hour private jeep safari exploring the wildlife of Tadoba Andhari National Park, which covers an area of over 240 square miles (625 square km).
This tiger reserve is the oldest and largest national park in the central state of Maharashtra and stretches across the densely forested Chimur Hills of the Tadoba Reserve, as well as the Moharli and Kolsa ranges of the Andhari Sanctuary. It is covered by bamboo forests and tall teak trees which lose their leaves in the warmer months, which makes searching for tigers a little easier than in some other reserves. There are more than 100 of these magnificent animals in this reserve, which is also one of the best places in India to see sloth bears.
Early morning is the best time to see tigers, but be aware that it is extremely difficult to find them in the jungle and sightings are never guaranteed. Best viewings are generally in the cooler months (December to March), when tigers are most active - but you need to take at least 4 game drives for a good chance of a sighting.
Tadoba is also home to gaur, wild dogs, hyenas, civets, jungle cats and many species of deer - such as sambar, chital, nilgai and barking deer. Leopards are present but rarely seen. A large lake provides a perennial source of water for mugger (march) crocodiles and a variety of water birds.
In the afternoon enjoy another 4-hour private jeep safari before dinner.
Note: Mobile phones are prohibited in Tadoba. You need to take your own proper camera ($20 fee per camera payable locally) or hire a camera at the entrance to the park. You will also need to take your passport with you to enter the national park.
Also do not expect this to be like an African safari, as there will be many jeeps in the park and fewer animals.
This tiger reserve is closed every Tuesday, but it is still possible to have a game drive in the buffer zone. The park is also closed during the Holi & Diwali festivals, as well as during the monsoon season (July to September).