We are planning a trip to Jim Corbett National Park next month with our families, and we know that we will get a chance to see many different animals there, but the main animal which we are interested in seeing are tigers. We are not sure if there are any tigers in Jim Corbett National Park, so I would like to know if there are any tigers in the park and if yes then how many tigers? Do we plan to go on the safari twice, so we get a chance to see all the animals and not miss out seeing any of the animals.
The park has 150-160 tigers and it's more than likely that you'll see one there than anywhere else in the world. You can go on a safari as many times as you need to and its definitely worth a visit. The chances of missing an animal are few since you won't be rushed during the Safari. Just make sure you have a good cam to capture whatever you see.
Hello, @Mithali! Welcome to the forum! Jim Corbett National Park is the oldest national park in the country. It was established in the year 1963 and was named after Jim Corbett, a conservationist who lead the beginning of the wildlife conservation in the country. The 1,200 plus square kilometres area of the national park is comprised of different habitats, which ensure that a wide variety of wildlife can be found within the premises. Some of the animals residing in the park are leopards, elephants, spotted deers, langurs, wild boars, sambars and hog deers. Of course, the majestic tigers also reside in the park. For the past few years, the number of tigers in the park has steadily increased. A few years ago, the number was at 160 tigers. Just by recent estimates, this 2016, Corbett National Park has about 215 tigers in its premises. This means that the Corbett National Park has the highest number of tigers out of all the national parks in the country. Other national parks ranking second and third respectively are Bandipur and Nagarhole. Tiger sightings in the national park do need luck though since the area is quite large. There are six zones in the national park, namely: Dhikala, Bijrani, Dhela, Jhirna, Sitabani and Durga Devi. Of these six zones, Dhikala is highly rated for tiger sightings. There are also forest lodges, operated by the government, located in this zone so you can stay the night here for the ultimate wilderness experience. In fact, it's a prerequisite to stay in the forest lodge before you can take a jeep safari or an elephant safari in the Dhikala zone. The other zones have less frequent tiger sightings. But if you cannot stay the night at the Dhikala zone, the Jhirna and Bijrani zones might be good options for animal sightings. Tiger sightings are not guaranteed in these zones though but you do have some possibility for that. The remaining zones are considered buffer zones and it's rare to spot animals here except for birds. There are three types of safaris that you can do in Jim Corbett National Park. You can opt for the jeep safari, canter safari or elephant safari. I would still recommend a jeep safari as it's most convenient and can pass through narrower paths. Renting a jeep exclusively costs Rs. 4,000 and it can accommodate up to 6 persons. On the other hand, a canter costs less at Rs. 1,500 per person and it can accommodate up to 16 persons. If there are six of you in a group, then it's better to hire a jeep. Take note that only a canter safari is allowed in the Dhikala zone, if you're not staying in the forest lodges. Jeep safaris are available all throughout the other zones. So for a higher chance of spotting tigers, I'd recommend for you to stay in the forest lodge at the Dhikala zone. This way, you can explore the area through a jeep safari or an elephant safari. Here are the safari timings for the Dhikala zone: Winter - 7:00 am to 10:00 am and 2:00 pm to 5:30 pm Summer - 6:00 am to 9:30 am and 3:00 pm to 6:30 pm The Dhikala zone, along with Bijrani and Durga Devi, remains open for tourists from November to June only. The entry gate for the Dhikala zone is at Dhangari. On the other hand, only the zones of Jhirna, Sitabani and Dhela remain open for tourists all-year round. You can book for tickets online as early as 30 days before your preferred schedule. I hope this helps you!
