Safari rides in tiger reserves now cheaper

BENGALURU: Taking a safari ride in Karnataka’s tiger reserves and wildlife sanctuaries has become cheaper. Capturing images of animals in their pristine habitat too is now less expensive. However, the entry fees to the sanctuaries, parks or tiger reserves in the state remains unchanged.
For the five tiger reserves of Bandipur, Kali, Bhadra, Biligiri Ranganathaswamy Temple (BRT) and Rajiv Gandhi National Park (Veeranahosalli, Nanachi and Antarsanthe gates), the entry tariff is `250 per person. For national parks and wildlife sanctuaries like Bannerghatta, Kudremukh, Cauvery wildlife sanctuary and others, it is `150 per person.

The new rates will be applicable from this month itself. Tariffs for safari rides and carrying cameras were revised in October earlier, but people objected to the hike, saying many families cannot afford the new charges. Hence, the department has slashed the fares again.Now, an adult has to pay only `100 for Safari visit instead of `300 announced earlier. Except at Nagarahole, a child can see the big carnivores and other mammals from close quarters in the tiger reserves at just `50. This tariff is applicable for travel in the departmental bus per person, subject to a minimum of `1,000 per trip.

“I am very happy with the reduction in tariffs. Every second or third month, we visit Nagarahole with our family members or friends. Imagine paying `300 per person. How could the department charge so much for safari rides during the weekends ?” asks Vishal. For Veeranahosalli and Antarsanthe gate of Rajiv Gandhi National Park at Nagaarhole, the safari tariff  has been reduced by 50 per cent to `250.
Safari ride in ‘Jungle Lodges and Resort’ vehicles in Bandipur and Nagarahole tiger reserves will now cost `1,100 per trip if you travel in a jeep or a car. The rates will vary at `1,650 for an LCV, `2,750 for a bus ride and `1,650 for a boat.Wildlife photographers can now carry their DSLR/SLR camera with attachments up to 70 mm lens at just `200.