Dandeli-Anshi (Kali) Tiger Reserve safari, Dandeli: History, highlights and visitor guide

History and context

The story behind Dandeli-Anshi (Kali) Tiger Reserve safari

The Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary and Anshi National Park were administratively unified as the Dandeli-Anshi Tiger Reserve in 2007, and the area is now also called the Kali Tiger Reserve. The sanctuary covers roughly 475 square kilometres and the national park roughly 340 square kilometres, according to Karnataka Tourism.

The sanctuary was separately notified as the Dandeli Elephant Reserve in 2015, Karnataka's second.

Useful facts

Dandeli-Anshi (Kali) Tiger Reserve safari facts at a glance

Location

Phansoli and Kulgi ranges, Uttara Kannada

Experience type

Forest-department jeep safari

Known for

Hornbills, gaur, and frequently reported black panthers

Reserve

Dandeli sanctuary plus Anshi National Park, unified 2007

Time or schedule

Morning and evening safaris, roughly 6 to 8 and 4 to 6

Why it matters

Why Dandeli-Anshi (Kali) Tiger Reserve safari is worth your time

Dandeli-Anshi is one of Karnataka's larger protected forests: the sanctuary and the national park were unified as a tiger reserve in 2007, and the area is also notified as an elephant reserve. It protects a long stretch of Western Ghats forest along the Kali river, and that forest is the reason the rest of Dandeli's tourism exists.

It also changes how you travel here. Visitors who treat the forest as a place to listen and watch, not a zoo, usually enjoy it more, and it is a fair counterweight to the adrenaline of rafting. Follow guide instructions, keep voices low and avoid plastics.

Highlights

What not to miss

1. 01

   Hornbills

   All four hornbill species of the region are recorded here, and the Malabar pied is often seen near fruiting trees.

2. 02

   Black panther lore

   Reports of melanistic leopards are unusually frequent, though a sighting is luck, not a promise.

3. 03

   Forest variety

   Deciduous forest, bamboo and teak plantations change within a short drive.

Plan your visit

How to experience it

Safaris are listed by Karnataka Tourism as running twice a day, roughly 6 to 8 in the morning and 4 to 6 in the evening, with a reporting point at Phansoli; arrive about fifteen minutes early. Some visitors reach the sanctuary through the Kulgi Nature Camp range office instead, so ask your camp which gate its jeeps use.

The reserve combines the Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary and Anshi National Park, and the forest is a mix of deciduous trees, bamboo and teak plantations. Realistic sightings are gaur, sambar, spotted deer, langurs, and many birds, with all four hornbill species recorded. Tigers, leopards and elephants are present but rarely seen, and black panthers, though frequently reported here, are never on demand.

Sit quietly, carry binoculars if you have them, and let the guide point out calls and tracks. A safari that ends with a hornbill pair in a fig tree is a good one. Combine it with a morning rafting day or Syntheri Rocks, because the same forest roads lead to all three.

Know before you go

Timing, access and comfort

Area

Phansoli and Kulgi ranges, north and east of Dandeli

Time needed

2 hours per safari, plus transfer

Best time

Safaris run in the morning and late afternoon; October to May is practical, and the monsoon is usually unsuitable

Walking level

Easy

Senior comfort

You sit in a jeep for about two hours on rough forest tracks, which can jolt backs and knees. Seats are not padded and there are no toilets on the route, so go before you leave. Early mornings are cool and comfortable.

Tickets and access

Safari tickets are issued by the forest department at the reporting point, and Karnataka Tourism lists morning and evening slots. Fees and timings change, so confirm them on arrival or through your camp before you plan the day.

Plan it with

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