Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary: A Tryst With Karnataka’s Biodiversity

From safaris to camping, Kabini offers a plethora of options to the wildlife enthusiast.

Tucked away in Karnataka’s forests, Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary has a glorious wildlife scene which makes it so attractive to the travellers. The wilderness is home to glorious flora and fauna, with a healthy population of tiger, leopard, black panther and elephant roaming its undulated mountain ranges and valleys. If you’re a wildlife enthusiast or photographer, a jaunt here is highly recommended. Especially now, when the time is just about right for animal sightings.

Spread across 55 acres, it used to be the royal hunting ground of the kings of Mysore. However, today, it is an essential part of another reserve called the Nagarhole National Park.

Wildlife Safari

There is no better way to experience Kabini than on a wildlife safari. Conducted twice a day; it is recommended that you take the early morning safari to witness more animals, as they come out for water before the temperatures rise.

Water activities 

It’s a delight to go on a boat ride on the calm waters of the Kabini lake in summers. You get a totally different perspective of the forest. It’s a great way to spot the avian species that nest around the waterways and freshwater crocodiles basking in the sun on the water banks. Choose from motorboat rides, pedal boats, rowboats, kayaks or even coracles.

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#Coracle by the bay , Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary , Karnataka The kabini Wildlife sanctuary will entrall you with its wild residents without fail. For the fun sake, this simple coracle ride will certainly bring some joy to your time here. Villagers around Kabini use coracles as the major means of communication to cross the huge Kabini river #kabini #kabiniriver #kabiniwildlife #kabiniwildlifesanctuary #coracle #karnataka #karnatakatourism #kabinisafari # ktdc #karnatakasanctuaries #karnataka.pictures

A post shared by Jyoti Rane (@jyotiranemyodysseys) on Oct 4, 2016 at 6:44pm PDT

A birder’s paradise

Kabini’s pristine riverine landscape is home to over 350 species of birds. Some of the frequently spotted birds include the grey-headed fish eagles, ospreys, great cormorants, Malabar Lark, Malabar trogon, Indian Pitta and the glorious Malabar pied hornbill.

Nature walks and campfire

A guided walk in Kabini forest reserve is another great way to explore the wilderness. You could also opt for bicycle trails for a little adventure. Make sure to have an interaction with the locals from the nearby tribal villages to add a dash of cultural to this experience. End your trip here with an evening campfire for some unforgettable memories.

The nearest domestic airport from Kabini is in Mysore, about 80km away and the nearest international airport is in Bangalore, about 230km away.