Official rules · checked October 2026
Tadoba Safari Timings, Closures and Rules
The short answer
Tadoba runs a morning and an evening safari every day (buffer gates add a noon slot). Times shift by season: from November to February it's 6:30 am – 10:30 am and 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm, and in May and June the morning drive starts at 5:30 am. The core closes every Tuesday and from 1 July to 30 September. The buffer closes every Wednesday but stays open in the monsoon. Book online up to 120 days ahead and carry original ID.
- Core weekly holiday
- Tuesday
- Buffer weekly holiday
- Wednesday
- Core monsoon closure
- 1 Jul – 30 Sep
- Booking opens
- 120 days ahead
- Core Gypsy from
- ₹5,800
On this page
Everything on this page is taken from the reserve's official portal, mytadoba.mahaforest.gov.in, checked in October 2026. The forest department can change timings, fees and rules without notice, so we re-check before confirming every booking.
Tadoba safari timings by season
Tadoba follows the sun. The gates open earlier and close later as the days lengthen, so there are four timing seasons for the core and five for the buffer, which also runs in the monsoon.
Core zone timings
| Period | Morning safari | Evening safari |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct – 31 Oct | 6:00 am – 10:00 am | 2:30 pm – 6:30 pm |
| 1 Nov – 28/29 Feb | 6:30 am – 10:30 am | 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm |
| 1 Mar – 30 Apr | 6:00 am – 10:00 am | 2:30 pm – 6:30 pm |
| 1 May – 30 Jun | 5:30 am – 9:30 am | 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm |
Buffer zone timings
| Period | Morning | Noon | Evening |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct – 31 Oct | 6:00 am – 10:00 am | 10:30 am – 1:30 pm | 2:30 pm – 6:30 pm |
| 1 Nov – 28/29 Feb | 6:30 am – 10:30 am | 10:35 am – 1:45 pm | 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm |
| 1 Mar – 30 Apr | 6:00 am – 10:00 am | 10:30 am – 1:35 pm | 2:30 pm – 6:30 pm |
| 1 May – 30 Jun | 5:30 am – 9:30 am | 10:30 am – 1:35 pm | 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm |
| 1 Jul – 30 Sep (monsoon) | 6:00 am – 10:00 am | 10:30 am – 1:00 pm | 2:30 pm – 6:30 pm |
What the timings mean on the ground
- Be at the gate 30–45 minutes early. Permit and ID checks happen before the gate opens, and vehicles enter in order.
- Late arrivals are turned away. The reserve's rules allow entry only up to two hours after the slot opens. After that you lose the drive, with no refund.
- The exit time is firm. Drivers are fined for leaving late, so the last half-hour is often spent heading back towards the gate.
- Factor in the drive to the gate. From most resorts it's 5–30 minutes. From the wrong side of the reserve it can be two hours. Book your stay by gate.
When is Tadoba closed?
| Closure | When |
|---|---|
| Core zone weekly holiday | Every Tuesday |
| Buffer zone weekly holiday | Every Wednesday |
| Core zone monsoon closure | 1 July – 30 September (reopens 1 October) |
| Buffer zone in monsoon | Open, subject to rain and road conditions |
| Unscheduled closures | Any zone can shut without notice for floods, heavy rain, strikes or emergencies |
Because the core and buffer close on different days, you can always drive on a Tuesday (buffer) or a Wednesday (core), as long as you're staying near a suitable gate. Our buffer zone guide covers which buffer gates are worth it.
Unscheduled closures happen. The reserve can shut any zone without notice for floods, heavy rain, strikes or emergencies. If it closes a whole zone itself you get a full refund. Partial closures aren't refunded, and no alternative drive is offered.
Official Tadoba safari fees (per Gypsy)
Fees are charged per vehicle, not per person, and include the entry fee, the compulsory guide and the Gypsy hire. Core prices depend on how early you book and whether it's a weekend.
Core zone
| Booking window | Entry | Guide | Gypsy | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Booked 1–59 days ahead, Mon–Fri | ₹1,800 | ₹700 | ₹3,300 | ₹5,800 |
| Booked 1–59 days ahead, Sat–Sun | ₹2,800 | ₹700 | ₹3,300 | ₹6,800 |
| Booked 60–120 days ahead, Mon–Fri | ₹4,800 | ₹700 | ₹3,300 | ₹8,800 |
| Booked 60–120 days ahead, Sat–Sun | ₹8,800 | ₹700 | ₹3,300 | ₹12,800 |
Buffer zone
| Day | Entry | Guide | Vehicle | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon–Fri (booked 1–120 days ahead) | ₹2,300 | ₹700 | ₹3,000 | ₹6,000 |
| Sat–Sun (booked 1–120 days ahead) | ₹3,300 | ₹700 | ₹3,000 | ₹7,000 |
Full-day safaris
| Type | Total per Gypsy |
|---|---|
| Full-day buffer safari, Indian visitors | ₹50,000 |
| Full-day buffer safari, foreign visitors | ₹70,000 |
| Full-day core photography safari, Indian visitors | ₹50,000 |
| Full-day core photography safari, foreign visitors | ₹70,000 |
These are permit costs only. Stay, food, transfers and a naturalist come on top. For what a complete trip costs, see Tadoba safari booking charges.
About cruiser (shared) safaris: single seats in the 9-seater cruiser cost ₹700 in the Moharli and Kolara core. Cruisers are now open to all visitors, but permits can only be booked through designated homestays around Tadoba. See our cruiser safari guide.
Booking window, Tatkal and how permits work
- Regular online booking opens at 12:00 am IST, 120 days before the safari date.
- Tatkal booking opens at 8:00 am IST, three days before the safari date.
- On a full-day safari, a core Gypsy can carry up to 4 guests and a buffer Gypsy up to 6, not counting the driver and guide.
- Up to two children under 8 ride free per Gypsy and do not need to be named on the booking.
- Bookings cannot be transferred, and names cannot be swapped once confirmed.
- A no-show gets no refund and no reschedule.
- If the reserve shuts a whole zone itself, you get a full refund. Partial closures are not refunded.
Permits are sold only on the reserve's official site, mytadoba.mahaforest.gov.in. The reserve warns visitors about fake booking websites. If you book a package with an operator like us, we make the permit booking on the official portal in your name, with your ID.
- Pick dates and gates. Decide on a zone for each drive, avoiding Tuesdays for the core and Wednesdays for the buffer.
- Collect everyone's ID details. Each guest's name, age, ID type and number must match their card exactly.
- Book the moment the window opens. Core weekend and summer permits go at midnight, 120 days ahead.
- Book the stay near that gate. Then arrange transfers to arrive the evening before your first drive.
Cancellation and refunds (forest permits)
| When you cancel | Refund |
|---|---|
| 1–3 days before the safari | No refund |
| 4–15 days before | 20% of the booking amount |
| 16–59 days before | 50% of the booking amount |
| 60–120 days before | No refund (as published by the reserve) |
| Full-day safari | No cancellation or refund |
ID rules at the gate
- Every guest must show the original ID used at the time of booking. Photocopies and phone photos are refused.
- Indian visitors can use Aadhaar, passport, PAN, driving licence, voter ID or another government photo ID.
- 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.
The most common reason people miss a drive isn't the timing. It's a mismatched ID number entered at booking. Double-check every digit.
Rules inside the reserve
The reserve's rules start from a simple idea it repeats everywhere: the best safari is an ethical one. Officials can remove a vehicle or guest for breaking them, and fines apply.
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| Speed limit inside the reserve | 20 km/h |
| Gap between two safari vehicles | At least 50 metres |
| Distance from any wild animal | At least 20 metres, for no more than 15 minutes |
| Leaving the vehicle | Only at designated points |
| Phones, music, horns, shouting | Not allowed. Using banned electronics can cost ₹5,000 |
| Plastic, alcohol, non-veg food, firearms, pets | All prohibited inside the reserve |
| Smoking or lighting fires | Prohibited |
| Feeding, teasing or chasing animals | Prohibited, and a punishable offence |
| Littering | Fineable |
| Late arrival | Last entry is two hours after the slot opens; late entry is refused after that |
What to carry on a Tadoba safari
- The original ID used for booking, for every guest
- Neutral clothing in khaki, olive or beige. Avoid white and bright colours
- A warm layer from November to February. Open Gypsies are freezing at 6:30 am
- A scarf or mask for the dust, plus sunglasses and a cap
- Binoculars, a camera, spare batteries and cards
- A refillable water bottle (no single-use plastic inside the reserve)
- No food you need to unwrap noisily, and nothing non-vegetarian
Reserve contacts: email infotadoba@gmail.com, helpline 9579160778.
Frequently asked questions
What are the Tadoba safari timings?
Timings change four times a year. From November to February the morning safari runs 6:30 am – 10:30 am and the evening safari 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm. In May and June the morning slot starts earliest, at 5:30 am, and the evening slot ends latest, at 7 pm. Buffer gates also run a noon slot of about three hours.
Is Tadoba closed on Tuesday?
The core zone is closed every Tuesday. Buffer gates stay open on Tuesdays and close on Wednesdays instead.
When is Tadoba closed for the monsoon?
The core zone closes from 1 July to 30 September and reopens on 1 October. Buffer zones stay open through the monsoon, subject to rain and road conditions.
How far in advance can I book a Tadoba safari?
Regular online booking opens at midnight IST, 120 days before the safari date. A Tatkal quota opens at 8 am IST three days before the date. For weekends and April–May, core permits often sell out within minutes of opening.
How much does a Tadoba safari cost?
A full core Gypsy costs ₹5,800 on a weekday and ₹6,800 at weekends when booked 1–59 days ahead, rising to ₹8,800 and ₹12,800 when booked 60–120 days ahead. A buffer Gypsy costs ₹6,000 on weekdays and ₹7,000 at weekends. These include the entry, guide and Gypsy fees.
What ID do I need for a Tadoba safari?
The original of the ID you used when booking, for every guest. Indians can use Aadhaar, passport, PAN, driving licence or voter ID. Foreign nationals must carry their passport. Photocopies and phone photos are refused at the gate.
Can I get a refund if I cancel my Tadoba safari?
Under the reserve's published policy, cancelling 4–15 days before gets 20% back and 16–59 days before gets 50% back. Cancelling 1–3 days before, or a no-show, gets nothing. The reserve lists 60–120 days as non-refundable too, and full-day safaris cannot be cancelled.
Are mobile phones allowed on a Tadoba safari?
The reserve's rules prohibit phone use, music and other distracting electronics inside the forest, with a ₹5,000 fine for using banned electronics. Cameras for photography are fine. Keep your phone silent and in your bag.
Are children allowed on a Tadoba safari?
Yes. Up to two children under 8 can ride free per Gypsy and don't need to be named on the booking. Older children need a seat on the permit like any adult.
Keep planning your Tadoba trip
Talk to a Tadoba naturalist
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Tell us when you're travelling and what you want to see. We'll check permit and room availability, then send you a plan that fits.