How To Plan a trip To Tadoba? An Ultimate Guide
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Considering going to Tadoba and wondering how to plan a trip to Tadoba? Confused about which gates to choose for your safari? Not sure how to go about the booking process? Are questions like what to wear, what to pack, and what food to carry along with you bothering you?
Well, in that case, you are in the right place!
Last year my husband, an avid jungle traveler, took me on my first safari. With his experience of having been on a few dozen safaris, I watched him plan the safari trip like a pro. Everything from booking the safaris, and choosing the gates, to shopping for safari gear was all entirely managed by him.
The trip went smoothly and proved to be one of the most memorable trips of my life. So drawing from my experience of a jungle safari backed by his massive pool of knowledge, I have compiled this Tadoba planning guide for you.
This guide is the most comprehensive guide on the internet on Tadoba.
It will answer all the questions you have on planning a trip to Tadoba plus provide with you tons of more practical, useful information that you wouldn’t otherwise consider when planning a safari trip to Tadoba.
So make sure you read it till the very end.
Planning Tips – Best Time to Visit & Duration
Best Time to Visit Tadoba
Typically, it is best to visit Tadoba in the summer months i.e. between 15th April to 31st May for maximum chances of tiger sighting. However, the harsh heat can prove to be unbearable for visitors as the temperatures typically range between 40°-48° Celsius.
So if you want to experience moderate to cool weather in Tadoba, witness Tadoba’s beauty at its peak, and also stand a decent chance of tiger sightings, visit between 1st November to 30th November.
But if you are seeking the beauty and calm of the jungle and not just tiger sightings, you can visit Tadoba at any time of the year.
Duration – How Long To Visit?
If you want to get the most out of your time inside a jungle and need enough opportunities to sight a tiger, you must book at least 3 safaris if you are traveling during summer and at least 5 safaris if you are traveling during winter.
So that means, in summer you must stay for at least 1 night and 2 days, and in winter for at least 2 nights and 3 days for the most satisfying jungle safari experience.
Spending so much time at Tadoba will ensure you get to experience a mix of various gates as well as a good balance of core and buffer zones. You will not only increase your chances of spotting a tiger but will also see a healthy variety of the other birds, animals, and reptiles found in Tadoba.
How to reach Tadoba?
1. By Air
The nearest airport to Tadoba is Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, Nagpur, located about 132 km away.
From the airport, book a cab to Tadoba, which takes around 2.5 to 3 hours.
2. By Train
The nearest railway stations to Tadoba are:
- Chandrapur Railway Station (~30 km)
- Nagpur Railway Station (~132 km)
Even though Chadrapur is closer to Tadoba, those traveling from Mumbai, Delhi or other major cities in India should take a train to Nagpur to save time as many superfast trains do not stop at Chandrapur.
3. By Road
Tadoba is well-connected by road to nearby cities. Here’s how you can reach by car or bus:
From Maharashtra:
- Nagpur: 132 km (~3 hours)
- Chandrapur: 30 km (~45 minutes)
- Pune: 788 km (~13.5 hours)
- Mumbai/Thane: ~900 km (~14 hours)
From Madhya Pradesh:
- Jabalpur: 416 km (~7.5 hours)
- Bhopal: 501 km (~8 hours)
From Telangana:
- Hyderabad: 435 km (~8 hours)
- Secunderabad: 479 km (~8 hours)
From Chhattisgarh:
- Raipur: 333 km (~5.5 hours)
From Odisha:
- Sambalpur: 480 km (~10 hours)
Take state-run buses, private buses, or hire private cabs from these cities.
Safari Booking – Gates, Zones and Process
Zones and Gates at Tadoba
Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve is primarily divided into the core area and the buffer area.
Buffer area is the outer part of the tiger reserve where limited human settlement is allowed.
Core area is the central jungle area where human settlement is strictly prohibited.
The 650+ square-kilometer area of the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve is further divided into various zones. Each zone has several gates from where you can start your safari.
The zones and the gates therein are listed below:
Zone 1: Navegaon Zone
- Navegaon (Core)
- Navegaon Ramdegi (Buffer)
- Nimdela (Buffer)
Zone 2: Moharli
- Moharli (Core)
- Khutwanda (Core)
- Agarzari (Buffer)
- Adegaon (Buffer)
- Dewada (Buffer)
- Junona (Buffer)
Zone 3: Kolara
- Kolara (Core)
- Kolara Chauradeo (Buffer)
- Madnapur (Buffer)
- Belara (Buffer)
- Alizanza (Buffer)
- Shirkada (Buffer)
- Palasgaon (Buffer Noon)
Zone 4: Pangdi and Zari (Core)
- Pangadi (Core)
- Zari (Core)
- Pangadi Aswal Chuha (Buffer)
- Keslaghat (Buffer)
- Zari Peth (Buffer)
- Mamla (Buffer)
- Somnath (Buffer)
Pro Tip for 2025: The Navegaon and Kolara zones are the best for tiger sightings due to the massive presence of adult tigers and tigresses with cubs.
Booking Tips
The quality of your Tadoba experience depends on the safaris that you book. For the most memorable experience, follow the safari booking tips gives below.
1. Book a mix of core and buffer zone safaris.
Your chances of tiger sighting are equal in both these zones. So don’t pay heed to internet advice asking you to avoid buffer zones. But the difference between core and buffer is that
– Core zones are greener than buffer zones. But the diverse landscape of buffer zones is equally attractive
– Core zones will let you sight animals like deers, sambars, wild gaurs from a closer proximity than buffer zones
– Buffer zone journeys are more adventurous due to lesser restrictions on speed and drivers can rush you to tiger sighting areas easily as compared to core zones.
2. Book gates based on tiger and animal sighting trends
Tigers and animals keep moving across the various zones in Tadoba. Choose your gates based on which areas have seen active trends of cubs and tigresses.
Pro Tip: Get in touch with me (for free) regarding active sighting trends before you book your safari gates.
3. Book using the official safari booking website.
Book using the official safari booking website of Maharashtra Government. It involves a simple 3-step process:
1. Registering yourself
2. Booking the safari
3. Making the payment
You can only book a gypsy in the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve. Even though you can book 6 adults and 2 kids on a single gypsy, each gypsy can comfortably only accommodate up to 4 adults and 2 kids. So plan accordingly.
Canters are no longer available at the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve. So if you are a solo traveler, you should either book an entire gypsy or book through an agent who may be able to partner you up with other customers.
Where to Stay At Tadoba
Tadoba has a huge variety of stay options ranging from budget accommodations to luxe resorts. There are many homestays available in the area as well.
Stay Tips
- Stay close to a safari gate
Stay close to a safari gate for quick access to shops selling biscuits, tea, coffee, fruits, basic first-aid, tobacco, cameras on rent etc.
But you should also remember that your stay will not be close to all the gates – especially if you choose various gates spread across Tadoba for a more all-round experience. So you will have to book your commute from your stay to the gate, in advance.
2. Stay in an all-inclusive property
Stay at a property that provides an all-inclusive package – one that includes all the meals including safari meals.
Stay Recommendations
The Pugmark Jungle Lodge – Moharli
- Excellent location close to Moharli gate
- Good hospitality, clean rooms, warm hospitality, value-for-money affordable pricing
- Perfect for those traveling with family
Click here to check the latest price and availability
- Excellent mid-range property with clean and neat rooms, washrooms, impressive hospitality, lush greenery, swimming pool and indoor games area.
- Perfect for those travelling with senior citizens or kids.
- Close to Kolara gate
Click here to check the latest price and availability
- High-end resort with tastefully decorated spacious cottages, swimming pool, on-site facilities, top-notch hospitality
- Excellent for couples and luxury travelers
- Close to Kolara Gate
Click here to check the latest price and availability
Safari information
Timings
- Morning and evening safaris are for 4 hours each.
- Noon safaris have shorter durations and only operate in the buffer zone.
- Morning safaris start earlier in summer (May–June) to avoid the heat.
- Evening safaris end later in summer (up to 7:00 PM in core zones) due to extended days.
- Monsoon safaris are only operational in the buffer zone (July–September)
The area and session-wise timings are given below:
Buffer Areas
| Period | Morning (Entry & Exit) | Noon Time (Entry & Exit) | Evening (Entry & Exit) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 – 31 Oct | 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM | 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM | 2:30 PM to 6:30 PM |
| 1 Nov – 28/29 Feb | 6:30 AM to 10:30 AM | 10:35 AM to 1:45 PM | 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM |
| 1 Mar – 30 Apr | 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM | 10:30 AM to 1:35 PM | 2:30 PM to 6:30 PM |
| 1 May – 30 June | 5:30 AM to 9:30 AM | 10:30 AM to 1:35 PM | 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM |
| 1 July – 30 Sept | 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM | 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM | 2:30 PM to 6:30 PM |
Core Areas
| Period | Morning Entry | Morning Exit | Evening Entry | Evening Exit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 – 31 Oct | 6:00 AM | 10:00 AM | 2:30 PM | 6:30 PM |
| 1 Nov – 28/29 Feb | 6:30 AM | 10:30 AM | 2:00 PM | 6:00 PM |
| 1 Mar – 30 Apr | 6:00 AM | 10:00 AM | 2:30 PM | 6:30 PM |
| 1 May – 30 June | 5:30 AM | 9:30 AM | 3:00 PM | 7:00 PM |
Tips
- Wear camouflage clothing in shades of green, brown, and gray to avoid drawing the attention of the animals
- Wear enough protection for arms, ears, and head – to protect yourself from the extreme weather conditions in Tadoba
- Using mobile phones is strictly prohibited on a safari. Your phone is kept inside a locked box in the gypsy and the keys of the box are handed over to the forest officials at the gate.
- Carry an ID Card with you. The ID card should be the same as the one given at the time of booking.
- Make sure your child is seated between two adults to avoid falling off from the Gypsy.
- Washroom breaks are available only once every 1.5-2 hours. Plan accordingly.
- Stepping down from the Gypsy is strictly prohibited.
- Follow the instructions of the driver and the guide.
- Do not go to Tadoba with the mere objective of sighting a tiger. Tiger sighting depends on luck and patience. Visit Tadoba to admire the raw, unfiltered jungle life.
