How early should you plan your next wildlife safari?

The allure of the tiger is universal. Very few travellers can resist the thrill of being in a tiger reserve, hoping for even the briefest glimpse of this majestic big cat. This soaring demand means one thing: last-minute wildlife safari planning simply doesn’t work. You are never alone in wanting to see a tiger just days before your journey. Securing the best zones in tiger reserves, expert guides and optimal travel dates requires foresight. So the question is: how early is early enough to plan your next tiger safari?

Planning a last-minute tiger safari? Not a good idea. Because to see a tiger, there’s a requirement even more crucial than luck: preparation.

A tiger safari, unlike a regular vacation, isn’t just about picking dates. It’s about securing a place in what’s essentially a limited-edition experience. Capacity is limited and demand is high. This means to have the most rewarding wildlife experiences, you need to have the fastest fingers first.

Specifically, we suggest you plan your tiger safari 3 to 6 months before your travel date. This may seem too early, but is in fact the only way to ensure your safari is designed around your preferences, and not with leftovers, such as buffer zones and lodges far away from the park.

‘Buffer’ zones are those in which some human use, such as grazing cattle, is allowed, and therefore, typically have lower tiger density and fewer sightings. ‘Core’ zones are where no human activity (other than controlled tourism) is permitted. And in most tiger reserves, they offer the best sightings. Naturally, they’re also the ones to sell out first.

Staying close to the park allows you to reach the gate and enter the park ahead of other vehicles.

Of course, not all wildlife destinations in India operate the same way. Some wild places like Jawai and Spiti have no zone divisions, regulated gates or limited permits. But these places have no tigers either.

In reserves renowned for tiger sightings, such as central India’s Bandhavgarh, Panna and Kanha; Rajasthan’s Ranthambhore; Maharashtra’s Tadoba; and Karnataka’s Kabini and Bandipura, time is tiger gold.

This is because a limited number of permits is issued in each safari zone, and for each day, permits open months in advance, often selling out not only in just a few days or hours but minutes of opening. Accordingly, the best guides, drivers and lodges sell out too.

And so it’s very much the case that when it comes to tiger viewing, the early bird catches the cat.

Once you’ve frozen the dates nice and early, you can leave the rest to us. With over 100 years of combined experience, the naturalists, tour leaders and local experts at Safari Crafters take your safari far beyond a generic park visit and straight into the zone of an unforgettable experience.