Kabini & Nagarhole National Park

Kabini & Nagarhole National Park

State : Karnataka Area : 642 sq. km Altitude: 680 - 920 m Vegetation : Moist Deciduous

The Kabini River Basin is a unique Wildlife haven. The basin is surrounded on all side by 3 National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries, which have turned it into a spectacular wildlife hotspot.
The Nagarhole National Park is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere. Here the Nagarhole River meets the Kabini river and creates a splendid lake in the midst of the park, which has established a natural boundary between the Nagarhole, Bandipur and Mudumalai National Parks. The Kabini forest reserve forms a great part of the Nagarahole National Park.
The park derives its name from naga, meaning snake and hole, referring to streams. The park was an exclusive hunting reserve of the kings of the Wodeyar dynasty, the former rulers of the Kingdom of Mysore. Initially, Nagarhole was the private hunting ground for the Maharajas of Mysore. Nagarhole was converted into a sanctuary in the year 1955. Nagarhole got National Park status in 1988 and declared as 37th Project Tiger Reserve in 1999.
To the south-east of the park lies the famed Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, while to the west, coffee plantations separate the park from Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary.
The park has a healthy predator-prey ratio, with many tigers, Indian bison and elephants and therefore the chances of sighting a tiger in the wild is quite high. The important animals in Nagarhole National Park are tiger, leopard, wild dog, sloth bear, the hyena, spotted deer, sambar, barking deer, four-horned antelope, gaur, wild boar and elephant.The important predators and carnivores in Nagarhole are tigers, leopards, and wild dogs & also has about 300 different species of birds.
Other than the jungle safari which is covered by road, there are boat ride facilities available too. Elephants are the most common animals to look out for. Apart from elephants, there is a wide range of herbivores that dwell in these areas. Many animals such as wild pigs, langurs, sambhar, gaur, and the four-horned antelopes are a common sight.
Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary Safaris  Types
There are two options that you have when it comes to Kabini Safaris – a land safari and a boat safari. Both these options are available twice, every day. The morning ones start at 6 am while the afternoon ones are at 3 pm. The duration of each ranges between 2.5 hours. The experience and the wildlife that you see is what differentiates the two!
Boat Safari
As the expert boatman guides the vessel around, he will point out to the various land mammals and reptiles. It is almost certain that you will see mugger crocodiles, spotted deers, langurs and elephants.
If you are an avid birder, you will love the Kabini boat safari. From the resident kingfishers, cormorants, ospreys and storks to the migratory rare birds like the the bar-headed geese. 
Forest Safari
Kabini forest is divided into A zone and B zone. The A zone is largely forest, wooded area while the B zone takes you closer to the Kabini river.  The vehicles are divided randomly between the two zones and once you are in a particular zone, you will only be in that area.
In the forest safari, there is very good chance of seeing sloth bears, wild dogs (Dholes) tigers and leopards, the big cats, and you will surely see elephants, deers, wild boars Malabar squirrels and many birds.
Fauna : The important animals in Nagarhole National Park are tiger, leopard, wild dog, sloth bear, the hyena, spotted deer, sambar, barking deer, four-horned antelope, gaur, wild boar and elephant.There are officially about 40 tigers in the reserve, but sighting one is difficult due to the thick evergreen vegetation. More than 30 species of fish are found in the lake. Gaur or wild buffalo can be seen grazing along the hillsides during treks and one may also encounter playful Malabar squirrels here.
Periyar is also home to four primates species; two of these are endangered: the Lion-tailed Macaque and the Bonnet Macaque. 
Avi Fauna : 
Recognised as an Important Bird Area the park has over 270 species of birds including the 'critically endangered' Oriental white-backed vulture, greater spotted eagle and the Nilgiri wood-pigeon.
Other important  birds are darters, oriental white ibis,  greater grey headed fish eagle and red-headed vulture  too can be found here. Endemics include the blue-winged parakeet, Malabar grey hornbill and the white-bellied treepie.