The best place to see the key wildlife in India is at one of the many national parks, created in areas of outstanding beauty and important habitat to provide a safe environment for the animals. The parks are divided into zones, and the public are only allowed into certain zones to protect the animals from Too much disturbance, the parks are also closed during the breeding and monsoon season, April to October.
Ranthambore park in Rajasthan is probably the most famous park in India home to the most famous animal in India the Bengal tiger. Recently the death of Machli was reported, she had lived for 18 years in Ranthambore,her life is something to celebrate as she led a long healthy life producing many Cubs, she was photographed by many tourists and evaded the terrible fate of poachers.
Most tourists view the wildlife from a jeep, but in several parks, it is possible to view the game from an elephant, this creates far less impact on the environment and does not disturb the wildlife. Safaris can also be taken on foot, this can be very rewarding as you will see nature close at hand enjoying the birds ,insects and wildlife as well as the smells of the Forrest if you are accompanied by a naturalist he will point out many things impossible to see from a jeep.
In southern India the game parks are located mainly in the western ghat hills, vast areas of the Ghats have been defined as parks, for example, Nagarhole national park in Karnataka now has good tiger and leopard sightings.
at the Kabini dam and river where most of the lodges are located ,safaris are also taken by boat, this is a far more comfortable and peaceful way to observe nature than a bumpy jeep ride through the Forrest.
Kabini is famous for elephants with vast herds congregating at the dam in the dry season, I have seen elephants swimming across the vast lake using their trunks as snorkels!
The Bandipur national park borders Kerala and Karnataka, this is famous for elephants and birds , home to the huge hornbill bird with his vast beak.
The most famous park in Kerala is the Periyar national park, this has good numbers of elephants who are drawn to the lake, also deer and monkeys, the tiger is now very rare here.
In Periyar walking safaris can be taken early in the morning, this is a wonderful experience .
A boat trip on the backwaters of Kerala provides many opportunities to observe the bill life, with fabulous kingfishers diving from branches into the lake. Several of the properties around the lake take early morning bird watching trips with a naturalist , walking around the paddie fields bordering the lake is an excellent way to observe the many species of birds living I this environment, from marsh herons to rarer migrating birds.
India has much to offer for those keen to experience the wonderful wildlife in many contrasting environments.
