Please Note: Jim Corbett National Park will remain closed on 1st and 2nd March.
Jungle Safaris are the ideal way of exploring the denizens of the forest. In fact, jungle safari tours have an added excitement and fun to the journey. There are a number of ways to cover the Jim Corbett National Park. The Jim Corbett National Park endorses Jeep Safari, Bird Safari, Fishing safari and the Nature walk.
You can explore the flora and fauna of Jim Corbett National Park with the Jeep Safari, which unfolds the beauty of the Jim Corbett Park in India. Wildlife Safari of this park is a delight for nature lovers and wildlife photographers.
Away from the confines of mundane life, the Corbett Jeep Safari is a journey into the world that is as yet, untouched by mechanization. The Indian wildlife safari explores the basic wilderness still alive in the Jim Corbett National Park. Four species of deer and sambhar, spotted deer, barking deer and hog deer, sloth bear, wild boar, fresh water dolphin, leopard, the marsh mugger and gharial crocodiles, over 625 species of birds and the elusive, nocturnal Royal Bengal tiger… You can find them all at the verdant Jim Corbett National Park.
Park Safari Timings
The Safaris in the Park normally conducted sunrise to sunset & the entry gates usually open opens at 0500 to 0600 hrs in the morning and is open till 0900 to 1100 hrs in the morning. In the afternoon the park timings usually are from 1430 to 1730. Depending on the season the timings change locally which the forest authorities of Corbett notify.
Choosing The Seasons
- Winter (September - March): Days are clear and pleasant, Nights get cold. Great time for bird-watching and Tiger sighting.
- Summer (April to June): Hot days with pleasant nights. Ideal time for sighting animals, especially Tigers.
- Monsoon (July - August): Humid days and nights. Great time for walks and trekking. Because of less crowd and rush probability of sighting animals. Good for observing flora.
Accommodation & Food
Booking Procedure
All the Safari’s are booked 45 days in advance. There are restriction of number of vehicles which can enter in each zone and it is strictly followed. To book safaris in advance details of all members are required with government approved id proofs.
Advance Booking of Jeep Safari
Advance booking of Jeep Safari in Corbett National Park is available for Safari’s in Bijrani, Jhirna, Dhela and Durgadevi Zones. The Booking once done cannot be cancelled and is non refundable, advance need to be deposited with complete details of the members going for safari. We request you to send the details well in advance for avoiding the hassle of visit into the park as there is a limitation of number of vehicles permitted. You have to carry the given id at the time of safari. For advance booking a photo ID for Indian Nationals and Passport Details of Foreign Nationals is mandatory.
- Photo Id – Driving License/ Voter Id / Pan card is required. One can send us the id number,date of birth, full name and gender, date of expiry of the ID for booking .While travelling the guest will have to carry the same ID.
- Passport Details –Passport Number , Full Name & Gender, Date of Issue and expiry, date of Birth, Nationality is required for Advance Bookings of Morning jeep safari
Advance booking of Safari can be done 45 days in advance for foreign national and Indian Nationals. However it is advisable to place the application to the forest department the moment you decide about the safari for better chances of confirmation.
Leisure Hotels advises all its guests to book Safari in Advance or various other activities which are listed below:
Jeep safari, nature walk, bird watching, sitavani safari, Himalayan view from bhaunkhal, soft adventure activities, picnic lunch, village walk, trekking, local site seeing, garjia temple visit, dhangari museum visit, Corbett fall and kaladhungi museum visit.
Various Zones of The Corbett National Park for Jeep Safari
Durga Devi
Durga Devi is a tourism zone within the Corbett National Park. It is a virgin area has access to the Ramganga River for the purpose of fishing. The Durgadevi tourism zone is open from the 1st November to 30th June. During monsoon it is closed because of the poor roads in the forest. This is on the north-eastern boundary of the Park. The entrance gate is about 20 Km away from The River View Retreat. The Mandal range of Corbett Tiger Reserve through Durgadevi entrance involve challenging birding species to lookout for include the grey headed fishing eagle, crested laughing thrush, black chinned Yuhina, maroon orile, slaty blue flycatcher, long tailed broadbill, little forktail, and bar tailed tree creeper.
- Lohachaur forest area is known for wild elephants all round the year and the undulating terrain provides excellent opportunity to see the leopards as well as tigers.
Bijrani Zone
For Bijrani Zone entry is through Amdanda Gate which is 8 Kms from The The River View Retreat. Bijrani has mixed topography with thick sal forests interspersed with grasslands. There are a large number of stream beds which are mainly boulder strewn paths. Along the side of the streams there are riparian forests and thick lantana bushes due to which tiger sighting chances as compared to other tourism zones is higher in this area. Once you reach the Bijrani guest house you can avail the elephant ride also.
The Bijrani tourism zone is open from the 1st October to 30th June. During monsoon it is closed because of the poor roads in the forest
Jhirna Zone
For Jhirna Zone entry is through Dhela Gate which is 20 Kms from The River View Retreat. Jhirna tourism zone falls within the southern part of the Corbett National Park. It is the only tourism zone of the Corbett National Park which remains open throughout the year. Its topography is mainly dry deciduous and secondary forest with large open grasslands, which provides allows good visibility of wild animals. From the machans set up visitors can view wild animals in their natural habitat. Vast stream beds and steep cliff edges provides good opportunity for bird watching.
- Jhirna Zone is open throughout year
Sitavani Safari
Sitavani is located about 35 km. from The River View Retreat and within the reserve forest area of Ramnagar Forest Division. It boasts of beautiful dense forests of sal and mixed vegetation with open grasslands and riverbeds. The safari takes one to the ancient temple of Goddess Sita. According to a legend, this is the place where Goddess Sita disappeared into the earth.
- Sitavani is a part of Corbett landscape and there is a gated entrance but does not require any advance permits to venture inside
Safari to Dhikala Zone
It is a picturesque location at the edge of a grassy plateau perched high above the Ramganga reservoir and set into a bend in the river. The famous grasslands of the Dhikala chaur disappear into the dense sal forests at the foot hills in the region. This is indisputably rated as a favourite viewing area to the visitors here.
- The Dhikala tourism zone is open from 15th November to 15th June. This is an area with very high restrictions as far as tourism is concerned.
- Day visits to Dhikala are only through canters (an open bus with gallery seating)which are arranged by the forest department.
- The Vehicle Timings are 0600 Hrs – 1200 Hrs and 1200 Hrs – 1800 Hrs. There are two canters each of 16 seats in during both morning and afternoon.
Safari to Bhownkhal
Located in the foothills of the lower Himalayas, Bhowankhal falls on the border of the Kumaon and Garhwal region. The safari goes around the periphery of Corbett Tiger Reserve and takes one through the dense forests, picturesque landscapes and river beds. It is situated at a distance of around 30 km. from the resort.
- The safari provides a very scenic drive dotted along the way by typical Kumaoni/Garhwali villages. From a place called ‘Kaath Ki Nau’ one can view the breathtakingly beautiful Himalayan ranges.
Dhela Zone
This zone is extremely rich in flora and fauna. The zone spreads over 1,173 hectares, which has mixed forests of Sal, Rohini, Haldu, Bahera, Kusum vegetation, and tigers, leopards, Asiatic elephants, sloth bears and king cobras. The area is particularly rich in bird diveristy.