Nagarhole National Park

Hi everyone!

I am making a trip to India on short notice. I was thinking of making a quick weekend trip to Nagarhole NP while I am there to photograph wildlife. It will be easier for me to make the trip to the South since I will be in Chennai and Hyderabad.

I was hoping for a bit of guidance from this community on a couple topics.

Recommendation for hotel accommodations close to the park

Recommendation for gypsy / guide while there.

Seeing Tigers will be a plus, but I am more interested in diversity of wildlife sightings. I want to stay out on safari for as long as possible and would like to know if I can hire a gypsy for a solo safari(s) or if I have to go with a group.

Any help here is greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Jim

I should add that the dates for my trip to the park will be either 5/18-5/20 or more likely 6/1-6/3

thanks!!

Kabini has a couple of good resorts - Jungle Lodges Kabini, Cicada, Orange County and Serai. While the last three are private run and are fantastic properties, my vote goes to Jungle Lodges for their complete focus on ensuring visitors get to see the maximum wildlife. Their packages will include two trips a day (either by boat or by jeep) into the forest/reservoir, which comes with an experienced guide. We stayed there in Oct 2010 for 4 days and enjoyed it thoroughly, though no leopard or tiger sightings during that time. Depending on the crowd, you might be asked to take a jeep or a minivan (which IMO is useless for the noise it makes). We were lucky to get the jeep 3 times out of the 4 we travelled into the park.

Nagarhole however had a recent forest fire and am not sure if they are still allowing trips inside the park. Someone who has been there recently should hopefully turn up on this thread and offer insights.

Thanks for the information. I looked online at Jungle Lodges and it looks good. I will give them a call to see what the current state is of the park. Thanks!

Please check if the Park is open at this time of year.It is usually closed due to forest fires.

I agree we stayed at the jungle lodge and had a great time, good safaris, well organised, experienced guides. We saw plenty of wildlife, elephants a plenty, deer, snakes, raptors etc.

Hi, Jim

As suggested Jungle Lodges is the best bet but if you want to stay right inside the forest and want to see lots of wild animals then you can stay at the forest rest house, but they are very basic not as luxurious as Jungle lodges, but they are right inside the forest owned by forest department they also conduct safaris from AM to 9 am in the mornings and 3 pm to 6 pm in the evenings ,you can book this cottages from Deputy conservator of forest office Mysore, phone 08212480902,hope this helps and enjoy your stay at nagaraholey

Correction we stayed in the forest rest house, thoroughly recommend it! I was getting confused between the frh and Jungle Lodge....it has been a while!

Baseer,
I am all about location over accommodations. thanks for the tip. Do you know, are you allowed to roam around the inside of the park if you stay at the forest guest house? Is there any additional things I need to bring with me (water, food) when staying at the guest house, that I would not have to staying at the lodge?

Also, when staying at the guest house inside the park, do I need to make my own guide arrangements or do they do it there?


Thanks again, this is starting to shape up!!

They will provide everything you need really, we just always take plenty of extra bottled water. You are not allowed to go wandering too far but there are short walks you can do around the site. The safaris and guides are all sorted for you, if I remember 2 safaris a day are included in the rate.

The FRH inside Nagarhole is Sunkadakatte. It is very difficult to get accomodation but you can try. It is a nice place. It used to have an elephant camp (but closed now). Don't expect to sight wildlife as you'll have to go in the Forest Department's canter, if at all you manage it. Food (simple & basic) will be cooked but the local forest guards. You can just roam around the place but don't expect to do a trek or go for a long walk.

Nagarhole has 2 tourist zones. One in Nagarhole and the other one in Kabini. Nagarhole is closed (not sure if it is open again) due to forest fire but Kabini is very much open. Unlike central Indian parks, you can just land up there and do safari. You'll have to stay at any of the mentioned lodges.

Parks in Karnataka aren't closed for monsoon. Best time to sight wildlife is Feb-mid April. Stay for at least 2 nights and do 4 safaris (1 boat in morning + 3 jeep or 2 each). Best place to stay is Jungle Lodges as they are only permitted to do safari (others just hire with JLR) and they give preference to their guest.

Baseer,
I am all about location over accommodations. thanks for the tip. Do you know, are you allowed to roam around the inside of the park if you stay at the forest guest house?



Sorry for late reply,

You cannot roam or trek inside the forest but as it is you can sight lots and lots of deers,around the cottage sighting the king (Tiger) will purely depend upon your luck

Is there any additional things I need to bring with me (water, food) when staying at the guest house, that I would not have to staying at the lodge?


Food is available at Rest House only Indian, Rice,Curry and chapati,you have to inform them while check in, water from the tube well is pure and better then bottled water,


Also, when staying at the guest house inside the park, do I need to make my own guide arrangements or do they do it there?


You will be needing a guide only if you are going for the safari in your own vehicle,for which you have to take prior permission from Deputy Conservator Of Forest's office situated at honsur a guide and permission will provided on payment of a nominal fee to Forest Department but for this you may have to spare at least 2 or 3 days you can explore the forest and if lucky you may even photograph the KING (Tiger)


Thanks again, this is starting to shape up!![/QUOTE]