Tiger safari holidays

Solitary, shy animals, always on the move and with ranges that spread across vast swathes of thick forest, tigers are difficult to track. Sightings, then, are a combination of luck, putting in the time, and the quality of your guide. Our tiger safari holidays use well-trained local guides and drivers, skilled trackers who know the terrain well and are armed with data on recent encounters. But while they will endeavour to deliver a successful sighting, they give equal priority to animal welfare. That means they don’t speed, they don’t get too close to tigers and they don’t try to attract them.

Most tiger safari tours will involve several game drives in shared jeeps unless you arrange a private vehicle. Permits are usually issued for mornings or afternoons, and a typical game drive lasts for three to four hours; tracks can be bumpy and dusty, and it’s recommended to layer clothing as most jeeps have open sides and roofs. In some parks, such as Chitwan, you can also take walking safaris. Accommodation on tiger safaris is usually in lodges or homestays that vary in comfort level – our holidays use locally owned properties where possible.

The most popular place to see tigers is India, which is home to around 70 percent of the global population. Here you visit one or a combination of national parks such as Pench, Ranthambore, Kanha and Tadoba. Our tiger safari holidays can also be combined with cultural touring, and for instance you can easily add a few days in Ranthambore National Park after exploring the famous Golden Triangle route. In many cases our holidays support the conservation organisation Travel Operators for Tigers which helps protect wilderness areas. Tiger numbers in India are gradually rising, and as these big cats need plenty of range, individuals are increasingly being relocated to other parks and reserves. Less common destinations for tiger safaris include Nepal and Bangladesh, and it’s also possible to see tigers in Bhutan, though you will need to be very lucky.