Your safari day starts early… like really early. While most people are still hitting snooze, you’re already in the jeep with a hot cup of tea, heading into the jungle of Bandhavgarh National park. The morning is full of excitement… fresh pugmarks, alarm calls, and everyone suddenly becoming very alert for that one striped celebrity. 

Safari Timing 

Morning : Entry 6:00 am – Exit 11:30 am.

We leave early, right after a quick cup of tea or coffee at the lodge, just enough to wake you up before the jungle does the rest.

Entry and exit timings can vary slightly from park to park, usually by about 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the parks and season. But here’s the important thing: we head out about 45 minutes before the official entry time. Why? Because being early matters. In some gates and zones, being the earliest in line can be really rewarding. The jungle is freshest, the tracks are untouched, and your chances of catching early movement go up. In short, the early bird doesn’t just get the worm… it often catches the tiger. 

All lodges provide a packed breakfast, but honestly, we rarely stop for it. A breakfast break can easily take 45 minutes, and that’s prime wildlife time you don’t want to miss. I’d rather keep moving in the jungle and come back to the lodge for a relaxed meal later. Skipping a sandwich is fine, missing a tiger isn’t. 

Sometimes the jungle goes quiet and the light turns harsh, so instead of pushing it, we head back a little early. That time is better spent at the lodge, reviewing shots, editing images, and sharing stories over a relaxed break, some rest (or a quick nap, no judgment). We keep the schedule flexible because in the jungle, timing is everything.

Safari Timing 

Evening: Entry: 2:30 pm; Exit: 6:30 pm.

Afternoon safari timings also vary from park to park and season to season, usually by around 30 minutes. The beneficial part? There’s no rush to be first in line, so we can start a bit easy, take our time, and head out relaxed for the evening drive.

Then round two begins. In the evening, when the light turns golden, the jungle feels like a movie set. By the time you return in the evening, you’re dusty, tired, and already talking about “what we’ll see tomorrow”… because one safari is never enough.