Luxury India Safaris and Wildlife Tours
Embark on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure and marvel at the wonders of the natural world on a tailor-made safari in India with Scott Dunn.
- Award-winning travel specialists
- Tailor-made luxury vacations
- 24/7 seamless support
- World-class private safaris and game drives
While many travelers venture to Africa for intrepid game drives and up-close encounters with wildlife, many parts of Asia, including India, have a thriving safari scene from years of conservation efforts and natural biodiversity. Aside from the notable Bengal tiger, on your travels through India’s many jungles and forests, you’ll see leopards, bears, rhinos, wild elephants and a vast array of bird life on a safari in India.
Our highly knowledgeable and experienced guides will lead you through stunning national parks and thick jungles in search of rare animals. You'll have plenty of opportunities to enjoy game drives and nature walks and immerse yourself in the local culture.
We've been creating exclusive itineraries for many years and holidayed with the same guides and in the same safari lodges, so we know you’ll get an adventure you won’t soon forget. To ask any questions and learn more about our safaris in India, our team of friendly travel experts is on hand to help you book the best luxury safari vacation in India.
What can I expect from a luxury safari in India with Scott Dunn?
Whether you're planning a romantic honeymoon or an exciting family-friendly adventure, a luxury safari in India with Scott Dunn promises a truly magical experience.
India has a multitude of spectacular sanctuaries where you can go in search of incredible wildlife. You'll also experience the country's stunning landscapes, rural heartlands, and extraordinary culture. With Central India comprised of multiple national parks, as well as others dotted around the country, you're spoiled for choice with iconic routes as well as more remote hidden adventures.
Our travel specialists have drawn upon their wealth of experience to curate itineraries that showcase this country in all its glory. From unique private excursions to remote, luxury accommodations hidden deep in the backwaters, a safari in India with Scott Dunn promises to be anything but ordinary.
The Best Places to Go on a Wildlife Safari in India
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Rajasthan
Ranthambore National Park is possibly the most convenient and best first-time safari to include on a vacation to India. Offering some of the best tiger sightings in the country due to the strong population and immense conservation work, paired with its luxury accommodation, makes for an incredible tiger safari in India.
It takes about five hours to reach from Agra (where you can see the iconic Taj Mahal) or four from Jaipur, and we often include a trip here on our Rajasthan tours.
Ranthambore is exceptionally beautiful, with a historic hilltop fortress standing within the park. It has some fantastic accommodation options too, including the luxury tented camps of Aman-i-Khas, Suján Sher Bagh and Oberoi Vanyavilas.
If you'd love the chance to catch a glimpse of a leopard, consider stopping for a few nights at Suján Jawai Leopard Camp. These majestic animals are often spotted close to the lodge, which is located between Udaipur and Jodhpur.
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Central India
Located in Central India, the stunning Central Parks were the inspiration behind Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book and hold great historical significance with the strong tribal culture and ancient sites still present here. If you choose to embark on a wildlife tour in this part of India, expect remote, off-the-beaten-track tours – perfect for those who have traveled to India before or safari in Asia previously.
Bandhavgarh National Park has the most undulating geography in Madhya Pradesh, and a visit to the top of Bandhavgarh Fort provides you with superb views. This park is also famous for its large tiger and leopard populations. We love pairing a safari here with a stay at the Treehouse Hideaway to really get under the skin of this paradise.
Kanha National Park is south of Bandhavgarh and is one of the largest in India. It's notable for its high deer numbers, which means you're likely to find tigers and leopards too. Pench National Park is characterized by rolling hills of teak that lead to the Pench River. For accommodation, the luxurious Jamtara Wilderness Camp is an outstanding option, with close access to wildlife and a peaceful rural setting.
To the north of Pench, Satpura National Park is noted for its craggy terrain and narrow gorges. The main draw, though, is the first-class walking safaris, where you can spot unique wildlife such as the Indian giant squirrel, four-horned Antelope, Nilgai and the shy Chinkara.
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Himalaya and Northern India
If you have a real passion for wildlife, a luxury safari in India's northern region promises to leave you in awe. Northeast of Delhi in the Himalayan foothills lies Jim Corbett National Park, India’s first national park. With a huge focus on wildlife protection, it has a large population of tigers and over 500 species of resident and migratory birds.
Kaziranga National Park in Assam is the place to go if you want to see rhinos in the wild. There are also plenty of tigers, water buffalo, wild elephants and swamp deer to encounter on a game drive. This is a great safari destination for those who have done it before with its more remote location.
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The Southern Parks
Nagarahole National Park is truly a jungle escape, however, there is limited wildlife here. There’s still the chance to encounter large cats and wild elephants on a luxury safari in India here, but it’s the remarkable birdlife that really takes the cake. Wildlife tours take place in jeeps and also in boats along the Kabini Lake.
Located in Kerala, there’s easy access from the popular backwaters, Cochin and Munnar. Kerala is one of the regions we recommend most to first-time travelers to India given its laid-back lifestyle compared to the humdrum of Delhi, so it’s a great safari for first-time safari-goers.
- Rajasthan
- Central India
- Himalaya and Northern India
- The Southern Parks
India Wildlife Tours and Safaris FAQs
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Almost all the parks are closed during the summer monsoon, which lasts from July until the end of September, and they reopen in October. The monsoon rains ensure the forests renew themselves, meaning it's slightly harder to see the wildlife through the denser foliage.
During the winter months from December to February, it can get pretty cold – especially at night and on early-morning game drives – so it's best to come fully prepared. The lush vegetation dies away as spring arrives, so the sightings improve because you can see further into the undergrowth.
From April to June, the temperatures rise and wildlife is generally brought out to watering holes so that you see more. However, do bear in mind that it can get rather hot during the middle of the day.
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The range of wildlife varies slightly from park to park, but the overall variety on offer is astonishing. It's not just about seeing a tiger on a safari in India as you can also see:
- Leopards
- Asiatic lions
- Deer
- Wolves
- Bears
- Crocodiles
- Wild dogs
- Monkeys
- Rhinos
- Buffalo
- Wild elephants
You'll also find a spectacular variety of birdlife dancing across the skies when you embark on an Indian wildlife tour, with our expert guides on hand to help you explore their natural habitats with minimal disruption.
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You most certainly can! With Scott Dunn, the world is your oyster. You have the freedom to amend any of the India safari itineraries we have, so you can extend your trip and venture anywhere you like.
Speak to one of the team to discuss where you'd like to go, and we'll work with you to create a personalized adventure that ticks all your boxes.
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The climate and weather conditions on your wildlife tour in India will play a big role in what you need to pack. Weather can change throughout the day, with glorious sunshine during the morning but cooler temperatures by the evening, so it's best to be prepared and pack clothing items that are easy to layer.
Some of the items we'd recommend packing for your trip include:
- Lightweight, breathable clothing
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Sun protection, including a sun hat and sunglasses
- Waterproof jacket
- Warm, fleeced layers for cooler evenings
- Dust-resistant backpack
- Headlamp or torch
- Binoculars
- Reusable water bottle
- Insect repellent
- Suncream
- Charging pack for your mobile devices
Our team of travel specialists are waiting to help you book your adventure to India.
Call us on 858 345 1762 to start planning your vacation
India guides and inspiration
For further inspiration, check out some of our expertly crafted travel guides.
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