Kaziranga Safari Zones Explained: Which Range Should You Choose?
Updated · Nomadic Travel team
Kaziranga has four safari ranges, each with a different character. Here's how to choose, when to go and how many safaris you need.
Kaziranga National Park is divided into four tourist safari zones, or ranges, each with its own entry gate, habitat and wildlife highlights. Choosing well — and ideally visiting more than one — makes a big difference to your experience. Here's how they compare.
Central Range (Kohora)
The Central range near Kohora is the most visited and the best all-rounder. Its mix of grasslands, wetlands and woodland offers excellent rhino, wild buffalo and swamp deer sightings, along with elephants and a good chance of seeing a tiger crossing the track. Being close to most resorts, it's ideal for your first safari.
Western Range (Bagori)
The Western range near Bagori has some of the highest rhino concentrations in the park, with open grasslands and shallow beels where rhinos and buffalo graze. Afternoon safaris here are known for beautiful light over the wetlands.
Eastern Range (Agaratoli)
The Eastern range is the birdwatchers' favourite, with large wetlands attracting pelicans, storks, fish eagles and migratory ducks in winter. It's quieter, so it's great for travellers who want a calmer experience. See our Assam birdwatching page for more.
Burapahar Range
The Burapahar range in the west of the park is hillier and more forested, with chances of seeing primates such as hoolock gibbons and a different landscape from the grasslands. It sees fewer visitors.
Safari timings and booking
Jeep safaris run in morning and afternoon slots, roughly from 7:30 am and 1:30 pm (timings vary by range and season). Elephant rides, where offered, take place at dawn. Permits are booked in advance, and peak months — December and January — sell out quickly.
How many safaris should you do?
We recommend at least three safaris over two nights: Central, Western and Eastern. This gives you different landscapes and greatly improves your chances of special sightings. Our Kaziranga tour package is built around exactly this plan.
When is Kaziranga open?
Kaziranga closes for the monsoon, usually from around June to September, and reopens in phases from October. The best months are November to April.
