FAQ

Zones 1 – 5 of Ranthambhore National Park is open from 1st October until 30th June each year and are closed in July, August and September. Zones 6 – 10 of Ranthambhore National Park remain open year-round.

There are ten zones in Ranthambhore National Park. Zones 1 – 5 are widely regarded as the “core” park area: zones 6 – 10 were added later as the park expanded.

It’s not possible to label one specific zone as the best. Wildlife thrives in all zones and sightings are frequent across all ten.

No. You will be allocated any zone from 1 – 10 by the Department of Forest, on the day. If you would like to access a specific zone we recommend booking our special half-day or full-day safari which affords free access across all zones.

Ranthambhore National Park is best known for being home to the Bengal tiger. Other animals residing here include: leopard, sloth bear, crocodile, sambar deer, spotted deer, jackal, hyena, rusty spotted cat, desert fox, hyenas, chital, nilgai, langur, black buck, wild boar, chinkara (aka gazelle), flying fox, mongoose, monitor lizard, cobra, vipers, chameleon and more. If you would like to know more about a specific animal and whether they’re present in Ranthambhore National Park, please get in touch and we’ll be happy to assist you.

To book a safari in Ranthambhore National Park, please contact us via the Booking Request forms on our website, or by email (vivek@ranthambhoretigertours.com). In your message, please let us know as much as you can about your travel plans so far. Include how many people are travelling with you, if any; when you’d like to book your safari for, e.g. 1st October in the morning and the afternoon; and the type of vehicle you’d like to book, e.g. private Jeep, shared Jeep, or shared Canter. We’ll get back to you with availability ASAP, after which we’ll require your payment in advance and a copy of each participant’s passport photo page to confirm your safari booking. This is because the Forest Department needs from us your advance payment and ID copy at the time of booking.

We’ll later ask for the name of the hotel you’ll be staying at, to arrange your transfers from and to the park. We’ll also ask for your travel plans to Ranthambhore and your approximate time of arrival so our representative can meet you briefly at your hotel. He or she will explain the safari timings and procedures, and answer any questions you may have.

It is needed by the Forest Department to book your tickets. You must provide us with a copy of the passport you intend to travel to Ranthambhore with (not an expired one, or one due for renewal before you visit) and may be asked to present the original on entering the park. This policy was introduced by the Forest Department to prevent ticket touting.

No. A full advance payment is required by the Forest Department at the time of booking. We do not accept payment on arrival. 

We [Ranthambhore Tiger Tours] are a private tour operator offering a service. We do not receive a commission from the Forest Department. Combined with our excellent customer service, representative presence, years of experience, and convenient online payment – our customers find our Ranthambhore safari prices very reasonable.

No. The booking confirmation you will receive from us having booked your safari in Ranthambhore is purely for your written records. You do not need to carry it with you to Ranthambhore or present it to us on arrival. In terms of your actual safari tickets, we’ll procure them ahead of time on your behalf and hand them directly to your guide.

When you arrive in Ranthambhore, a member of our team will come and meet you briefly at your hotel to explain at what time you’ll be picked up for your safari in Ranthambhore. We appreciate the opportunity to welcome you in person, though should you prefer a telephone call do let us know. Please be aware; we are not in a position to advise your Ranthambhore safari timings until a day prior.

There are two safari slots each day; one in the morning, and another in the afternoon. There is also the option of a half-day safari (for six hours, from sunrise to noon, or noon to sunset) or a full-day safari (sunrise to sunset). With regards to the regular three-hour safaris, the times differ slightly through the year due to lighter summer nights and darker winter evenings. When you arrive in Ranthambhore, a representative of Ranthambhore Tiger Tours will meet you briefly at your hotel to explain your exact Ranthambhore safari timings. Still, in terms of a rough outline, they are approximately:

Morning Safari

• 01 Oct – 31 Oct: 06:30 – 10:00 (6:30 am – 10 am)
• 01 Nov – 31 Jan: 07:00 – 10:30 (7:30 am – 10:30 am)
• 01 Feb – 31 Mar: 06:30 – 10:00 (6:30 am – 10 am)
• 01 Apr – 15 May: 06:00 – 09:30 (6 am – 9:30 am)
• 16 May – 30 Jun: 06:00 – 09:30 (6 am – 9:30 am)

Afternoon Safari

• 01 Oct – 31 Oct: 14:30 – 18:00 (2:30 pm – 6 pm)
• 01 Nov – 31 Jan: 14:00 – 17:30 (2 pm – 5:30 pm)
• 01 Feb – 31 Mar: 14:30 – 18:00 (2:30 pm – 6 pm)
• 01 Apr – 15 May: 15:00 – 18:30 (3 pm – 6:30 pm)
• 16 May – 30 Jun: 15:30 – 19:00 (3:30 pm – 7 pm)

If opting to share your vehicle with others, your pick-up time will depend on the location of each participant’s hotel and how long they take to board. You may be picked up first or last depending on your proximity to the park.

According to the 2014 census of tigers, there were 62 tigers in Ranthambhore National Park. The number of tigers was 48 in 2013 and 25 in 2005. With an increasing number of tigers, the park is planning to transfer a few to other parks, such as Sariska and others.

Ranthambhore National Park and Ranthambhore Tiger Tours have implemented several protocols to keep our visitors safe and prevent the spread of Covid-19. We thoroughly sanitise all our vehicles before and after each safari. We provide an alcohol-based sanitiser on board for your convenience. All visitors are presently required to wear a face-covering while on safari, and Ranthambhore Tiger Tours can provide your face covering(s) on request.

Ranthambhore National Park encourages but does not enforce social distancing. If opting for a shared Jeep, you will not have the recommended amount of personal space. Ranthambhore Tiger Tours therefore highly recommend you hire a private vehicle, though the decision is at your discretion.

Absolutely! What’s more, as local experts, we have a long-standing relationship with the majority of hotels in Ranthambhore. It allows us to offer very competitive rates as well as an elevated level of service (e.g. need a late check-out? No problem; we’ll sort that out for you).

Alongside your safari booking in Ranthambhore National Park, we can assist you with transportation to and from Ranthambhore, hotel booking, and other excursions such as a visit to Ranthambhore Fort. We can also arrange to pick you up from Sawai Madhopur station should you be arriving by rail. 

Under normal circumstances, children of all ages are welcome in Ranthambhore National Park. During times of Covid-19, Ranthambhore National Park does not permit children below ten years of age.

Yes. The animals are used to the vehicles and tourists. They are not threatened or in any way bothered by the vehicles and tourists provided you remain inside the vehicle at all times. Disembarking the vehicle while in the reserve is not permitted. Furthermore, there are government restrictions in place as to how close your driver may approach a tiger or other species. 

There is no dress code or colour code as such in Ranthambhore National Park. That said, we recommend neutral, khaki-like colours to blend into your environment. We suggest wearing clothing that you’re not precious about and that you don’t plan to wear again without washing, as the park is very dusty. As with all places of interest in Rajasthan, it would be appropriate to dress modestly.

The only essential item to carry on your safari in Ranthambhore is your passport copy, or the identification used to book your ticket. The passport number detailed on your ticket may be matched to the original by park officials on entering. Other than this, it’s not required you carry anything specific on safari in Ranthambhore, but our suggestions are:

• Your camera
• Water bottles or other beverages of choice
• Sunscreen, sunhat and sunglasses
• Binoculars if you have them, otherwise your naturalist will be carrying a pair
• Warm clothing if visiting in the winter months of December and January
• A face covering if visiting during times of Covid-19

An alcohol-based hand sanitizer will be available onboard, else you are of course welcome to bring your own. 

The weather in Ranthambhore National Park differs somewhat significantly depending on the time of year. During the winter months of December and January, temperatures can dip below 10 degrees Celsius (50°F) overnight. During the day, it warms up and can reach a maximum of 25°C (77°F). With that in mind, when visiting Ranthambhore National Park in winter, you’ll want to wrap up warm in layered clothing that can easily be removed or added as and when required.

April, May and June are the summer months and the hottest time of year to visit Ranthambhore National Park. Temperatures soar above 40°C (104°F) during the day and cool down to a more balmy 25°C or so (77°F) overnight. The heat can be unbearable for some but for others, its the best time of year to visit Ranthambhore. That’s because the summer heat dries up most of the watering holes so we can easily predict where the tigers are going to be hanging out; besides the very few remaining water bodies. The summer months are often preferred by professional wildlife photographers who want to maximise their chances of spotting the big cat.

July, August and September mark the monsoon season. The chances of a sighting are at their lowest and visitors should expect sudden, heavy rains. Temperatures fluctuate between about 25°C and 35°C (77°F and 96°F), and the air is humid.

The months between (October, November, February and March) fall somewhere in the middle and can be described as the most pleasant time of year to visit Ranthambhore, temperature-wise. The mercury touches the early 30’s (90°F) during the day and drops to a cooler 20 or so (68°F) overnight.

Aside from the monsoon season (July, August and September) it rarely rains in Ranthambhore. You may experience fog in the early mornings if visiting in winter (December and January) but otherwise Ranthambhore enjoys bright, clear and dry skies.

The best time of year to visit Ranthambhore National Park depends on you as an individual, and what your priorities are. If you’d like to enjoy the most pleasant temperatures, then October, November, February or March are ideal. The summer months of April, May and June are more rewarding in terms of sightings but are uncomfortably hot for most.

Generally speaking, the best time of year to visit Ranthambhore National Park is between October and June.

Outer zones of the park (6 – 10) remain open during the monsoon months of July, August and September. It’s a lovely time of year to see the forest flourishing and alive with greenery, but the chances of sighting a tiger are lesser than at drier times of the year.