Nature and Wildlife in India

India is extraordinary for wildlife. Among the highlights are the Bengal tiger, the greater one-horned rhinoceros, the Asiatic lion, leopard, sloth bear and, high in the Himalaya, the elusive snow leopard, alongside elephants, deer, crocodiles and a wealth of birds. Different regions offer different species.

Central India is the heartland, with celebrated reserves such as Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Pench and Satpura, the landscapes said to have inspired The Jungle Book. Ranthambore in Rajasthan is another classic and combines easily with the north. We match the park, the season and the lodges to give you the best chance.

Sightings are never guaranteed, as these are wild animals in vast forests, but India's tiger reserves are among the best places in the world to see them, and the odds are genuinely good with the right planning. Your chances improve with several safaris over a few days, with the choice of park and zone, and with the hotter, drier pre-monsoon months of April to June, when the foliage thins and tigers come to water. We plan all of this carefully, with expert naturalists, to give you the best possible chance, while keeping the experience unhurried and respectful of the animals.

Kaziranga National Park in Assam, in the Northeast, is the place. It is home to the largest population of greater one-horned rhino in the world, along with tigers and wild elephants.

Gir National Park in Gujarat is the only place in the world to see Asiatic lions in the wild.

Very much so. India is one of the world's great birding destinations, from the wetlands of Bharatpur to the forests of the Western Ghats and the high Himalaya. We can arrange specialist birding guides if this is your focus.

Safaris are typically by open jeep, usually in early morning and afternoon sessions, with expert naturalists. The lodges range from comfortable to genuinely exceptional. We plan around park rules, zones and seasons, and we favour an ethical, unhurried approach to wildlife.

In the right season and the right place, yes. Ladakh in winter offers one of the world's best chances of tracking snow leopard, on a specialist trip with experienced spotters. It takes patience, but it is unforgettable.

It matters to us a great deal. On safari we work with expert naturalists, follow park rules and keep a respectful distance, and we steer away from anything that puts animals or communities under pressure, including elephant rides where welfare is poor. More broadly, we favour locally owned hotels, local guides and hosts, and experiences that give something back, in keeping with our commitment to responsible travel and our membership of the Conscious Travel Foundation. If this is a priority for you, we will lean into it even further.