Leopard Safari Package in Rajaji National Park – Leopard Photography Tour
What is the Rajaji leopard safari tour package? It is a two-safari jeep package (one morning and one evening, about 4 hours each) inside Rajaji Tiger Reserve, Uttarakhand, led by an experienced naturalist guide and designed for leopard sightings and wildlife photography. Prices start at ₹10,500 for one person and ₹12,000 for four persons, including safari permit, jeep and guide. Sightings can never be guaranteed in the wild, but two safaris with local experts give you strong chances.
Looking for a leopard safari in Rajaji, a leopard safari tour package or a leopard photography package in Rajaji National Park? Our team runs leopard safari package tours from Haridwar, Rishikesh and Dehradun, with photographer-friendly jeeps, patient guides who know the forest tracks, and slots planned around the best light.
Leopard Safari Package Tour – Quick Facts
| Package | Leopard Sighting & Photography Package, Rajaji National Park |
|---|---|
| Safaris | 2 jeep safaris (1 morning + 1 evening), about 4 hours each |
| Price | ₹10,500 (1 person) to ₹12,000 (4 persons) |
| Includes | Safari permit, jeep charge, guide |
| Excludes | Food, beverages, camera fee, tips |
| Season | 15 November to 15 June (Jhilmil Jheel: 15 Oct to 30 June; Gohri buffer zone: all year) |
| Location | Haridwar, Dehradun & Pauri Garhwal districts, Uttarakhand |
| Booking | ₹1,000 advance to confirm |
CHOOSE YOUR PACKAGES
Leopard Safari & Photography Package in Rajaji National Park
Our most popular leopard safari package combines two safaris, one in the morning and one in the evening, of around four hours each. Leopards are ambush hunters that are most active at dawn and dusk, so covering both slots gives you the best chance at a sighting. Many guests see more than one leopard across the two drives, and photographers get time to position the jeep for clean light and backgrounds.
Along the way you can also see wild elephants, hornbills, kingfishers, barbets, owlets, owls and woodpeckers, and sometimes larger reptiles such as Burmese pythons and king cobras. Wildlife is unpredictable, so sightings are never guaranteed.
| Morning | Evening |
|---|---|
| 6.30am to 10.30am | 2.30pm to 6.30pm |
| 1 Person | 2 Person | 3 Person | 4 Person |
|---|---|---|---|
| ₹10,500 | ₹11,000 | ₹11,500 | ₹12,000 |
Details needed for advance booking of the Leopard Photography Tour
- 1. One ID of any guest.
- 2. Name and age of members.
- 3. Date and time for safari.
- 4. ₹1,000 advance for booking confirmation.
Including: Safari permit, jeep charge, guide.
Excluding: Food, beverage, camera fee, tips.
Book Leopard Safari Package
Half-Day Birding Package, Rajaji National Park
Rajaji is home to over 315 bird species from 57 families: about 89 migrants, 145 residents, 53 altitudinal migrants, 10 local migrants and 18 of unknown status. It is a rewarding place to build a fresh checklist. See our full bird watching in Rishikesh & Rajaji page.
Target bird species
Black Stork, Black-necked Stork, Common Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Crested Serpent Eagle, Himalayan Buzzard, Long-legged Buzzard, Steppe Eagle, Crested Hawk Eagle, Common Greenshank, Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon, Emerald Dove,
Plum-headed Parakeet, Slaty-headed Parakeet, Sirkeer Malkoha, Jungle Owlet, Brown Fish Owl, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Common Kingfisher, Oriental Pied Hornbill, Great Hornbill, Great Barbet, Blue-throated Barbet, Great Slaty Woodpecker, Greater Goldenback, Scarlet Minivet, Long-tailed Minivet, Spangled Drongo, Black-hooded Oriole, Maroon Oriole, Yellow-bellied Fantail, Red-billed Blue Magpie, Black-throated Tit, Black-crested Bulbul, Common Green Magpie, Black Bulbul, Red-billed Leiothrix, Whiskered Yuhina, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Wallcreeper, White-capped Redstart, Plumbeous Water Redstart, Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Taiga Flycatcher, Slaty-blue Flycatcher, Rufous-bellied Niltava, Small Niltava, Red Avadavat, Yellow-breasted Greenfinch.
| Winter Season | Summer Season | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | Evening | Morning | Evening |
| 7.30am to 11.30am | 1.30pm to 5.00pm | 6.30am to 10.30am | 2.30pm to 6.00pm |
| Charges of Half-Day Birding | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Person | 2 Person | 3 Person | 4 Person |
| ₹10,500 | ₹11,000 | ₹11,500 | ₹12,000 |
Half-Day Expert Jungle Safari Package, Rajaji National Park
You get a well-maintained jeep and a field guide along with the driver. The guide knows the mammals, birds, trees and plants of Rajaji, and an expert on board improves your chances of spotting tigers, leopards and elephants. The safari lasts 3 to 4 hours. Expert guides Veeru Negi, Gautam Verma or their team members will take you on safari. Read more about our jungle safari in Rajaji National Park.
| Morning | Evening |
|---|---|
| 7.00am to 10.00am | 3.00pm to 6.00pm |
| 1 Person | 2 Person | 3 Person | 4 Person | 5 Person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ₹4,400 | ₹4,550 | ₹4,700 | ₹4,850 | ₹5,000 |
Details needed for advance booking of Expert Jungle Safari
- 1. One ID of any guest.
- 2. Name and age of members.
- 3. Date and time for safari.
- 4. ₹1,000 advance for booking confirmation.
Including: Safari permit, jeep charge, guide.
Excluding: Food, beverage, camera fee, tips.
Book Expert SafariWhy Choose Rajaji for a Leopard Safari?
Rajaji National Park covers about 820 sq km of Shivalik forest across the Haridwar, Dehradun and Pauri Garhwal districts of Uttarakhand. It was created in 1983 by merging the Rajaji, Motichur and Chilla sanctuaries, and in 2015 it was declared a tiger reserve, with a larger reserve area of roughly 1,075 sq km. The mix of sal forest, dry river beds (raus), grassland and the Ganga riverine belt supports leopards alongside tigers, Asian elephants, sloth bears, sambar, chital and goral.
- Easy access: gates are minutes from Haridwar and Rishikesh, so you can add a leopard safari to a Char Dham, Ganga Aarti or yoga trip.
- Smaller crowds: fewer jeeps per route than the most famous parks, which helps photography and calm viewing.
- Diverse wildlife: a strong chance of elephants and birds on every drive, even when the leopard stays hidden.
- Great value: a full two-safari leopard photography package for a fraction of a Central India tour.
Best Zones for Leopard Safari in Rajaji National Park
| Zone | Base | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Ranipur | Haridwar (about 15 km) | Highest reported leopard sighting rate; rocky hills and grassland, leopards often seen on walls and rocks; owls, sambar, chital, nilgai. Track about 25 km. |
| Chilla | Haridwar & Rishikesh | Largest, most popular zone; tigers, leopards, elephants; jeep and elephant safari; open grassland, sal forest and Ganga riverine belt. |
| Motichur | Haridwar (about 9 km) | Dense sal forest; elephants, birds and leopards; about 24 km track. |
| Mohand (Chillawali) | Dehradun | Best gate for Dehradun visitors; strong for birds and raptors; lower tourist pressure. |
| Jhilmil Jheel | Haridwar | Wetland conservation area with swamp deer (barasingha), birds, and occasional leopard and elephant sightings. |
The zone for your date depends on permit availability, weather and recent field reports. We assign the zone that gives you the best chance. Compare zones in our guide: Chilla vs Motichur vs Mohand – which safari zone is best?
Leopard Photography in Rajaji National Park: Tips & Gear
Leopard photography in Rajaji rewards patience and preparation. Our leopard photography package puts you with guides who understand light, tracks and animal behaviour.
Recommended camera setup
- Lens: 200-500 mm, 100-400 mm or 150-600 mm; a 70-200 mm for elephants and habitat shots.
- Body: a fast-autofocus DSLR or mirrorless camera with good high-ISO performance for dawn and dusk.
- Support: bean bag or clamp for the jeep rail; tripods are hard to use in a vehicle.
- Settings: shutter 1/1000s or faster for movement, aperture wide open, Auto-ISO with a ceiling, continuous AF and burst mode.
- Extras: spare batteries and memory cards, lens cloth, dust cover and rain protection.
Responsible wildlife photography
No flash, no baiting or calling, no leaving the vehicle and no crowding the animal. Ethical distance keeps the leopard relaxed and gives you more natural images. Please follow all forest department rules and your guide's instructions.
Best Time for a Leopard Safari in Rajaji
| Period | What to expect |
|---|---|
| 15 Oct – 14 Nov | Only Jhilmil Jheel and the Gohri buffer zone are open. |
| 15 Nov – Feb | Cool, clear weather; comfortable drives; good light for photography. Carry warm layers for early mornings. |
| March – 15 June | Warm to hot; animals gather near remaining water, which can improve sightings. Book morning slots and carry water and sun protection. |
| 16 June – 30 June | Only Jhilmil Jheel is open (until 30 June); other zones close on 15 June. |
| July – mid-Oct | Monsoon closure; only the Gohri buffer zone stays open. Contact us for updates. |
How Your Leopard Safari Tour Package Works
- Enquire & confirm: share your date, group size and ID details, then pay the ₹1,000 advance.
- Morning safari: meet your guide and jeep, enter the gate and drive the best tracks in golden light.
- Break: rest, eat and review photographs at your hotel or a nearby cafe (food is not included).
- Evening safari: a second drive covering the hours when leopards become active again.
- Debrief: share images and sighting notes with your guide.
How to Reach Rajaji National Park
- By air: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun is the nearest airport.
- By train: Haridwar Junction is the nearest major station, with Rishikesh and Dehradun also connected by rail.
- By road: Chilla and Motichur gates are on the Haridwar-Rishikesh belt; Delhi to Haridwar is roughly a 5-6 hour drive.
What to Carry & Safari Rules
- Original photo ID of every guest (required for the permit).
- Earth-tone clothing, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, water and light snacks.
- Binoculars and camera gear; warm jacket in winter mornings.
- Keep silence, do not litter, do not feed animals and stay in the vehicle.
Leopard Safari in Rajaji – Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I see leopards in Rajaji National Park?
Leopards are seen across Rajaji Tiger Reserve. Ranipur is widely reported as the zone with the highest leopard sighting rate, and leopards are also seen in Chilla, Motichur and Mohand (Chillawali). Our leopard safari package plans two safaris (morning and evening) so you cover the hours when leopards are most active.
Is a leopard sighting guaranteed on a Rajaji safari?
No wildlife sighting in a natural forest can be guaranteed. Rajaji has a healthy leopard population and our guides know the routes, water points and alarm-call patterns, which gives you strong chances, but the leopard decides. Booking two safaris in one package improves your odds.
How much does a leopard safari package in Rajaji cost?
The Leopard Sighting & Photography Package (two safaris) costs ₹10,500 for 1 person, ₹11,000 for 2, ₹11,500 for 3 and ₹12,000 for 4 persons. It includes the safari permit, jeep charge and guide. Food, beverages, camera fee and tips are extra.
What is the best time for leopard photography in Rajaji National Park?
The park is open from 15 November to 15 June. Early morning and late afternoon give the best light and wildlife activity. Winter (Nov-Feb) offers cool, clear conditions, while March-June is dry and animals gather near remaining water sources, which can make sightings easier.
Which safari zone is best for a leopard safari in Rajaji?
Ranipur is known for the highest leopard sighting rate: rocky Shivalik terrain, small hills and grassland where leopards are often seen resting on walls and rocks. Chilla (largest and most visited), Motichur (dense sal forest) and Mohand are also good. Our team picks the zone for your date based on permit availability and recent field reports.
How many safaris are included in the leopard safari tour package?
The package includes two jeep safaris, one morning and one evening, of about four hours each on the timings shown above (subject to forest department slot timings).
Can I use a DSLR or telephoto lens on the leopard photography tour?
Yes. A camera fee is charged by the forest department for professional cameras and is not included in the package. A 200-500 mm or 100-400 mm lens with a bean bag or monopod works best from the jeep. Flash, baiting and leaving the vehicle are prohibited.
How do I book the leopard safari package?
Send one valid photo ID of any guest, the name and age of each member, and your preferred date and slot, then pay a ₹1,000 advance to confirm the booking. Use the contact page to start.
How far is Rajaji National Park from Haridwar, Rishikesh and Dehradun?
The Chilla gate is about 8-10 km from Haridwar and about 20 km from Rishikesh, Motichur is about 9 km from Haridwar and Ranipur about 15 km from Haridwar. Mohand (Chillawali) is the most convenient gate from Dehradun. Delhi is roughly 220-230 km away. Jolly Grant Airport (Dehradun) is the nearest airport and Haridwar the nearest major railway station.
Is Rajaji National Park open during monsoon?
Chilla, Motichur, Ranipur, Mohand and Ramgarh are open from 15 November to 15 June. Jhilmil Jheel is open from 15 October to 30 June, and the Gohri buffer zone is open throughout the year. Dates can change, so confirm with us on +91 99176 06031 before you plan.
Ready for Your Rajaji Leopard Safari?
Book the leopard safari tour package with a local expert team. Limited jeeps per slot – reserve early.
Enquire & Book NowCall or WhatsApp: +91 99176 06031 · info@junglesafarirajajinationalpark.com · Mon–Sun 6:00 am–6:00 pm
Explore More Rajaji Safari Options
- Rajaji National Park safari packages
- Jungle safari in Rajaji National Park
- Chilla safari, Rajaji National Park
- Motichur jungle safari
- Mohand jungle safari (best for Dehradun and birding)
- Bird watching in Rishikesh & Rajaji
- Safari package with night stay
- Which safari zone is best?
- About Rajaji National Park · Contact & booking · Travel blog