Wildlife Holidays in India

India is a captivating and megadiverse nation, where charismatic fauna and awe-inspiring scenery exist alongside fascinating history and an extraordinarily vibrant modern-day culture. The country’s wildlife thrives across its marvellously varied landscapes, from the frozen Himalayan peaks to the salt-swept deserts of Gujarat, and from towering Sal forests to the rich alluvial floodplains of the north-east. Within these myriad habitats can be found remarkable levels of biodiversity: over 400 species of mammal (including more big cats than Africa, and Asia’s greatest concentrations of large herbivores), more than 1300 birds, 600 reptiles and amphibians, and exceptionally high numbers of special plants and insects. Taking centre stage is, of course, the Tiger; India offers by far the best opportunities for viewing what is arguably the world’s most iconic wild creature. However, Tigers are just one part of India’s intricate ecological tapestry; this land of infinite natural variety could fill a lifetime of exploration.

Naturetrek is the specialist nature holiday operator to India. We have been showing the country’s wildlife wonders to travellers since the very earliest days of the company in the 1980s, including setting up the world’s first ever commercial tour to view Tigers in the wild. Over time, we have expanded and refined our offering to include almost 30 distinct and compelling options across the length and breadth of India. Today, no other British natural history tour operator can match our experience and depth of knowledge of one of our planet’s greatest wildlife destinations.

The Tiger is an Indian icon, and nowhere else in the world provides such excellent prospects for finding one in the wild. Recent conservation efforts have been hugely successful, and numbers have grown from around 1400 in 2006 to well over 3000 today – around 75% of the global population. There are several regions of India that now support substantial Tiger numbers, but the forests of Central India are perhaps the greatest stronghold.

Of all Indian states, Madhya Pradesh has the highest Tiger population, with around 800 individuals stalking its network of densely wooded reserves. These are the forests that inspired Rudyard Kipling’s ‘The Jungle Book’, and national parks like Pench, Kanha, Bandhavgarh and (in neighbouring Maharashtra) Tadoba contain not only Tigers, but also a plethora of other large mammals, including Leopard, Dhole, Sloth Bear, Gaur (the world’s largest wild cattle), Sambar and Chital deer, Golden Jackal and Jungle Cat. There is wonderful birding, too, amongst the scenic Sal and Teak woodlands and open meadows, with especially notable species including Crested Serpent Eagle, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Indian Roller, Red Junglefowl, Indian Vulture and Orange-headed Thrush. Exploration of these parks mostly takes place by vehicle, but the little-known (and stunningly attractive) Satpura National Park is unique in permitting walking safaris through the heart of Tiger territory.

Tigers also thrive in the far south of the subcontinent, amongst the foothills of the mighty Western Ghats mountain range. Here, the Nagarhole and Bandipur National Parks protect great swathes of tropical moist deciduous forest along the banks of the Kabini River. These landscapes are in marked contrast to the dry open woodlands further north, although many megafaunal mammals are shared between the two regions. One exciting exception is the Asian Elephant, long since extirpated from Central India but surviving in good numbers on these southern slopes. Another is the so-called “Black Panther”, for while Leopards occur across much of India, it is only here that fully melanistic individuals are regularly sighted. The Western Ghats and Nilgiri Hills are also home to a variety of regionally endemic mammals and birds, such as Lion-tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Tahr, Malabar Trogon, White-bellied Treepie and Black-and-orange Flycatcher. Furthermore, the local flora is rich in tree ferns and endemic orchids, while butterflies include India’s second largest species, the magnificent Southern Birdwing.

India’s north-east is another region with burgeoning Tiger populations. Life here is dominated by the fertile floodplains, marshes and peaceful oxbow lakes of the broad Brahmaputra River, from whose earthy banks grow rainforests that sweep up into the hills of Arunachal Pradesh. These forests and mountains are home to spectacular species like Western Hoolock Gibbon (India’s only non-human ape), Great and Rufous-necked Hornbills, Ward’s Trogon and the incredible Blyth’s Tragopan. However, it is the alluvial plains below that present the greatest wildlife spectacle of all, with Kaziranga National Park playing host to perhaps the most impressive herds of large mammals outside Africa. The park’s flagship species is the Indian (or Greater One-horned) Rhinoceros, several thousand of which lumber in their battle armour across rich grazing grounds. Asian Elephant, Wild Water Buffalo, Barasingha, Hog Deer, Gangetic River Dolphin and Bengal Florican are other standout highlights here, while Kaziranga may also support Asia’s highest Tiger density (although catching a glimpse of one amongst the undergrowth can be a challenge).

Both Tiger and Asian Elephant can also be found together further west across the Ganges plains, in an area characterised by temperate oak and rhododendron forests and some of India’s most pristine river and wetland systems. The Chambal River is a particular draw for naturalists, with its populations of Smooth-coated Otter, Indian Skimmer, and critically endangered Gharial, while wetlands at Bharatpur support Sarus Crane, Painted and Black-necked Storks. Almost in the shadow of the world’s greatest mountain range is one of India’s most breathtaking reserves – Corbett National Park – where Tigers prowl through the tall grass and herds of elephant browse against a backdrop of forest-clad hills.

Moving north into the Himalayas themselves is like entering another world. Our planet’s highest peaks are the inhospitable home of a range of hardy and ultra-specialised creatures, such as Asiatic Ibex, Bharal (Blue Sheep), Urial, and the predators that pursue them over dizzying ridges and deep gorges: Tibetan Wolf, Eurasian Lynx, and the near-mythical Snow Leopard. India was the country that pioneered the successful viewing of the so-called “grey ghost”, and dedicated expeditions to Hemis National Park still produce reliable sightings (something that would have been unthinkable just 20 years ago). Birds that eke out an existence in this stunning but unforgiving setting include Himalayan Snowcock, Ibisbill, Wallcreeper, Lammergeier and Golden Eagle. Further east, the lower passes and high-altitude bamboo thickets of Sikkim are the haunt of Red Panda, Himalayan Black Bear and Yellow-throated Marten, alongside over 30 species of rhododendron, wild primulas, and peculiar epiphytic orchids.

The last of India’s great ecological regions is the arid west, home to classic desert dunes, parched forests of teak and dry scrub, and vast unbroken salt flats. This broader area has both Tigers, in the famous Ranthambore National Park, and Lions, with the Gir Forest supporting the last population of the latter species outside Africa. Other distinctive mammals to be found across the deserts and thirsty plains are Asiatic Wild Ass, Blackbuck (one of the world’s most beautiful antelope), Striped Hyena, Indian Wolf, and even Honey Badger and Caracal. Specialist birds include Asian Houbara, Indian Courser, Painted Sandgrouse and Desert Wheatear, while winter brings endless flocks of stately Demoiselle Cranes, and seasonal floods teem with breeding Lesser Flamingo.

All told, India has a diversity of landscapes and wildlife to rival most continents. Despite its enormous human population, this sprawling, intoxicating country still plays host to nature on a vast scale, from Tigers in the central Sal forests to rhinos on the plains of Kaziranga, and from herds of Asian Elephant in the Western Ghats to myriad hornbills in the foothills of the Himalayas. It is also impossible to ignore India’s fascinating cultural heritage, with locations such as the Taj Mahal and Red Fort providing a worthwhile distraction from even the most dedicated wildlife holiday.

What's Special About India's Wildlife?

India is, without doubt, one of the best wildlife destinations on Earth. The country’s diversity of large mammals is almost unrivalled, and includes such icons as Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Lion, Sloth Bear, Dhole, Asian Elephant, Indian Rhino, Gaur, and many more besides. With over 1300 species, the birdlife, too, is spectacular, whether it’s huge winter gatherings of Demoiselle Cranes in the west, Himalayan Snowcock on snow-capped crags, Bengal Florican leaping from the elephant grass of Assam, or stunning localised forest endemics like Black-and-orange Flycatcher and Bugun Liocichla.

The supporting cast includes everything from the extraordinary fish-eating Gharial to the enormous Southern Birdwing butterfly, alongside a similarly fabulous array of other reptiles, insects and plants. No-one could be better placed than Naturetrek, with our decades of deep experience in India, to help you experience this country’s extraordinary natural history.