Wildlife and birds · Buxa
Jeep safari in Buxa Tiger Reserve
Buxa Tiger Reserve's jeep safaris run from Rajabhatkhawa and Jayanti through forest, grassland and river beds. Elephants, gaur, deer and birds are the usual rewards; the reserve's tiger, recorded again in 2021, is the dream.
Buxa Tiger Reserve was created in 1983 and covers roughly 760 km² along the Bhutan border, from the plains to the Sinchula hills. For years it was a tiger reserve with no confirmed tigers: none were directly recorded from 1998 until December 2021, when a camera trap in the East Damanpur range photographed an adult male. Grassland restoration and prey recovery have since become the focus.
Safaris are booked through the forest department and start from points such as Rajabhatkhawa and Jayanti, with registered jeeps and guides. Routes cross sal forest, river beds and open grass. Elephants and gaur are common, with sambar, barking deer, wild boar and many birds. Leopards are present but seldom seen; tigers almost never.
Treat it as a forest drive rather than a tiger hunt and you will enjoy it. Morning and late afternoon are best. Check current status before you travel; routes and slots change, and parts of the reserve were affected by the October 2025 floods.
Cost: ₹2,500–3,500 a jeep for up to 6 (indicative)
Questions people ask
Good to know
Are there tigers in Buxa Tiger Reserve?
Very few. No tiger was directly recorded from 1998 until December 2021, when a camera trap photographed an adult male. Since then there have been occasional records and plans to strengthen the population. Visitors should not expect to see one.
Where do Buxa safaris start?
From forest department points such as Rajabhatkhawa and Jayanti; your booking names the reporting place. Rajabhatkhawa is about 15–17 km from Alipurduar. Arrive 30 minutes early with ID. Routes change with season and repairs.
What animals are seen on a Buxa safari?
Elephants and gaur are the most common large animals, with sambar, barking deer, wild boar and many birds, including hornbills. Leopards are present but rarely seen. Rhinos are not part of Buxa's usual fauna.
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