Explore the thrill of a wildlife safari just a short distance from Pune! Embark on a weekend getaway to this new wildlife sanctuary located just a few kilometers away. Take a break from the hustle and bustle of city life for a day and immerse yourself in the untouched beauty of the wildlife with your loved ones.
This article will guide you through all the essential information about the wildlife safari near Pune.
Location:
Inaugurated in October 2023, the Pune Forest Division has introduced an innovative grassland safari spanning Pune and Solapur districts. A pioneering initiative in Maharashtra, this safari comprises two zones near Pune: Kadbanwadi in the Indapur District and Shirsuphal in the Baramati District. The journey to this safari from Pune takes approximately three hours, making it an ideal destination for a Sunday outing with friends and children!
The two zones in the safari:
1. Kadbanwadi zone
You can choose to explore any of the two zones in the safari. The safari in Indapur’s Kadbanwadi zone starts at Kadbanwadi gate covering 30km track before ending back at the gate. The major forest departments along this route are in the villages of Kadbanwadi, Kalas and Vitthalwadi.
2. Shirsuphal zone
The safari in Shirsuphal zone in Baramati starts at Gadikhel gate and ends at Parwadi gate with a journey of 40 km covering the villages of Gadikhel, Shirsuphal, Sablewadi and Parwadi.
What wildlife can you spot?
During the safari you can spot various animals like the striped hyenas, jackals, chinkaras or Indian gazelles, the Bengal fox and the elusive Indian grey wolf.
If you are a bird lover and want to get into some bird watching or photography the grasslands of Indapur and Baramati are great birding spots. Spot more than 330 varieties such as the rain quail, ashy-crowned sparrow lark, grey-necked bunting and painted francolin.
Book a safari slot:
The grasslands will be open throughout the year which means you can plan a trip with your kids, family or friends whichever weekend you all get some time off!
Safari slots: Morning slot from 6am to 9am and an afternoon safari from 3pm to 6pm.
Where to stay: There aren't many option in the area to stay overnight, but the safari needs only one day to experience the grasslands. This is an ideal location to make a day trip from Pune.
How to book a safari?
Book your slot at grasslandsafari.org.
A slot will be allotted to you upon booking along with a trained local guide.
The forest department does not provide their vehicle for the tour. If you have a private vehicle with a maximum capacity of seven (including the driver and guide) you will be permitted in the zones.
The cost of the safari slots:
Vehicle entry fee: Rs. 1,500 for two-wheelers and Rs. 2,000 for four-wheelers
Guide fee: Rs. 500
Camera fee: Rs. 100
So are you excited to try out this new safari near Pune? The forest department with its new initiative has gotten in to the world of sustainable tourism and by visiting the safari, you will not only help to maintain the grasslands but provide livelihood to the local villagers. Let us know in the comments below if you plan to visit this grassland safari near Pune anytime soon during the weekends.
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