Night Safari in Tadoba National Park

Last Updated on July 7, 2023 by asoulwindow

Night Safari in Tadoba National Park

The night safari in Tadoba National Park in the buffer zone of Navegaon Ramdegi gate was even more thrilling than the ones I did in morning and evening! It was my first ever night safari in a national park of India or even other nations.

I did the night safari on 11^th June and ended up seeing Civet Cats and Jungle cats for the first time in wild. It was a heart pounding moment which I had waited for since a long time. I couldn’t believe my luck. The night safari kept the adrenaline pumping throughout its duration. This is why Night Safari in Tadoba National Park is very popular with tourists. We also saw large herds of Indian Gaur, wild Indian hare, large sounders of wild boars, an unidentified huge species of owl and many more.

The Tadoba skyline was awash in sunset hues, like molten gold when we arrived at the buffer zone. But soon it turned dark and the mysterious jungle began to reveal its secrets, one layer at a time. I did the night safari with my travel blogger friend Ami Bhat and Shaheen, the talented in-house naturalist from Waghoba Eco Lodge by Pugdundee Safaris. Here is the most comprehensive guide to Night Safari in Tadoba National Park. Here is all you wanted to know about night safari in Tadoba.

Which animals can I see during night safari in Tadoba National Park?

Animals such as the four-horned antelope, which is also called as the Chausingha is diurnal which means that it is mostly active during the day. But it is also possible to see them in night. Especially just after it turns dark.

There are certain night animals too which make their presence felt specially during night such as the Ratel or honey badger, rusty-spotted wild cats, jungle cats, Indian Pangolins, porcupines, Indian wolves, Indian Hyenas, four-horned antelope aka Chausingha, and Gaurs aka Indian Bison etc. The jungles of Tadoba National Park at night may also reveal nocturnal animals and birds such as bats, owls, jackals, dholes and foxes, who can be heard or seen hunting for food. Some of the nocturnal birds you can see in night safari are Grey Nightjar, Savanna Nightjar, Indian Nightjar, Large-Tailed Nightjar, Indian Scops Owl, Black-crowned Night, Jungle Owlet and Heron.

Also keep your eyes peeled for various species of owls, especially the Mottled wood owl which we saw flying above us while the safari jeep was moving. Unlike me, some of my friends who did night safari in Navegaon Ramdegi gate in winters also saw Eurasian thick knee and sloth bear. Spotting predators like leopards and Royal Bengal Tigers is also not unheard-of. Open Jeep Safari in night in the jungles of Tadoba is indeed exciting!

My experience of night safari in Tadoba National Park

Well before the pink sun bobs into the sky, I found myself at the Navegaon Ramdegi gate. It is my first night safari anywhere in the world and I am way more excited. The moment we entered the buffer zone, one animal after another started to make an appearance. Much like the morning safari I did on the same day, the Indian gaurs or the Indian Bison, were the first ones to give me a glimpse during the night safari as well.

What followed was a series of sightings. “You are very lucky today. There are days when you don’t even get to see even a jungle hare. But then the sightings are mostly very good here in night”, said Shaheen. The highlights of my night safari were the rare spotting of the jungle cat and 2 civet cats. I couldn’t have asked for more because it was the first time that I had seen both animals in wild.

My experience of night safari in Tadoba National Park left me with heart-pounding sensations as I spotted one nocturnal animal after another in quick succession. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity indeed. Not many National Parks in India offer night safari due to various reasons such as lukewarm response or logistical issues lack of infrastructure, therefore when I learnt that night safari is possible in Tadoba National Park, I was not letting go of this opportunity. I guess many tourists had the same idea because I saw many safari jeeps during the night safari. It is a houseful show here!

Soul Window Moments

I found prowling deep in the forests of Tadoba National Park exciting and thrilling, to say the least! Whether it was spotting two civet cats one after the another or watching a jungle cat, sit pretty and pose for us without a hurry or fear, moments like these will always stay close to my heart. Especially because it was for the first time that I spotted civet cats and jungle cats in the wild.

Besides, I also spotted many other wild animals and birds during the night safari in Tadoba such as wild boars skulking among the trees, a herd of sambar deer sitting nonchalantly on the forest floor. I also spotted a huge herd of Gaur or Indian Bison, several shy Indian wild hare scurrying in the undergrowth, night jars, and even a huge Mottled wood owl flying above us cinematically.

I have visited many National Parks in India and abroad but I have had never experienced anything like the night safari of Tadoba National Park. My experience of night safari in Tadoba National Park was unlike any other. Come, experience the jungle in the night! Thank me later!

Mottled wood owl sighting

We had a fleeting glimpse of the owl. According to Shaheen, it was most probably a mottled wood owl (Strix ocellata). It was huge. The Mottled Wood Owl, which is a large species, can measure anywhere between 40 to 50 cm in length and weigh up to a whooping 700 to 800 grams.

Nightjars sighting

Not to forget, we also saw many nightjars right outside Waghoba Eco Lodge and throughout the route. Nightjars are those rare nocturnal birds who are most active during the night. Previously, I saw nightjars in Sonkhaliyan in Rajasthan. We even hear the unusual calls of the mysterious nightjars.

Soul Window Ruminations! 

This unique wilderness holiday is one of my most unusual experiences of wild so far. Whether it was the snake trail in Agumbe or tracking the silverbacks in Bwindi Impenetrable national park of Uganda, or getting up, close and personal with the endemic animals of Australia in the offbeat Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve of Canberra, nothing came close to the Tadoba in night experience.

Night safari is not allowed at many places such as Jim Corbett National Park.This is why,doing a night safari in Tadoba makes sense. Also, check out my blog on Jhirna Zone in Jim Corbett National Park and the lesser known Nandhaur Wildlife Sanctuary, both located in Uttarakhand. You must visit these offbeat places for authentic and unique wildlife experiences.

Is it possible to see tiger during the night safari?

Shaheen told me that, many people have seen leopard & tiger during the night safari as well. As we drove on the uneven dirt tracks of the buffer zone, the local guide from the forest department asked the driver to stop and requested us to remain quiet. We had stopped at a water stream to listen to the calls. “This is the common path of the tiger. It is quite possible that the tiger may cross this nallah.” The guide said to a nervous me, who wasn’t sure if he wants to see the tiger up, close in the dead of night. It is a scary and yet an exciting thought.

Anyways, I had seen Bijli tigress with her cubs during the morning safari of Tadoba National Park on the same day, so I was more focussed and keener on spotting other nocturnal animals. We moved on after waiting for some time.

Is it possible to see leopard during the night safari?

Just before we stopped for our dinners under the stars, Shaheen told us an interesting story. She had once accompanied another group and they had stopped similarly for dinner in an open jeep. Shaheen added, “We had barely started to eat, when suddenly, few leaves began falling on us. We looked up to realise that it is in fact a leopard who is moving away from us, walking stealthily on a tree branch. It was an unforgettable moment. This is why always keep your senses awakened and eyes peeled when doing a night safari in Tadoba National Park. You never know a leopard is just round the corner.

How to spot wild animals at night?

While the night jeep safari in the buffer zone of Navegaon Ramdegi gate in The Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) is on, it’s mostly pitch dark throughout the trip. The deep, inky darkness of the forest still gave me good views of the animals by using some hacks. The locally hired guide asks the driver to stop at places where he thought he saw a movement. And he was correct 99% of the time. The use of torch towards the jungle area is allowed by the forest department during night safari.

The headlight of the moving jeep is enough to spot many wild animals anyways. That’s how we saw wild boars, Indian hare, Civet cat etc when the jeep was still moving. For proper views of jungle cat, sambar deer and Gaur or Indian bison, we had to stop the jeep as they were not crossing the road but were rather sitting on the ground parallel to us. In this case, we had to use the torch, which is allowed legally.

Also, if a wild animal is around, it is hard to miss a sighting, thanks to the eyes shining after being exposed to light and the movement of certain predators and nocturnal animals in the night.

Why do nocturnal animal’s eye shine in night

Scientifically speaking, nocturnal animals and birds, which are mostly active during the night have larger pupils and eyes when compared to other living creatures. This is why the nocturnal creatures can see better than humans after dark because their bigger pupils allow them to collect more light. Nocturnal animals have more rod cells than cone cells in their eyes.

I have often observed that the eyes of some animals shine in the dark when light is directed towards them. Did you know the reason behind this? Well, this happens due to the light reflecting back onto the tapetum when any light passes through the yes. Tapetum is a special, reflective surface, located right behind the retinas of nocturnal animals.

To summarize, the light-reflecting surface, known as the tapetum lucidum, helps nocturnal animals see better during the night. Now you know why when the torch light or the light from a vehicle meets the eyes of the animals, they shine in the dark. Thanks to this phenomenon, it also increases the chance to spot wild animals after dark.

Do Stargazing in the forest in night

Shaheen also told me during the night jeep safari that many guests on some of the safaris have seen the beautiful view of the milky way from the naked eyes. This is why, if you enjoy doing astronomy photography, also known as Astrophotography or astronomical imaging, then better come prepared. You may also download various mobile stargazing apps which help to identify and spot constellations in the night sky. Identifying stars, looking at the planets and diving deep on the subject of astrology definitely gets me excited. So, if stargazing is your cup of tea, be ready for some surprises.

Firefly show during night safari

If you are traveling in the right season, then on a good day, you can also see entire trees covered with the soft-bodied beetles known as fireflies who produce glow in night time. Thanks to the light cells, which are scientifically known as Photocytes, which are present in the abdomen of the firefly, they are able to glow in the dark. Fireflies are also known as glowworms, lightning bugs or Jugnu.

Which months can we see lots of fireflies or jugnu on the trees in the jungle of Tadoba?  “September and October is the best time to see umpteen fireflies on the trees of the forests of Tadoba. This is also the breeding season.” Shaheen told me as I saw few fireflies fly past me. Fireflies are usually seen at night in dense forest areas with no street lights etc.

Soul Window Moments

I remember visiting my native village Baansgaon near Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh in the month of October and I was amazed with the sight of an entire tree claimed by uncountable fireflies. I could not believe what I saw. I saw similar magical sight in June in the jungles of Borneo in the Sabah region of Malaysia. Other places such as Purushwadi in Maharashtra are also known as great firefly spectacles in the right season.

Feel the forest in night

Most of us have been on jeep safaris only in the morning and evening. Ever wondered, what the forest feels like in night? Even if you do not spot a wild animal and bird, it is still worth it to explore the jungle after dark. Tall trees and underbrush looming large like shadows, a sound here, a rustle there, an animal whizzing past in a jiffy and what’s that thing which just flew above our head? Got the drift?

The dark, mysterious and quiet forest is best explored on a jeep safari. As we drove on the dirt tracks, the canopy of trees had blocked out much of the light from the stars and moon, adding to the enigma of the jungle.

Observe the sounds of the jungle in night

Thanks to complete silence, we could clearly hear the sounds of animals, nocturnal birds and insects. The mysterious calls of the nightjars, chirping of crickets and other insects, sudden rustling of leaves and the haunting hooting of owls created an eerie, otherworldly ambiance as we slowly wheeled away on the unpaved tracks.

Photography during night safari in Tadoba National Park

I personally didn’t get good opportunities to take pictures during the night safari in Tadoba mainly because it was too dark, the animals move too fast (expect for the jungle cat, gaur and sambar) and the torch light isn’t enough. But then, you don’t go to night safari for photography. Night safari is more about feeling the pulse of jungle after it gets dark. I didn’t really want to spoil the moment by hurrying to adjust the settings, find a tripod or a bean bag and attempt photography.

I would rather just enjoy the jungle in night and observe the behaviour of the nocturnal animals which are anyways more difficult to spot in night when compared to the day safaris. In fact, I enjoyed not using my DSLR camera during the night safari. Doing away with the camera, helped me talk more, bond more, stress less and learn more about the wildlife.

Vlogging during night safari in Tadoba National Park Maharashtra

I always take videos of places, especially when the activity is as adventurous and thrilling as the night safari. Not only does Vlogging record the excitement, thrill and commotion of the moment but it also documents anything unplanned or rare, much like the shadowy footage of the jungle cat I captured. I know it is bad quality video from the phone, but it still captures the essence of the safari.

Soul Window Travel Tips

Here is a tip:

I had carried both Go Pro 11 as well as my mobile phone for the Vlog. I realised that the Go Pro is a big fail during the night safari or even the safari in morning and evening mainly because you can’t zoom in and out as much as you would like to. Go Pro is also dysfunctional in dark spaces, even with torches. I switched to the phone immediately and was able to get some shots even if not very clear. So, never carry Go Pro for videos during night safari. Taking videos from DSLR cameras is also not easy in night. Mobile I feel is the best option during safaris for amateur shoots.

Camera fee for night safari

You have to pay a camera fee at a counter before you can enter the buffer zone of Navegaon Ramdegi Zone for night safari. While the formalities were being done, I stepped out to explore the Navegaon gate area.

Soul Window Travel Tip

Here is a hack! This is how you can save camera fee cost. In case, you are also NOT planning to attempt taking pictures (trust me, it’s pointless!) of wildlife in night, you may leave the cameras back at the hotel or resort. In case, you still brought the camera over with you, you can keep it in the jeep which brought you here.

Explore Navegaon Ramdegi gate area

While the formalities were being done at the entry gate of the buffer and core zone of Navegaon Ramdegi gate area, I utilised the time to explore the area. It got a little dark when I arrived at the Navegaon Ramdegi gate. I roamed around to see some small shops selling small eats such as junk like potato wafers, chips and cold drinks apart from the wildlife themed souvenirs. You can also see the price list for entry and camera fee etc on the signboards here. It is also wise to go on a loo-break here before you start the night safari because the next washroom is available only when the jeep stops for dinner at a check post. The main gate to the core zone of Navegaon Ramdegi gate area was closed when I arrived.

Dinner during night safari

There is no way you are going back to your hotel or a nearby restaurant (which doesn’t exist!) in the middle of the safari. This is why the chefs at Waghoba Eco Lodge from Pugdundee Safaris asked us in the morning, “What would you want to have in your packed dinner?” After a little thought, I replied, “Since we would be eating on the parked safari jeep itself, any finger food which doesn’t have gravy or is dry should be good.” I found the packed dinner of Kathi Rolls, toasted tomato cheese sandwiches, fruit cakes, muffins, lemonades to be very handy especially when eating on the stationary jeep.

Imagine having to spread out gravy-based dishes. It would have been messy. Other ideas for carrying packed dry food during night safari are paratha or poori with sookhi bhaji like alu jeera, batata poha, upma, appe, Biryani, pulao, vermicelli, noodles, pasta, idli and vada (minus sambhar) etc.

Stop at backwaters of the Chargaon Dam

After leaving Waghoba Eco Lodge for the night safari around the Navegaon Ramdegi gate, we drove on glass smooth roads. After a few minutes of drive on the highway, I craned my neck to see beautiful views on the other side of the car window where my friend Ami sat. Sensing my curiosity, my naturalist Shaheen on the first seat said, “These are the backwaters of the Chargaon Dam. We are in Chandrapur district now.”Wide open spaces punctuated with scenic water bodies and uneven carpets of green grass made me want to stop here. Chargaon Dam is an earth filled dam, located on the Chargaon river near Varora. You may want to leave a little early from the resort if you want to spend more time here.

Soul Window travel tips

Here is another Soul Window tip which no one else will share with you. A walk along the shores of the backwaters is not only therapeutic but you can also see many exotic avian species here. In winters, expect a lot of migratory birds around the backwaters. This is why, leave early and carry telephoto lens with you even if you are not going to use them during the night safari in Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve.

Is night safari in Tadoba National Park worth it?

Why do night safari in Tadoba National Park? Well, if you want to see the local nocturnal animals and birds, then it is mostly possible in the night safari of Tadoba National Park. In the morning and evening safari, you will not see even a single nocturnal animal such as the Indian civet cat, jungle cat, various species of owls and Indian wild hare etc. Though I was easily able to see the tigers and leopards in the morning and evening safari in Tadoba National Park, the heart pounding thrill of spotting them in the night is even more exciting than when you spot them in broad daylight.

As far as commonly seen animals such as Hanuman langurs, sambar, chital, macaque monkeys, gaur and wild boar are concerned, I found it intriguing to see their activity and behaviour after dark. Besides the feel of the jungle is the night is far more thrilling and adventurous in the night when compared to day. These are reasons enough to consider going a on Night jeep safari in Tadoba National Park Maharashtra.

Why not to do a night safari in Tadoba National Park? If you are not very keen to see nocturnal animals or want to take rest for the next day morning safari, then you may want to skip the night safari, especially when you have lack of time. However, from my personal experience, I highly recommend that you do the jeep safari in night here with your friends, family, relatives, colleagues, acquaintances or coworkers. Tadoba Night Safari in Maharashtra has a lot to offer to you if you know where to look. This is a one-of-its-kind nightlife experience. Do not miss it!

Respect: Rules and regulations for night safari in Tadoba

A certain decorum must be maintained by tourists while doing the morning and evening safari. But, you must check your behaviour even more when doing night safari in Tadoba National Park. No one should take advantage of the permission to do night safari in Tadoba National Park by the forest department and the Government. Rules and regulations for night safari in Tadoba must be strictly followed. Here are the basic do and don’t while doing a night safari in the buffer zone of Tadoba National Park:

• Do not chase wild animals.
• Do not drive in high speed.
• Stick to the designated paths.
• Do not shout, yell, sing or scream.
• Do not clap (sadly this needs to be told).
• Do not honk at all. There is no need anyways.
• Keep mobile phones on airplane mode, if possible.
• Do not harass wild animals and birds if they look agitated
• Do not pressurise the driver to take paths where night safari is not allowed.
• Do not step out of safari jeep except designated spots such as check posts and toilets etc.
• Do not wear perfumes, whether weak or strong. This also helps in improving chances of sightings.
• Do not keep your legs outside the safari jeep, irrespective of the fact whether the jeep is stationary or moving.
• Do not leave behind your litter. In our case, Pugdundee Safari staff collected all the waste and disposed them off responsible later.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

This complete guide to Night Safari in Tadoba National Park answers all possible questions that you may have. It is the most detailed and well written article ever on this subject. I have shared useful tips for Night Safari in Tadoba National Park, based on my personal experiences. Below are some of the most commonly asked questions regarding the Night Safari in the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR).

Conclusion: Why do night safari in Tadoba National Park?

Is Night Safari in Tadoba worth it? Tadoba National Park never disappoints anyone whether it is the morning safari or the night safari. While I feel that the dense jungles during the night safari in Tadoba National Park can be a magical and enchanting experience, but for some people, especially the faint hearted and the sceptical, it can also be a little bit spooky and creepy. It really depends on who you are and what’s your perspective on the same.

Here is my last word. I feel night safari is a very special and a rare opportunity to be able to experience all things wild while being at a safe distance in the dark hours. The feel of the jungle and the lure of spotting the nocturnal animals and birds in their natural habitat is an experience which very few people have taken. This is why share this blog with your friends and family, so that they are encouraged to experience the wild in night. This is the most complete guide to Night Safari in Tadoba National Park, after all.

The view from my Soul Window is adrenaline pumping!