Top Wildlife Tourism Destinations You Can Drive To In South India

Dense forests are found in plenty in South India. Most of them are situated on the slopes of the western ghats and rich in flora and fauna that is local to the region only. Due to the density of the forests, ecological conservation efforts and the natural protective corridor formed by western ghats, wildlife has continued to exist and flourish at many locations in Southern India. And you can easily visit them as part of your next vacation. Here are the top wildlife tourism places you must visit in South India.

Periyar National Park, Kerala

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An elephant reserve and a tiger reserve, the Periyar National Park is a repository of rare, endemic, and endangered flora and fauna. It also forms a watershed of two important rivers of Kerala, the Periyar and the Pamba.

Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka

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This one's a birdwatcher's paradise. It is home to nearly 200 species of birds, including the great hornbill and the Malabar pied hornbill. If you're lucky, you might also spot the elusive black panther here.

Kudremukh National Park, Karnataka

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Named after a mountain range, this National Park is one of the best places to trek in South India. Tigers, leopards, wild dogs, and more are waiting to be spotted here.

Silent Valley National Park, Kerala

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Located in the Nilgiri Hills, it is among the last undisturbed tracts of mountain rain forests and tropical moist evergreen forests in India. It is easily one of the top wildlife tourism places you must visit in South India.

Bandipur National Park, Karnataka

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This is the first Biosphere Reserve in the country and is home to several wild creatures like tigers, leopards, elephants, and more. A vibrant bird population also exists here.

Bannerghatta National Park, Karnataka

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Replete with ancient temples in the middle of the wilds, Bannerghatta National Park is a one-of-its-kind wildlife destination. Apart from exploring wildlife on a safari, you can also indulge in treks and hikes here.

Guindy National Park, Tamil Nadu

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This is among the smallest National Parks in India but is important for its ex-situ and in-situ conservation efforts. Blackbucks, spotted deer, jackals, and a host of other wildlife can be found here.

Nagarhole National Park, Karnataka

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Located near Coorg, Nagarhole National Park is known for its dense forest cover that encompasses hills and valleys. It supports vast populations of Bengal tigers, gaurs, Indian elephants, and more.

Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerela

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Covered with tropical moist evergreen forests and myristica swamps, this unique wildlife sanctuary is part of the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve. It's home to 43 species of mammals, 233 species of birds, and 46 species of reptiles.

Mudumalai National Park, Tamil Nadu

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This is a tiger reserve filled with tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests. It happens to be drained by the Moyar River and its several tributaries, which themselves host 38 fish species.

Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka

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A wide variety of mammals and reptiles reside in this sanctuary. It contains evergreen and semi-evergreen forests as well as varieties of bamboo.

BR Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka

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The connector between the Eastern and the Western Ghats, this place has a unique ecosystem. It's an excellent habitat for tigers and gaurs, among other animals.

Eravikulam National Park, Kerala

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Located near Munnar, Eravikulam National Park is among the top wildlife tourism places you must visit In South India for its rare flora and fauna. Various trekking and camping opportunities are available here.

Mathikettan Shola National Park, Kerala

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Named after the unique shola forest, this National Park is also known for its importance as an elephant strip. It's an excellent wildlife reserve to visit in Kerala.

Mukurthi National Park, Tamil Nadu

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Filled with montane grasslands and shrublands, this place is on a high altitude and receives high rainfall as well as near-freezing temperatures. It is home to endangered wildlife, including the royal Bengal tiger and Asian elephant but is also known for the Nilgiri Tahr.

Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, Tamil Nadu

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This place is spread across 21 small islands and adjacent coral reefs in the Gulf of Mannar in the Indian Ocean. It has a high diversity of marine plants and animals.

Those are all the top wildlife tourism places you must visit in South India. Which one will you be visiting?