KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK

At the foot of the Himalayas, on the banks of the Brahmaputra River, lies one of the most fascinating nature reserves in the world: Kaziranga National Park. Stretching over nearly 860 km², Kaziranga was classified as a nature reserve in 1908 and then a national park in 1974. The central part of the park (430 km²) is listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1985; it is one of the last areas in Northern India that has not been modified by man. The park has four different entrances (Western, Central, Eastern, and Bhurapar Range). We recommend that you stay near the central entrance if you wish to go on an elephant safari. If you have the opportunity, do a safari in each part of the park to enjoy its diversity.

The park is home to some exceptional wildlife including the largest population of one-horned rhinos in the world with over 2,000 individuals. You will be sure to see them. It has one of the highest densities of tigers in India and was declared a Tiger Reserve in 2007. Of course, it provides a habitat for other species, some of which are threatened with extinction: asian elephant, wild water buffalo with impressive horns, Indian bison(gaur), swamp deer(barasingha), sambar deer,hog deer, Indianporcupine, capped langur, golden langur, houlock gibbon, panther or sloth bear. Many reptiles are present on the site, including the monitor, the cobra and the python. The park is also classified as an Important Bird Area, and is home to approximately 480 species of migratory and resident birds. Among the most common, geese and ducks, herons, egrets, storks, but also vultures, eagles or owls. Among the colorful birds you will certainly see theIndian roller, thewhite throated kingfisher, the Indianpainted stork or the Indiangrey hornbill. The vegetation of the park is mainly tall grass and open jungle, but also rivers, water bodies and swamps.

The elephant safari is conducted in an area near the park entrance. While it can be uncomfortable to ride an elephant, unlike other sites, the pachyderm carries a maximum of three people (one guide and two visitors). This is the best way to see the wildlife up close. Don't expect to see a tiger, but the chances of seeing one-horned rhinos, buffaloes, wild elephants and deer are very high. The safari lasts one hour, and considering the limited comfort on the back of the animal, it is more than enough. It is best to go early in the morning, when the light is still soft and makes the tall grass of the prairie vibrate. The tour by Jeep allows you to go a little further into the park and see different species of langurs, exotic birds or, with a lot of luck, the famous tiger. Note that all tours are supervised by armed guards because of the dangerous nature of the animals present on the site.

The park enjoys a subtropical climate with monsoon and temperatures range from 8°C in winter to 38°C in summer. The best time to visit the park is from mid-November to early April.