The short answer
Nawegaon Wildlife Sanctuary: what visitors should know first
Treat this as a name on the reserve map, not a separate outing. You see it, if at all, through the Navegaon-side safari gates, and the booking portal tells you which zone your slot covers. Do not plan a day around it.
History and context
The story behind Nawegaon Wildlife Sanctuary
The sanctuary was brought into the Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve when it was notified on 12 December 2013, the 44th tiger reserve in India and the fifth in Maharashtra.
Useful facts
Nawegaon Wildlife Sanctuary facts at a glance
- Location
- Gondia district, north-eastern Maharashtra
- Status
- Wildlife sanctuary within a tiger reserve
- Part of
- Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve
- Access
- Via reserve gates and booked safari
- Visitor note
- No separate visitor circuit is published
Why it matters
Why Nawegaon Wildlife Sanctuary is worth your time
The sanctuary matters because it adds protected forest around the national park. Tigers, leopards and prey animals need more room than a single small park provides, and Nawegaon fills part of that gap.
For a traveller, the distinction between the national park and the sanctuary rarely changes the day. What changes it is the gate you enter by, the guide you have and the season. Understanding that the five units form one reserve helps you choose a base and a booking sensibly.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
Part of one reserve
It is one of five linked protected areas that form the tiger reserve.
- 02
Safari on the Navegaon side
The booking portal tells you which zone you enter; check it before you pay.
- 03
Habitat
Dry deciduous forest with water points that draw deer and birds.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
Nawegaon Wildlife Sanctuary is one of five protected areas that together make up the Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve. It sits next to Navegaon National Park and shares its habitat: dry deciduous forest, hill slopes and patches of water that draw deer and birds.
There is no stand-alone visitor circuit published for it, so the practical way to experience it is to book a safari on the Navegaon side and let the forest guide and the portal decide the route. The gate list on the reserve website includes Pitezari, Baki, Jambhali, Madhavzari, Kholi and others, and which of those touches this sanctuary changes with how zones are allotted, so confirm before you pay.
Go with a naturalist and modest expectations. Spotting a sambar, a gaur or a sloth bear is a good result; a tiger would be a bonus.
Plan with confidence
Small decisions that make the visit easier.
- Check the zone on your safari booking
- Hire a naturalist guide at the gate
- Do not plan a day around this sanctuary alone
- Carry drinking water; there are no shops in the forest
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- North of Gondia district, within the Navegaon-Nagzira reserve (Arjuni Morgaon side)
- Time needed
- Part of a safari morning
- Best time
- November to February
- Walking level
- Easy
- Senior comfort
- Access is by safari vehicle, so there is little walking. Rough forest tracks can be bumpy for people with back or hip problems, and there are no facilities in the forest.
- Tickets and access
- There is no separate entry. Access is through the reserve's safari system. Safari slots are booked on the Maharashtra Forest Department portal (safaribooking.mahaforest.gov.in); where online slots run out, the reserve says spot booking is first come, first served at the gate. Fees are shown only as a chart on the reserve website, so confirm the current rate before you go. Confirm on the portal which zone and gate cover this sanctuary on your date.
Best for
Plan it with
Plan the practical part
Hotels near Nawegaon Wildlife Sanctuary
Staying close keeps journeys short — useful for early starts and for anyone who tires quickly.
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Travelling with parents?
Access is by safari vehicle, so there is little walking. Rough forest tracks can be bumpy for people with back or hip problems, and there are no facilities in the forest.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
Can I enter Nawegaon sanctuary separately?
Entry is through the reserve's safari system, not a separate ticket office. Confirm the zone on the booking portal.
Is it the same as Navegaon National Park?
No. They are separate protected areas inside the same tiger reserve, and they sit side by side.
Will I see tigers?
Possible but not likely. Plan for deer, gaur, langur and birds.
Sources and further reading
- Wildlife Institute of India: Nawegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve
- Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve: safari gates and booking
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.
