The short answer
New Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary: what visitors should know first
Think of it as part of the Nagzira visit, not a separate trip. It lies on the same long drive from Navegaon, and the portal decides which zone you drive. Go only if you are already booked for the southern half of the reserve.
History and context
The story behind New Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary
New Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the five protected areas that were combined into the Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve on 12 December 2013.
Useful facts
New Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary facts at a glance
- Location
- Gondia and Bhandara districts
- Status
- Wildlife sanctuary within a tiger reserve
- Part of
- Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve
- Gate
- Umarzari and Chorkhamara side; confirm on booking
- Visitor note
- No stand-alone visitor circuit
Why it matters
Why New Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary is worth your time
New Nagzira matters because the long-term survival of tigers here depends on connected forest. Adding it to the protected network widens the habitat available for tigers, leopards, dholes and their prey, and allows movement between Nagzira and the surrounding forests.
For visitors, the main lesson is that the reserve is one connected area with five names. Knowing that helps you read the booking portal, choose a gate and avoid planning a day around a unit that has no stand-alone visitor circuit.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
Linked to Nagzira
It sits beside Nagzira, so the two are best done together.
- 02
Umarzari gate
Listed on the reserve website as a gypsy gate.
- 03
Habitat
Dry deciduous forest and small lakes.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
New Nagzira is part of the Nagzira half of the Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve. It was created to add forest to the older sanctuary, and on the ground the two blur into one landscape of dry deciduous forest, hills and small lakes.
Because there is no separate visitor product, plan it as a block with Nagzira: base yourself near the Chorkhamara area, book a morning and an evening safari on consecutive days and ask your guide where the zones lie. Umarzari is one of the gypsy gates listed on the reserve website.
Carry water and do not expect services inside. A naturalist guide improves your chances of seeing the birds and mammals that make the area worth the drive.
Plan with confidence
Small decisions that make the visit easier.
- Do not plan a day around this sanctuary alone
- Confirm the zone on your safari booking
- Carry water and snacks; there are none inside
- Stay near the gate to avoid long early drives
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- South of Navegaon, adjoining Nagzira (about 50-60 km by road)
- Time needed
- Part of a safari day
- Best time
- November to February
- Walking level
- Moderate
- Senior comfort
- Vehicle access only, on rough forest tracks with no shade or facilities. The long road approach is tiring in summer.
- Tickets and access
- No separate ticket. Entry 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. Visitor guides place the entry on the Chorkhamara and Umarzari side; confirm your zone on the booking.
Best for
Plan it with
Plan the practical part
Hotels near New Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary
Staying close keeps journeys short — useful for early starts and for anyone who tires quickly.
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices are live on the partner site.
Travelling with parents?
Vehicle access only, on rough forest tracks with no shade or facilities. The long road approach is tiring in summer.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
Is New Nagzira open to tourists?
Entry is through the reserve's safari system; confirm which zones are open on the booking portal.
Is it different from Nagzira?
It is a separate protected area, but it adjoins Nagzira and is visited alongside it.
How far is it from Navegaon?
It is a long drive south; allow an hour or more on rural roads.
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.
