Tadoba National Park or Tadoba Andhari tiger reserve is located in the Chandrapur District of Maharashtra. It is one of the fifty-four (54) Tiger reserves in India. With a core area of 625.82 sq km and a buffer area of 1101.17 sq km – a total of 1727 sq km, Tadoba Nadhari Tiger Reserve is one of the largest and oldest parks in the state. The park gets its name from the tribal God worshipped in this region, Taru or Tadoba and, the river that runs through the region, Andhari. He is represented as a God and a shrine has been dedicated to him on the banks of the river. Tribes in the buffer area celebrate a festival in the shrine during the winter season. Tourists are however not allowed to be a part of this festival.
Dominated by teak forests and bamboo, the landscape comprises gently rolling hills interspersed with perennial lakes, grasslands and marshes. The Tiger is the apex predator here and the park has emerged as one of the finest reserves in the country to see them in their natural habitat.
Tadoba National Park is a popular Tiger Reserve and is also known as ‘The Land of Tigers’ since as many as 97 tigers are found here. Apart from the species of Bengal tiger, this park is home to other mammals like sloth bear, leopard, rusty spotted cat, gaur (Indian bison), Indian mouse deer, ratel, sambar, wild pig, spotted deer, flying squirrel, four-horned antelope, to name a few. As soon as the night falls, the small Indian civet, the palm civet, the ratel, and the flying squirrel make their presence felt. Major fauna include hyenas, barking deer, blue bulls, Indian pangolins and porcupines.
The rich bird life includes species like the mottled wood owl, Malabar pied hornbill, Indian scimitar babbler, Tickell’s blue flycatcher, painted francolin, Asian paradise flycatcher, white-rumped shama, golden oriole, black-naped monarch, red spurfowl, painted spurfowl and grey jungle fowl. Raptors include the Bonelli’s eagle, crested serpent eagle, oriental honey buzzard, changeable hawk eagle, white-eyed buzzard and shikra.
Safari zones at Tadoba
Tadoba Tiger Reserve has 4 safari gates through which entries are permitted for core and buffer zones.
| Zone I | Core Zones | Buffer Zones |
| Moharli | Moharli | Agrazari |
| Khutwanda | Devada-Adegaon | |
| Junona |
| Zone II | Core Zones | Buffer Zones |
| Navegaon | Navegaon | Ramdegi |
| Nimdhela |
| Zone III | Core Zones | Buffer Zones |
| Kolara | Kolara | Alizanja |
| Belara |
| Zone IV | Core Zones | Buffer Zones |
| Zari-Pangadi | Zari | Mamla |
| Pangdi | Aswal Chuha | |
| Peth-Zari | ||
| Kesla Ghat |
There are plenty of stay options closer to each entry gate of Tadoba and one can choose a stay option as per preference.
