Bijrani jeep safari Jim Corbett : Complete guide
Every individual who is longing for an upcoming visit to Corbett Tiger reserve will surely want to make it for Bijrani jeep safari in the first place. This Corbett zone has gained its popularity over the time due to its reasonable chance of spotting the Royal Bengal Tiger.
Bijrani is one of the most prominent safari zone in the Corbett Tiger reserve which is located just 10 minutes away from Ramnagar town. Mixed species of flora ranging from wide grasslands to thick forests make it no less popular than Dhikala zone.
Flora of the park
The Bijrani zone is well known for its diverse species of flora consisting of sal forests, chaur & khair-sissoo forests. It is home to over 500 species of plants and trees and some of the famous names are shrubs, Eucalyptus, Kusum, Narkil, Amaltas and many more.
Even, Bamboo is also most commonly found tree in Forests of Jim Corbett. It has been observed that some species of bamboo flower in 30 to 40 years.
Fauna of the park
Bijrani zone is home to more than 300 species of migratory & resident bird species. Apart from this, more than 25 mammals species have also been recorded here. Birds species include crested serpent eagle, blossom-headed parakeet, common peafowl, red jungle fowl, parakeet and white-backed vulture (Gyps africanus).
Reptiles include cobra, viper, rattle-snake, black tailed Indian Python, monitor lizard and turtles.
Royal Bengal Tiger is the king of the jungle which dominates the forest reserve and other famous mammals include Asiatic Elephants, Sloth bear, Leopard, Boar, Spotted deer, barking deer, Hog deer, Sambhar deer, Himalayan black bear, mongoose, otters and monkeys.
Type and duration of safaris at Bijrani
In Jim Corbett tourists have two options to enjoy the wildlife, one is by open Jeep and another is by Canter (16 seater mini bus). Here, at Bijrani zone, safari is permitted only by an open 4X4 jeep (gypsy). Apart from gypsy, no other vehicle is permitted inside the forest area.
Maximum of 6 adults + 2 children (below 12 years) can sit together in one gypsy. (Note- sharing is not allowed in Corbett and one has to pay the full price to hire a gypsy while booking)
Elephant safari– This is not available for tourists now.
Duration– Safari in this zone is conducted for approximately 3 hours inside the forest reserve.
Opening and closing period
The day safari remains available for tourists from 15th October to 30th June every year. However, entry to any safari zone remains prohibited on Holi festival.
Another exception is rainy days when mud becomes swampy due to rain.
Timing of the jeep safari
Summer time– In simple words, we can say safari starts with the rising Sun. However, below are the normal timings which forest department follows during summer.
Morning shift– It starts at 6:00 AM and the last entry can be up to 7:00 AM.
Afternoon shift– It starts at 2:00 PM and the last entry can be up to 3:00 PM.
Winter time– Again, at the dawn of another day when it is no longer dark, you are allowed to get inside. Below are the official timings.
Morning shift– It starts at 6:45 AM and the last entry can be up to 7:30 AM.
Afternoon shift– It starts at 1:30 PM and the last entry can be up to 2:30 PM.
No. of permits issued in a day
Since, it is a Tiger reserve, not everyone will get the chance of visiting the safari zone. In other words, only limited jeeps during morning/evening shift are allowed in a calendar day.
Morning shift– Maximum of 30 jeeps will go inside.
Evening shift– Maximum of 30 jeeps will go inside.
When should you book?
Bijrani zone is always in a great demand due to its high probability of spotting the Tiger & Elephants. Hence, In most of the cases, one should book between 45 to 30 days before to avoid non availability of the permit.
However, a safari permit can be booked maximum of 45 days in advance for any of the safari zone in Jim Corbett national park.
Bijrani jeep safari pricing
A total safari cost consists of 3 particulars :
First is entry permit cost.
Second is jeep hire cost.
Third is Forest guide/naturalist cost.
Total cost of the jeep safari varies between INR 3800 to 4500 depending upon the pick up location in Corbett. Minimum cost is applicable from Ramnagar to Ramnagar. However, if your resort is located in between Ramnagar & specific zone, you might not need to pay anything extra apart from the minimum pricing.
Safari permit price is non refundable/Non amendable once booked
Do and Don’ts of Jim Corbett national park
Carry the original I’d proof during your visit to the park which you have given while making the bookings.
Always respect the wildlife and maintain a safe distance from animals.
Must pay attention to the forest naturalist during the safari ride.
Carry the good camera and binoculars.
Must carry enough jackets/woolen during winter time as it gets very cold inside the forest.
Do not make noise or disturb the wildlife.
Never risk your life or driver/naturalist job by getting down from the vehicle.
Do not litter inside the park. Keep the reserve pollution free.
Never try to feed wild animals.
Do not bring your pets or else you will not be allowed inside the forest reserve.
We hope this will help you to plan for Bijrani jeep safari without any other questions arising in the mind.