Wildlife Photography at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve – The Journey, The Challenge, The Reward 

My experience in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve was not just about wildlife photography—it was also a lesson in endurance, planning, and adapting to real-world travel challenges.

The Journey to Bandhavgarh

Reaching Bandhavgarh itself was a major part of the experience. Around 80% of my journey was by train, and I reached Umaria, from where I had to take a local bus for nearly three hours to reach the forest region.

That last stretch was the most challenging part of the trip. While I did manage to get a seat, the road conditions and long travel time made it physically tiring. That said, I didn’t really mind it too much—it felt like part of the overall adventure.

Many people prefer hiring taxis for convenience, but that significantly increases the cost of the trip, especially for solo travellers or independent photographers.

Return Journey – A Test of Luck

The return journey turned out to be even more unpredictable.

I had planned to travel via Katni, but my train ticket did not get confirmed. At one point, I was even prepared to travel on a general ticket and figure things out on the way.

However, in a fortunate turn of events, I managed to secure an AC train ticket from a nearby station, which completely changed my return experience and made the journey back to Delhi comfortable.

It was a reminder that wildlife photography trips are often as much about logistics and luck as they are about sightings.

Safari Experience – Zones, Sightings & Strategy

One of the most interesting aspects of Bandhavgarh is its multiple safari zones, each offering a slightly different landscape and wildlife behaviour.

Some of the key zones I explored included:

• Tala Zone

• Khitauli Zone

Each zone had its own character, but what stood out most was the unpredictability of tiger movement.

In one of the safaris, I saw a tiger sitting right in the middle of the forest road, allowing me to capture some strong frames. On another occasion, thanks to our guide’s experience, we were positioned in a strategic location just before a tiger crossed our path—resulting in a rare head-on tiger shot.

These moments reinforced how crucial guides are in tiger photography.

Wildlife Beyond Tigers

While tiger sightings were the highlight, Bandhavgarh offered much more:

• Elephants moving through forest patches. In Fact one of the Elephants charged at us after it emerged out of the forest from nowhere

• Indian gaurs in open clearings

• A rich mix of forest bird species

• Dense jungle interactions that kept the frame alive even between tiger sightings

This diversity is often overlooked when people focus only on tiger photography.

Shared Safari Dynamics

One important learning from Bandhavgarh was the nature of shared jeep safaris.

While they are cost-effective, they also come with challenges:

• Different expectations among photographers and tourists

• Some passengers focus only on tiger sightings

• Limited flexibility in stopping for birds or smaller wildlife

As a nature photographer, I often found value in observing birds and smaller mammals, while others in the vehicle were solely focused on tigers. This difference in mindset sometimes affects the overall experience.

Cost, Accessibility & Travel Reality

Bandhavgarh is not the easiest destination to access or budget for:

• Travel connectivity is indirect

• Local transport from railway stations is time-consuming

• Resorts and safari packages can be expensive

However, despite these challenges, the experience is absolutely worth it for anyone serious about wildlife photography.

Final Reflection

Bandhavgarh remains one of my most rewarding wildlife experiences to date.

Not just because of the tiger encounters, but because of:

• The unpredictability of travel

• The learning curve in field positioning

• The importance of timing and guide expertise

• And ultimately, the rare photographic moments that came together at the right time

It is a place that tests your patience—but rewards you with some of the most powerful wildlife moments you can capture in India.