India Tiger Safari for Foreign Nationals
International travellers · 2026/27 season
Quick answer
Foreign nationals can book every tiger safari in India, but three things work differently: you need an Indian visa (most nationalities can use the e-Tourist Visa, applied for at least 4 days before arrival), every safari permit is issued against your passport, and several reserves charge foreign visitors a higher fee. This guide covers each step, the current foreigner fees for Tadoba and Pench, and how paying and getting there work from abroad.
- Apply for the e-visa before arrival
- 4+ days
- The only ID foreigners can use at Tadoba
- Passport
- Tadoba full-day safari, foreign visitors
- ₹70,000
Table of contents
- How a foreign national books an India tiger safari
- Indian e-Tourist Visa: what foreign safari travellers need to know
- Safari permit fees for foreign visitors
- Passport rules on safari
- Flying in from abroad
- Payment, cancellation and insurance
- Practical tips for international visitors
- Tiger safari FAQs for foreign nationals
- Sources
The short version
How a foreign national books an India tiger safari
- 1
Choose reserves and dates
Most international guests combine two or three central Indian reserves over 7–14 days. Core zones close from 1 July to 30 September, so plan for October to June.
- 2
Apply for your visa
Check eligibility and apply on the official Indian e-Visa portal at least 4 days before arrival. Use only the government site, never a third-party agent.
- 3
Book permits with your passport
Safari permits open up to 120 days ahead and are issued per guest. We need each traveller's passport name, number and nationality to book them.
- 4
Fly in and transfer
Fly to Delhi or Mumbai, then a domestic flight to Nagpur (Tadoba, Pench) or Jabalpur (Kanha, Bandhavgarh), followed by a road transfer to your lodge.
- 5
Carry your original passport
Show it at the gate on every drive. Photocopies and phone photos are refused, and the number must match the permit exactly.
Before you fly
Indian e-Tourist Visa: what foreign safari travellers need to know
From the official Indian e-Visa portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in), checked October 2026. Rules change, so confirm your own eligibility on the portal before you book flights.
A 30-day e-Tourist Visa covers almost every safari itinerary. If you plan to return within the year, the 1-year visa saves a second application. Your lodge is required by law to register you with the immigration authorities (Form C) within 24 hours of arrival, so expect to show your passport and visa at check-in.
| Rule | What the portal says |
|---|---|
| When to apply | At least 4 days before your date of arrival |
| Visa lengths | 30 days, 1 year or 5 years, all with multiple entries |
| Maximum stay | No more than 180 days in a calendar year on the 1-year and 5-year visas |
| Passport | At least 6 months' validity when you apply |
| Fee | Paid online by card; non-refundable whether the visa is granted or not |
| Entry | Only through designated airports and seaports. Delhi, Mumbai and Nagpur are on the list |
What foreigners pay
Safari permit fees for foreign visitors
Fees are per Gypsy (the open 4x4 that carries up to six guests), including entry, park guide and vehicle. Tadoba figures are as published by the reserve; Pench totals are approximate, because Madhya Pradesh does not publish one combined figure.
Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Satpura and Panna are booked through the same Madhya Pradesh portal as Pench and also charge foreign visitors more; we quote the exact permit cost for your dates. In a Wild Excursions package, permits, Gypsy and guide are included, so you never pay at the gate.
Our package prices for Foreign Nationals are 20% higher in Maharashtra parks and 40% higher elsewhere than the Indian Citizen price shown on each tour. You choose your nationality on the tour page and the price updates. See the full cost breakdown in CAD, USD, GBP and EUR.
| Reserve and safari | Indian visitors | Foreign visitors |
|---|---|---|
| Tadoba core, standard drive | ₹5,800–₹12,800 | Same as Indian visitors |
| Tadoba buffer, standard drive | ₹6,000–₹7,000 | Same as Indian visitors |
| Tadoba full-day safari | ₹50,000 | ₹70,000 |
| Pench MP core | ~₹10,100–₹10,700 | ~₹13,500–₹14,700 |
| Pench MP buffer | ~₹8,500 | ~₹9,300 |
| Pench Maharashtra side | ~₹7,200–₹7,700 | ~₹8,000–₹8,500 |
At the gate
Passport rules on safari
- Every guest must show the original ID used at the time of booking. Photocopies and phone photos are refused.
- Foreign nationals must carry their passport. No other ID is accepted.
- The ID number on the permit has to match the card exactly, or the booking is treated as invalid.
- In Pench, foreign nationals should carry their passport; the ID must match the permit.
- Children: up to two children under 8 ride free per Gypsy in Tadoba, and children up to 5 are exempt from the entry fee in Pench (Madhya Pradesh).
Getting there
Flying in from abroad
Via Nagpur
Tadoba
Fly to Delhi or Mumbai, then 1.5–2 hours to Nagpur. Qatar Airways (Doha) and Air Arabia (Sharjah) fly direct to Nagpur. The drive to the gates takes 2–3.5 hours.
Explore Routes to TadobaVia Nagpur
Pench
The same Nagpur flights, then about 2 hours by road to Turia gate on the Madhya Pradesh side, or less to the Maharashtra gates.
Explore Routes to PenchMost popular
Two-park trips
Tadoba and Pench share Nagpur airport, which makes them the easiest pair. Our 14-day Tigers of Central India adds Kanha and Bandhavgarh.
Explore See the 14-day tripPaying from abroad
Payment, cancellation and insurance
International guests pay by international bank transfer: 50% to confirm, and the balance 30 or more days before departure. Refunds follow a sliding scale set out on our terms page, with free rebooking offered as an alternative.
Forest permits are refunded only on the reserve's own terms, and some are never refunded. Buy comprehensive travel insurance when you pay your deposit.
On the ground
Practical tips for international visitors
Field note
Money
Cards work at most lodges, but carry some rupees for tips and small purchases. ATMs are scarce near the gates.
Field note
Phone and data
Signal is patchy near the forest. An Indian SIM or eSIM bought on arrival works best; download offline maps.
Field note
Health
See a travel clinic about vaccines and malaria advice before you go, and carry sunscreen, repellent and your regular medicines.
Field note
Time zone
India is on IST (UTC+5:30) all year, with no daylight saving. Mention your time zone when you enquire so we can call at a sensible hour.
Straight answers
Tiger safari FAQs for foreign nationals
Direct answers to what international travellers ask us most.
Can foreigners go on a tiger safari in India?
Yes. Foreign nationals can book safaris in every Indian tiger reserve. You need a valid Indian visa, a safari permit booked against your passport, and your original passport at the gate.
Do I need a visa for a tiger safari in India?
Most nationalities need an Indian visa. Many can apply online for an e-Tourist Visa at least 4 days before arrival on the official portal, indianvisaonline.gov.in. It comes in 30-day, 1-year and 5-year versions, all with multiple entries.
Do foreigners pay more for safaris in India?
In some reserves, yes. Tadoba charges foreign visitors the same as Indians for standard drives, but ₹70,000 instead of ₹50,000 for a full-day safari. Pench and the other Madhya Pradesh reserves charge foreign visitors a higher permit fee on every drive.
What ID do foreigners need on safari?
Your original passport. Tadoba accepts no other ID from foreign nationals, refuses photocopies and phone photos, and the passport number must match the one on the permit.
Can I book Indian safari permits from abroad?
Yes. Permits open up to 120 days ahead on the official portals, and we book them for you using your passport details.
How do I pay for an India safari from another country?
By international bank transfer: 50% to confirm and the balance 30 or more days before departure. We quote Foreign National prices and show them in your currency on the cost guide.
Which airport do foreigners fly into for a tiger safari?
Usually Delhi or Mumbai, then a domestic flight to Nagpur for Tadoba and Pench, or to Jabalpur for Kanha and Bandhavgarh. Qatar Airways and Air Arabia also fly direct to Nagpur from Doha and Sharjah.
Sources
- Government of India e-Visa portal: e-Tourist Visa rules · checked October 2026
- Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve official portal · checked October 2026
- Pench Tiger Reserve FAQ (MPOnline) · checked October 2026
- National Portal of India: Online Form C (registration of foreign guests) · checked October 2026
Your next step
Tell us where you are travelling from
Share your country, travel month, party size and the reserves you are interested in. We reply with an itemised quote at Foreign National rates, and book the permits against your passport details.