National Parks - which to choose
 

I have a chance to go to either Ranthambore or Corbett park. Which park would you choose? Is there a better park for a chance to see more wildlife?

Frankly, to us, India's parks are very under-whelming.

We've visited Corbett, Rajaji, Mudumalai and drove through Bandipur.

Could you write a bit more about how much time you have and where you will be based?

Is seeing a tiget your main goal or are you more interested in the diversity of Indian wildlife?

Would love to see a tiger. We have been to Tanzania and Kenya, so understand great safaris. We are going to be in Dellhi then to the park. We are only looking at 3 days in the park. Does that help?

I am in the process of booking a lengthy Indian safari for early 2016 and I hear that Kanha and Bandhavgarh are the parks offering the best chance of tiger sightings. Unfortuately, both are about a day's travel from Delhi. Tiger sightings seem to be hit and miss in most Indian parks though.

We are going to Corbett, more for the chance of Indian elephant and birds rather than tigers. I took Ranthambore out of our itinerary (reluctantly) because I heard sightings were better in Kanha and Bandhavgarh and also even though a private vehicle can be booked, this sometimes ends up being a shared vehicle.

I'd suggest contacting Wild World India or Legends and Palaces and see what parks they recommend for a short visit from Delhi.

Happy planning and good luck with a tiger sighting,


Pol.

We have not been on African safaris, but, from what I understand through my research, in comparison you will be greatly disappointed in the Indian park experience. As far as the possibility of a tiger sighting, we thought Corbett was a complete joke. Have you ever been on a safari where there were mandatory stops for refreshments at the restaurant in the middle of the drive? When we were visiting in the Corbett area (not the park visit itself), we had a guide from Nepal. He told us the parks in Nepal are much better. Last year we visited Chitwan in Nepal; he was right! We had zero expectations of seeing a tiger there but had a half hour sighting.

Shergarh (very pricey though) was recommended to us as a very good place if visiting Kanha.

This guy posts here sometimes. Read ALL of his travelogues on India and the way Indian parks function.

http://www.cokesmithphototravel.com/...-to-india.html

I am ploughing my through this trip report, from 2012 http://www.cloudbirders.com/triprepo..._0203_2012.pdf

If you go to page 27 you can read some frank comments about safari in Ranthambore and soon after that Corbett NP - this may help you make your choice.

Happy planning,


Pol

Thank you Treepol. I appreciate your assistance. Interesting reading of your trip. sounds wonderful.

We spent two days each at Bandhavgarh and Kanha in February, and saw one tiger (briefly) on the first of seven safaris total (in Bandhavgarh, where evidently 14 tigers--females and cubs--were killed by a new male this past autumn, reducing the park's tiger census significantly). To some extent sightings are a matter of luck, but also depend upon the skill and patience of the naturalist and/or guide you are with. In Kanha, we were impressed with the naturalist from our lodge. Although we were not successful in spotting a tiger, he identified (and we followed) fresh pug marks, and we heard a tiger growling nearby (but alas, he never emerged from the brush). For birds and wildlife besides tigers, and for its natural beauty, we preferred Kanha to Bandhavgarh.