Introduction

All popular tiger reserves of Madhya Pradesh state are managed by forest department of state, as per guidelines of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). Here most common way to do jungle safari is to do at morning hours and afternoon to evening hours. Thus in a day, two rounds of jungle safari can be done. Now night safari option has been introduced for tourists so that they may experience the presence of nocturnal species and observe the night activities of forest. Night safaris are very helpful to practically see some of those species which were present in mammals checklist but away from normal tourists because they are nocturnal species and night safaris were not allowed. Now we have chance to overcome this obstacle by doing night safaris. Timing of jungle safaris in Madhya Pradesh is decided by park management. More or less, it remains same in all the national parks of Madhya Pradesh but local park management retains the right to change the timing as per local conditions. 

Safari Timings in Madhya Pradesh

At Madhya Pradesh, safari timings are decided by state forest department. Opening and closing timing is decided as per timing of sunrise and sunset in a particular month. As sunrise and sunset timing changes thus safari morning safari opening time and afternoon safari closing time changes from month to month. Still local park management retains the right to make some temporary timing changes for jeep safaris, as per ground situation. Here we have shared the safari time table for morning safari, evening or afternoon safari and night safari. 

Why not maintain same safari timing in all months ?

Due to change in safari timing on every month basis, it is basic question that arises in our mind. If same timings will be maintained in all months, then it will be easy for tourists to remember the timing and need not to take put extra burden on mind. In first hand it seems easy but practically it is not possible. As per rule, night safaris are not operated in core zone thus before sunrise or after sunset, safaris will not be allowed in core zones. Night safaris are always operated only in buffer zone forest. At the same time, we all want to enter inside the national park, as early as possible in morning hours. Due to change in sunrise and sunset timing, morning safari timing is adjusted to match sunrise timing. Same is the logic with closing time for afternoon or evening safari. Closing time of morning safari remain unchanged in safari season. Where as afternoon or evening safari starting timing is adjusted as per climatic condition like in summers it starts late as day duration is long and tourists do not want to do safari in peak afternoon hours, due to severe heat waves where as in winters, day duration is short thus safari is started early so that tourists will get 2-3 hrs safari duration.

Is buffer zone safari timing is same as in core zone ?

Mostly core and buffer zone safari timings remain same but at some national parks like Bandhavgarh, Satpura national park etc. we will notice that buffer zone safari duratio is slightly more than core zone. This duration difference is basically due to long distance between ticket counter and buffer zone entry gate. Here core zone entry gates are close from ticekt counter but buffer zone entry gates are far away thus safari vehicles take some more time to reach the entry gate which reduces the safari duration of guest. Thus in order to compensate this reduction, park management give some relaxation in duration so that tourists will enjoy the same duration in safari.