How to Book a Tadoba Safari Online: Complete Guide (2026)

Tadoba permits sell out months ahead and the official portal is unforgiving. Here is exactly how the process works and where people get stuck.

Booking a Tadoba safari involves two separate things: the safari booking (government — entry, guide and gypsy in one ticket) and a resort (private). Most first-timers don't realise they're booked on different platforms — and that's where trips get derailed.

Everything below is from the official Tadoba–Andhari Tiger Reserve portal, checked on 12 October 2026.

Step 1: Understand the zone types

Tadoba has core zones and buffer zones.

Core zones (Moharli, Kolara, Khutwanda, Navegaon, Pangdi, Zari): fewer permits, higher tiger density. Closed every Tuesday and from 1 July to 30 September.
Buffer zones (Agarzari, Junona, Alizanza, Devada-Adegaon): more availability, open through the monsoon. Closed every Wednesday.

If you want a realistic shot at a tiger, get at least one core-zone safari in your plan.

Step 2: Book the safari

The official portal is mytadoba.mahaforest.gov.in (Tadoba–Andhari Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra Forest Department). The portal itself warns tourists to book online themselves at the actual rates and not to pay extra.

Normal booking opens at 12:00 AM IST, 120 days before the safari date.
Tatkal (core gates only) opens at 8:00 AM IST, three days before — for example, 1 October opens at 8 AM on 28 September.
One booking = one gypsy = up to 6 guests. Children under 8 ride free without being named, maximum two per gypsy.
Book one tab at a time: the portal's cart handles a single booking per browser, and parallel attempts fail.
The 9-seater cruiser at Moharli and Kolara (₹700 a seat) is only for residents of Chandrapur district. Visitors book a gypsy.

Official fees per jeep (entry + guide + gypsy):

Booked	Core, Mon – Fri	Core, Sat – Sun	Buffer, Mon – Fri	Buffer, Sat – Sun
1–59 days ahead	₹5,800	₹6,800	₹6,000	₹7,000
60–120 days ahead	₹8,800	₹12,800	₹6,000	₹7,000

Cameras cost ₹250 each, paid at the gate. Regular safaris cost the same for Indian and foreign tourists; only full-day safaris differ (₹50,000 Indian, ₹70,000 foreign).

Common mistake: people think one permit = one person. It's one booking = one gypsy = up to 6 guests.

Step 3: Know the cancellation rules before you pay

Booked 60–120 days ahead: cannot be cancelled, no refund.
Booked under 60 days ahead: can be cancelled more than 15 days before the safari, with 50% deducted. No cancellation after that.
Tatkal and full-day bookings: no cancellation, no refund.

Step 4: Book the resort

This is independent of the safari booking. Once you have your gate + date locked, book a property near that specific gate — driving between gates adds 40–90 minutes each way.

Gate-wise matches:

Moharli gate → stay in Moharli village or on the Moharli-Kolsa road.
Kolara gate → stay in Kolara village.
Navegaon → stay in Navegaon or Chimur.

Step 5: Show up prepared

Original photo ID for every guest named on the booking. Indian citizens: passport, voter ID, PAN card, driving licence, Aadhaar, student ID, government or PSU photo ID, or a nationalised-bank passbook with attested photo. Foreign nationals: passport only. Photocopies are refused.
Reach the gate 30 minutes before entry. Official entry times: 6:30 AM and 2:00 PM (Nov–Feb), 6:00 AM and 2:30 PM (Oct, Mar–Apr), 5:30 AM and 3:00 PM (May–Jun).
Dress in muted colours. No bright whites, reds, or blues — they spook animals.
No plastic inside the reserve. Noise, or using a phone or other gadget in a way that disturbs the forest or other visitors, is a ₹5,000 fine.

The easier alternative

Most guests don't want to stay up until midnight to fight for permits. On our packages, we handle the safari booking — you tell us the dates, we secure it. You pay the government's published rate plus our service fee. No surprises.

If you've already got dates in mind, check availability at our Tadoba packages page or message us on WhatsApp.