Kabini itinerary

Plan 01

1 day in Kabini

1. 01

   Day 1: A long day trip from Mysuru

   Leave Mysuru by about 4 am to reach the Dammanakatte gate for a morning canter or jeep drive, if you have booked ahead or the gate has seats. Have breakfast at a lodge or restaurant near Antharasante and rest through the middle of the day. Take the late-afternoon boat or drive, and plan to be on the road back to Mysuru soon after dark. This is a tiring day, and most people are happier staying one night.

Plan 02

2 days in Kabini

1. 01

   Day 1: Arrival, rest and a reservoir boat ride

   Reach your lodge by lunchtime, settle in and rest through the heat of the day. Go out on the afternoon boat safari on the reservoir, which is the best-known way to see elephants along the shore, then finish with dinner at the lodge.

2. 02

   Day 2: Dawn drive and the road back

   Take the early canter or jeep drive into the forest, which is when big cats are most often seen. Return for breakfast, check out, and use the drive back for an optional stop at the Kabini dam area near Beechanahalli or at Nanjangud's Srikanteshwara temple, if the route to Mysuru suits you.

Plan 03

3 days in Kabini

1. 01

   Day 1: Arrival and boat safari

   Arrive by lunch, rest, and take the late-afternoon boat safari along the reservoir. Early night, because the next day starts before six.

2. 02

   Day 2: Forest drive, coracle and a slow afternoon

   Do the dawn forest drive, then a long breakfast and a quiet middle of the day. If your lodge offers it, a short coracle ride or a guided nature walk near the property is a gentle contrast to the vehicles. End with the sunset on the water.

3. 03

   Day 3: Bandipur or Nanjangud on the way out

   Either drive to Bandipur for a drive in a different forest, a journey of roughly one and a half to two hours each way depending on the road, or head back towards Mysuru and stop at Nanjangud's Srikanteshwara temple. Choose Bandipur only if the group is happy with another early start.

Pacing

Pacing a Kabini trip for parents and children

• Book a lodge with ground-floor rooms or a buggy: some properties spread cottages over wide grounds, and walks to dinner can be long in the dark.
• Request the front rows of the canter or the jeep's front seat; the tracks are bumpy, and a seat cushion and a light scarf help.
• Choose the afternoon boat over a second early drive if the 5.30 am wake-up is too much; the boat is smoother.
• Pack warm layers for the dawn drive even in summer; open vehicles feel cold at speed before sunrise.
• Carry regular medicines and a basic first-aid kit. The nearest large hospitals are in Mysuru, around two hours away.
• Keep expectations modest: sightings are never guaranteed, and elephants, deer and birds are the safe bet.

Kabini with elderly parents: the full guide →