Wildlife Photography in Rajaji Tiger Reserve, Uttarakhand: Leopard & Hornbill Safari Experience

A Journey into Rajaji’s Forest Landscape

My wildlife photography experience at Rajaji National Park was done with my friend Ramgeet, whom I had originally met during a birding camp at Thattekad in Kerala. This trip was planned specifically for leopard sightings and forest bird photography, and it turned out to be a mix of anticipation, patience, and partial success.

One of the most interesting parts of this journey was how I reached the destination — entirely using public transport. I travelled by bus, which dropped me near the park entrance, and from there we coordinated with local guides to begin the safari experience.

Two Safaris, Mixed Outcomes

We went on two separate safaris inside the reserve.

The forest environment was dense, with long stretches of greenery and broken visibility, which is typical of Rajaji’s terrain. While the ecosystem felt rich and alive, wildlife sightings required a lot of patience and luck.

We did manage to spot leopards, but they were always at a distance. The sightings were brief and did not allow for strong photographic opportunities. Even though it was exciting to see them in the wild, they remained mostly elusive, moving quickly through the forest edges.

For photography, this meant more observation than capture — a common reality in forest-based safaris.

The Great Hornbill Nesting Encounter

One of the most memorable highlights of the trip was observing the Great Hornbill.

We came across a nesting site where a female hornbill was inside the cavity. She occasionally extended her beak outside but largely remained inside the nest, likely in a protective nesting phase. We waited and observed quietly, hoping for more activity, but the male hornbill never appeared during our sighting.

Even with that limitation, witnessing hornbill nesting behavior in the wild was a rare and valuable experience. It is not often that one gets to observe such intimate breeding behavior in large forest birds.

The Reality of Forest Photography in Rajaji

Rajaji is not a place where wildlife reveals itself easily. The dense vegetation and natural cover make spotting predators particularly challenging. Even when animals are present, they often remain hidden or appear only for brief moments.

Unlike open grasslands or structured reserves, Rajaji demands:

• patience over speed

• observation over chase

• and acceptance of partial sightings

This is what makes it both frustrating and rewarding at the same time.

Final Thoughts on the Experience

My trip to Rajaji National Park was not defined by perfect wildlife shots, but by meaningful encounters.

• Leopards seen but not photographed closely

• A rare hornbill nesting observation

• Rare Eagles like the Changeable hawk Eagle and the Serpent Eagle

• A simple but memorable journey using public transport

• And the experience of exploring a dense Himalayan forest system

• A Flock of Chestnut-headed bee-eaters 

For me, this trip reinforced one simple truth in wildlife photography — sometimes the value of a safari lies not in what you capture, but in what you quietly witness in the wild.