Top 10 Places to Go Wildlife Spotting This September

Top 10 Places to Go Wildlife Spotting This September (Image: Canva)

September brings a welcome change in India's wild. Monsoon rains revive forests, rivers and lakes are filled with aquatic life, and the animals come out into lush surroundings. Cooler temperatures and fewer tourists make it the best time to spot wildlife. Here are ten places to visit this month.

1. Kaziranga National Park, Assam
Renowned for the single-horned rhinoceros, Kaziranga also has elephants, swamp deer, and migratory birds. The lush greens of September make jeep safaris all the more worthwhile.

2. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala
Nestled in the Western Ghats, Periyar is best seen on its lake by boat. Elephant herds, gaurs, and waterbirds are routine sightings.

3. Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan
September is the time of reopening of regions following the monsoon shutdown. Ranthambore's mixture of woodlands and fort remains presents tiger tracking as an exhilarating experience.

4. Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka
Part of Nagarhole National Park, Kabini is well-known for its elephants and elusive leopards. September safaris tend to reward with sightings of wild dogs and numerous bird species.

5. Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand
India's oldest national park is famous for tigers, gharials, and elephants. The post-monsoon period provides picturesque landscapes and better opportunities to spot big cats.

6. Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh
The park boasts one of the country's highest tiger concentrations. September's new vistas also draw deer, jackals, and unusual avian species.

7. Gir National Park, Gujarat
The only home of the Asiatic lion, Gir, is unique. While lions are the highlight, September also offers opportunities to see leopards, hyenas, and antelopes.

8. Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, Rajasthan
Also known as Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur welcomes early migratory birds in September. Pelicans, egrets, and painted storks gather in its wetlands.

9. Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh
Kanha inspired Kipling's Jungle Book. Barasingha, tigers, and wild boars inhabit it. The luxuriant greens during September create enchanting safari experiences.

10. Sundarbans National Park, West Bengal
September returns life to the Sundarbans' mangrove forests. With luck, one may catch a glimpse of the elusive Bengal tiger along with crocodiles and fishing cats.

Venturing into these parks during September translates to fewer tourists and more intense natural beauty. With forests resplendent following the rains, it's the best time to see India's untamed heart.