If you are a wildlife enthusiast in search of a Tiger safari that’s not too mainstream yet, Tadoba is the right place for you! Located 45 kilometers from Chandrapur, Maharashtra, Tadoba Andhari Reserve is the oldest national park in the state.
Keep reading for all the deets, if you plan to visit Tadoba!
- Getting to Tadoba
- Booking a safari, exclusive safari tips, and more!
- Choosing a stay in Tadoba
- Best time to visit Tadoba and is it worth the visit?
1. Getting to Tadoba
We live in Hyderabad and we traveled to Tadoba by road. The distance is about 430 kilometers and it took us close to 9 hours to get there. While the road till we enter Maharashtra is smooth as butter, the strength till Chandrapur is a bumpy ride.
However, we saw that roadworks were in progress, so fingers crossed!
If you want to travel by train, Chandrapur Railway Station is the closest to Tadoba and is connected to major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Hyderabad. If you want to fly in, the closest airport is Nagpur, which is 140 kilometers away from Tadoba.
2. Booking a safari, exclusive safari tips, and more!
The day you decide you want to travel to Tadoba, the first thing to do, even before you book your travel and stay, is check the safari availability and book it ASAP! There are limited slots and number of vehicles allowed inside the jungle, so booking ahead of time is advised. You can use this government portal to book your safari. If you missed the bus, there is a work around too.
Many resorts in Tadoba assist you in booking your safari, so you can explore that route too.
Here are a few tips when you are booking your safari.
- There are many gates to enter the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, so check which gate is closest to the resort/hotel you booked or vice versa before spending your bucks.
- Plan for a minimum of 2-3 safaris during different times (morning, afternoon, and evening) and in different zones (Core and buffer zone) to increase the chance of tiger spotting.
Remember to carry a cap, it gets super hot during the afternoon, something to cover your face from all the dust while the jeep zooms through the forest, and sunglasses.
3. Choosing a stay in Tadoba
Except for the tiger safari and a few other things, there is nothing much to do in Tadoba, so I would recommend staying in a fancy resort to make the most of your trip.
We stayed at Red Earth Tadoba (Not sponsored by them) and we absolutely LOVED IT. They have vintage, plush cottages with an outdoor bathroom with Tropical Bali vibe and a private plunge pool overlooking the jungle.
It was therapeutic.
Not just the cottage, the entire resort premises was beautiful with many activities like a walking trail, star gazing, local dance performances, spa services, a souvenir store, and a lot more.
The resort staff were extremely hospitable and the food was great too!
4. Best time to visit Tadoba and is it worth the visit?
While the weather is relatively more pleasant from November to February, the best time to visit is March to May, if you are keen on spotting tigers. During these summer months, tigers come to watering holes to drink water and their regular hanging spots too.
A visit to Tadoba is definitely worth it if you want to disconnect from the busy world, experience the thrill of being in a jungle, and be one with nature.
Watch my Tadoba experience here.
