UK +44 (0)1367 850566

USA 1-855-216-5040

Kaziranga National Park – Home to the one horned Rhino

Kaziranga National Park - home to the one horned rhino.jpg

Kaziranga is the last significant remnant of the vast stretch of elephant grass and riparian forest punctuated by ox-bow lakes that once covered the entire flood plain of the Brahmaputra River in Assam.

It is a habitat that teems with wildlife much of it rare or endangered. Home to over 1600 of the Great One-horned Rhinoceros (a figure that accounts for over 2/3 the total population), as well as large numbers of wild elephants, wild buffalo, swamp deer, hog deer, etc. Kaziranga also supports perhaps the highest density of tigers anywhere in the world – an estimated 80 individuals in 430 sq kms.

The forests shelter rare Capped Langurs, Hoolock Gibbons and Giant Squirrels and the birding is quite superb. However, what makes Kaziranga so spectacular for the visitor is the visibility of these animals and the numbers in which they are seen.

You spend your three days/four nights exploring the park by jeep and elephant. Walking in the forests of the Mikir Hills that edge the flood plain of Kaziranga and which support many exotic species of mammals and birds and spending time in the many watch towers that overlook the beels, the shallow lakes that make the park such a paradise for wildlife.

It is not unusual to find a beel with half a dozen rhinos, a few elephants, a dozen or more buffalo, swamp deer and hog deer along with dozens of water birds. The forests and grasslands fringing these are inevitably the favourite haunt of predators.

Situated at the interface of the Indian and Malayan zones this park has elements of both and this makes it unique along with the visible abundance of its natural wealth. Naturally, in today’s troubled world, such wealth attracts the plunderers and the protection of the park against such marauders forms a heroic chapter in the story of conservation.

Kaziranga has three ranges open to visitors – the most visited is the Central or Kohora range which you enter very early in the morning for a one-hour elephant ride through the grasslands looking for rhino, hog and swamp deer, wild buffalo and birds that include the Bengal Florican.

The Western range called Baguri is the closest for Diphlu lodge. It has a smaller area open for tourism than the central range but very rewarding. The Baguri beel is a fantastic place for birds, elephants, otters, and even tigers and of course rhinos galore.

The Eastern Sohora range is the furthest and generally we recommend a full day there with packed lunch and breakfast, although you do have to exit the park at mid-day and the go back when it opens in the afternoon.

While at Kaziranga you will be advised by the local naturalists as to what is happening in the park in terms of animal and bird sightings and the guide will plan the day to day programme accordingly. During your stay you will definitely spend at least one morning with a packed lunch/breakfast in the Panbari Wildlife Sanctuary which abuts the Kaziranga National Park and protects some of the moist hill vegetation that, together with the riverine habitat of the floodplain forms a complete eco-system.

These highly fragmented dense forests that border tea plantations and scrub jungle are the home of a rich variety of exciting species like the Hoolock Gibbons and the best tactic is to wait at the edge of the forest until you hear the distinctive whooping or ‘singing’ of these apes and then enter the jungle thus focusing your search – a very important consideration in these dense and often impenetrable conditions. Apart from the gibbons you have an excellent chance of seeing graceful Capped Langurs, Yellow-throated Martens, Giant, Orange bellied and Himalayan Squirrels, sambar and barking deer with a chance of coming pretty close to elephants!

The bird life is very exciting as well and exposed trees and stumps at the edge of the jungle are ideal spots for the Pied Falconet and a strange noise in the bush could be the rare Grey Peacock Pheasant. Birds include Giant Hornbills, Maroon Orioles, Wedge-tailed and thick-billed green pigeons, Fairy Bluebirds, Grey Peacock Pheasant, Wren Babblers, and much else.


The Explorations Company, where no two journeys have ever been the same

Would you like to know more?

Our team can help prepare a unique itinerary that best suits your personal interests  – no pressure, just
support and advice. Please complete your information and we will be in touch in no time.

As a guide, the cost of our extraordinary and utterly bespoke journeys tends to start from $1200 per person per day excluding international flights.

Can we take your details

About your journey

30 years badge

How many people in your party?

Adult
Children under 12

Explore with The Explorations Company

By Marcela Kunova - 20th April 2017

Nicola Shepherd, founder and CEO of The Exploration Company, organises unusual trips for HNW and UHNW clients ranging from birthday parties at an Indian Maharajah's palace to reliving Sir Vivian Fuchs's 1950s expedition to the South Pole. Citywealth caught ...

View Forward facing arrow

Our Guarantees To You

Premium service from one of the world's most knowledgeable travel companies

24/7 contact number

Your holiday is fully protected by the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018

Flight-Inclusive Bonding: We are licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority and hold ATOL Number 7159

Flight-Exclusive bonding: Your holiday is further protected by our membership of ABTOT Membership Number 5197

logo