Wildlife Sanctuaries
There are as many as 80 national parks and over 441 wildlife sanctuaries in India, covering nearly 4.5% of the total geographical area of the country. Scattered all across the country, these sanctuaries and parks attracts tourists from all around the world. Most of these sanctuaries were originally private hunting grounds of former Indian aristocratic families.
A tour of Indian wildlife sanctuaries and national parks is a fabulous experience. Contrary to the African safari, the vegetation and terrain in India is such that wild life are often more solitary or in small herds, elusive and shy. Although a wildlife tour in India is enjoyable during any season, the winter is the best season to visit. Some of the wildlife sanctuaries are even closed during summer season.
The sanctuaries and national parks are home to an unmatched variety of flora and fauna, among these several endangered species of animals and birds, like the Asiatic Elephant, the Bengal Tiger, the one horned Indian Rhino, the Asiatic Lion and the Siberian Crane.
Ranges of Safari Packages are on offer through the tourism departments of the states as well as tour and travel agencies. At most of the sanctuaries and parks there are hotels, resorts or guesthouses to cater to the lodging needs of tourists. Often the number of people who can enter the sanctuaries a day is limited, so if you are not traveling as part of an arranged tour it is wise in advance to book entry to the sanctuary with a local agent to ensure access. Most visits to the sanctuaries are in open air jeeps or open air buses, but some sanctuaries offers the possibility of visiting the sanctuary on elephants back.