Beyond Tigers: 5 Top Wildlife Experiences in India

If you’re planning a visit to India, seeing the iconic Royal Bengal tiger in the wild is likely at the top of your list. 

But there’s so much more to the country’s wildlife than this striped wildcat. In fact, many of nature’s most incredible creatures — some of which are found nowhere else in the world — can be spotted within the destination’s national parks. 

For clients looking for a vacation that goes beyond the tiger safari, here are five must-do wildlife experiences in India.

Track the Gray Ghost (aka a Snow Leopard) of the Himalayas

Native to Asia’s alpine and subalpine regions, snow leopards are notoriously shy, so spotting one of these “gray ghosts” feels like an immense privilege. There are a lot of places in India to see the enigmatic big cats, but Hemis National Park — nestled in the eastern Ladakh region of Jammu & Kashmir at an altitude ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 feet — is one of the best spots for a likely sighting, especially in the high season from January to March.

Spanning 1,700 square miles, the park has a dramatic landscape of mountains and icy crags that are also home to Himalayan blue sheep, Ladakhi urials (wild sheep), Eurasian brown bears, Tibetan wolves and ibex. Clients can explore it all with a Ladakhi snow leopard expert during a 16-day journey with KarmaQuest Ecotourism and Adventure Travel, which has a track record of elusive cat sightings. Bookings including airport transfers, national park fees and Himalayan homestay accommodations.

Best time to go: The high season is from January to March.

Come Face-to-Face With a One-Horned Rhinoceros

There are more than 4,000 one-horned rhinoceroses in the world — the greatest concentration of which is found in Kaziranga National Park, set in the Brahmaputra River’s floodplains in the northeast state of Assam. Thanks to swampy grasslands, these prehistoric-looking mammals thrive in the 170-square-mile park, which is open from November to April.

Other inhabitants include tigers, wild water buffaloes, swamp deer and waterbirds, making this UNESCO World Heritage Site one of India’s most complete and iconic wildlife experiences. Tour operators such as Travel Passion Inc. and Nature Wings offer jeep or elephant safaris through the park. Stay at one of the 12 cottages at the luxurious Diphlu River Lodge, which also offers guided jeep and dolphin boat safaris. 

Best time to go: November to April

Visit the Last Home of Asiatic Lions

Comprising 545 square miles of grassland, woodland and dry shrubland habitats, Gir National Park in the western state of Gujarat is the only place in the world to see wild Asiatic lions. Thanks to conservation efforts in recent years, the number of these big cats in the park is on the rise (700 Asiatic lions were recorded at last count). 

Clients may also be able to see four-horned antelopes, spotted deer, gazelles and many other mammal species — and more than 350 recorded avian species make Gir a top pick for birders. Although heavy rains shutter the park from mid-June through mid-October, visitors can tour via Jeep safari during the rest of the year. The best time to visit is December to March, and permits can be booked online. Operators such as Asian Adventures and WildLense can manage safaris and accommodations, too. 

Best time to go: December to March

Get Up Close With Wild Asian Elephants

Open November to June, Nagarahole Tiger Reserve has an incredible diversity of wildlife. Hiding behind dense stands of deciduous forest, bamboo thickets, and sandalwood and teak trees are tigers, barking deer, gaurs, langurs, wild boars, black panthers and sloth bears. However, wild Asian elephants are the key attraction at this park — part of the UNESCO-designated Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in the southern state of Karnataka — with around 1,500 to 2,000 of the creatures roaming its wild.

Along with the land animals, some 250 species of birds live in or pass through the park. November to February tends to have the nicest weather, but the warm days of April and May are the best time to visit the park, as animals — especially wild elephants — congregate at water sources. Travelers can enjoy their wildlife safari from an open jeep or canter, which can be booked through government-owned Jungle Lodges & Resorts (JLR). For an overnight stay, try a tented cottage at Kabini River Lodge (part of JLR), which also offers packages that include four-wheel drive safaris, nature walks and coracle (a small round boat) rides inside the park.

Best time to go: April and May, though weather is superior from November to February

Spot Leopards in the Rugged Terrain of Rajasthan

Leopards are found across India, but the small town of Bera, in the Pali district of northern Rajasthan state, is the best viewing site. Located halfway between Jodhpur and Udaipur — two of the most popular tourist destinations in the region — Bera’s granite hills and natural caves shelter 60-plus leopards, who live peacefully with the resident Rabaris tribe.

This shepherd tribe considers these majestic felines as the sacred keepers of the 300 hill shrines spread across the area. Wild animals such as hyenas, Indian wolves, blue bulls and sloth bears are also found in this landscape. The nearby Jawai dam attracts an impressive array of birdlife, making this region one of the great choices for birders armed with long lenses. Tour operators such as Nature Safari India and Foliage Outdoors offer Bera jeep safaris led by an expert naturalist that include accommodations and all meals. 

Best time to go: November to February