Kaziranga National Park reopened for the 2026-27 season on 3 October 2026, and the Assam questions have started arriving in our DwD community since I published the Tawang guide and the Meghalaya circuit. Which safari zone, what a jeep really costs, whether Assam needs a permit, and when to go. This Kaziranga travel guide answers all of it with the official 2026 numbers.
Let me be upfront, my friend. I have not done a Kaziranga safari myself yet, so this guide is based on research. Fees, timings, ranges and rest house rents come from the official Kaziranga booking portal (kazirangasafari.in, read October 2026), distances from the Assam Environment and Forest Department, and season news from the PTI reopening report. Hotel prices from listings are marked “approximate” 🙂
Quick Answer: How Do You Plan a Kaziranga Trip in 2026?
Kaziranga reopened on 3 October 2026. Stay in Kohora, about 210 km from Guwahati railway station, and book jeep safaris on the official kazirangasafari.in portal. Jeep hire costs Rs 2,200 to Rs 3,200 per vehicle plus Rs 100 entry per Indian. Do two safaris, Central Range in the morning and Western Range in the afternoon, between November and April.
Kaziranga Trip Planning at a Glance
| Where | Golaghat, Nagaon, Sonitpur and Biswanath districts, Assam. Base town: Kohora (Central Range) |
| Distance from Guwahati | 210 km from Guwahati railway station (about 4 hrs), 250 km from Guwahati airport (about 5 hrs) |
| Nearer airports | Jorhat 105 km, Tezpur 90 km (about 2 hrs each) |
| 2026-27 season | Reopened 3 October 2026. Ideal months November to April. Closed for the monsoon |
| Jeep safari slots | 7:30 AM to 10 AM and 1:30 PM to 3 PM |
| Entry fee | Rs 100 per Indian, Rs 650 per foreigner, per trip |
| Jeep hire | Rs 2,200 to Rs 3,200 per vehicle depending on range, plus Rs 300 road toll |
| Elephant safari | Rs 1,200 per seat (Indian), Rs 2,000 (foreigner), early morning only |
| Permit for Assam | None for Indians or foreigners. Your park ticket is the only paperwork |
| Ideal duration | 2 nights in Kohora, 3 safaris |
| Budget, 2 nights per person | Rs 2,800 to Rs 16,450 (stay + safaris, excluding food and the Guwahati transfer) |
| Park contact | +91 7099074675, 03776 268007 |
| Last verified | October 2026 |
Is Kaziranga Open Right Now? The 2026-27 Season Status
Quick answer: yes. Assam Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah formally reopened Kaziranga at the Central Kohora Range on 3 October 2026, and jeep safaris started the same day. Elephant safaris were expected to resume within about 20 days, subject to preparations, so confirm them before you book. The park closes again for the monsoon.
According to the PTI report on the reopening, safari entry now runs in two daily slots. The minister also gave the current numbers that make Kaziranga worth the long drive: 2,613 of Assam’s 2,895 rhinos and 104 of the state’s 229 tigers live in this one park.
Keep in mind one confusing detail. The tourism page of the official portal still says the park “typically remains closed from 1st May to 31st October every year.” In practice, recent seasons have opened in early October. Hence, check the portal’s notifications page a week before an October trip.
Which Kaziranga Safari Zone Should You Choose?
Quick answer: for a first visit, choose the Central Range (Kohora) for your first safari and the Western Range (Bagori) for your second. They are 12 km apart, easy to reach from Kohora hotels, and both have elephant safari points. Add the Eastern Range (Agaratoli) for birds, or Burapahar for a quieter forest drive.
Kaziranga has five ranges, but the official portal lists jeep safaris in only four: Kohora, Bagori, Agaratoli and Burapahar. The fifth, the Northern Range at Biswanath, is 168 km from Bokakhat by road and off the tourist circuit. Distances below are from the Assam forest department:
| Range (safari point) | Where it is | Good for | My take |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central (Mihimukh, Kohora) | Kohora, the main hotel cluster on NH-37 | First safari, elephant safari point at Mihimukh | Start here. Shortest transfer from your room |
| Western (Bagori) | About 12 km west of Kohora | Open grassland and wetlands, widely reported as the densest rhino area | Best second safari. Also has elephant rides |
| Eastern (Agaratoli) | About 4 km north-east of Bokakhat, which is 20 km east of Kohora | Water birds and wetlands, fewer jeeps | Pick it for a third safari or if you love birds |
| Burapahar (Ghorakati) | About 25 km west of Bagori | Hilly, wooded terrain, quieter tracks | Good on the way in from Guwahati |
The “good for” column reflects how naturalists usually describe each range, a tendency and not a promise. The official tourism page lists wild buffalo, hog deer, sambar, swamp deer, wild boar and elephant herds, and says you might see “a tiger or two” if you are lucky. That is honest. Come for the rhinos, and count a tiger as a bonus.
How Much Does a Kaziranga Jeep Safari Cost in 2026?
Quick answer: an Indian group of four pays Rs 3,200 to Rs 4,200 per jeep per safari, or Rs 800 to Rs 1,050 each. That covers jeep hire (Rs 2,200 to Rs 3,200 depending on range), Rs 300 road toll, Rs 100 jeep welfare fee, and Rs 150 per person in entry and seat fees. A still camera adds Rs 100.
Blogs and agents quote anything from Rs 1,500 to Rs 4,200 for “a jeep”, so I went to the source. This is the official Rate and Timing page of the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve portal (run by the Assam forest department, built by AMTRON), as read in October 2026:
| Fee (official rate card) | Charged per | Indian (Rs) | Foreigner (Rs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry fee | Person, per trip/day | 100 | 650 |
| Jeep hiring fee | Vehicle | 2,200 to 3,200 (by range) | Same |
| Road toll | Vehicle | 300 | 300 |
| Welfare Society fee | Jeep | 100 | 100 |
| Welfare Society fee | Seat | 50 | 50 |
| Elephant safari seat | Person | 1,200 | 2,000 |
| Still camera | Unit | 100 | 200 |
| Video camera | Unit | 1,000 | 1,000 |
| River cruise toll | Vehicle | 1,000 | 1,000 |
The portal shows four rate tables, one per range, identical except the jeep hiring fee: Rs 2,200, Rs 2,300, Rs 2,700 and Rs 3,200. The copy I could read did not label which belongs to which range, so I suggest you check your range’s tab when booking. Per safari, the maths works out like this:
| Group in one jeep | Total per jeep | Per person |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Indians | Rs 2,900 to Rs 3,900 | Rs 1,450 to Rs 1,950 |
| 4 Indians | Rs 3,200 to Rs 4,200 | Rs 800 to Rs 1,050 |
Add Rs 100 per still camera, and ask at the counter whether a phone camera is charged too. Confirm the seat limit when you book. In case an agent quotes far above Rs 4,200 for an Indian jeep of four, ask for a breakdown against this rate card. A pickup charge on top is fair, but know what you are paying for.
What Are the Kaziranga Safari Timings?
Quick answer: jeep safari entry runs in two slots, 7:30 AM to 10 AM and 1:30 PM to 3 PM. Each circuit takes about 1.5 to 2.5 hours. Elephant safaris are early morning only, between 5:30 AM and 7:30 AM, and last about an hour. No vehicle may stay inside after 3 PM or dusk.
The two jeep slots come from the 2026 reopening report. They match the official tourism page, which says jeep safari vehicles are “permitted only from 7.30 AM to 3.00 PM (or dusk) within the Park.” My recommendation: do your first safari in the morning slot, when animals move more in the cooler hours, and keep the afternoon for your second range.
There is also a newer option on the official portal. Hemtap Hill trekking runs at 6 AM and 2:30 PM, costs Rs 200 per person and needs a group of at least 3 to 4. I could not find route details, so ask at the Kohora range office first.
Should You Do the Kaziranga Elephant Safari?
Quick answer: it is your call, but go in informed. It costs Rs 1,200 per Indian seat (Rs 2,000 for foreigners) plus the entry fee, runs only from 5:30 AM to 7:30 AM, and lasts about an hour. The official advisory says to skip it if you have back pain, spinal injuries or stiff joints.
According to the official tourism page, there are two elephant safari points. One is at Mihimukh in the Central Range and the other at Bagori in the Western Range, where the elephants belong to private owners licensed to carry tourists. The same page says tickets “need to be obtained the previous night from Kohora Range,” with an Elephant Safari Form. Since the portal now sells online too, ask your hotel the evening before rather than turning up at 5 AM hoping for a seat.
For it: an elephant goes into tall grass where jeeps cannot, often closer to rhinos. Against it: riding captive elephants is a welfare concern for many travellers, and the official page warns that accidents, though rare, happen. My lean is that two jeep safaris give most first-timers all the rhinos they hoped for.
How Do You Book a Kaziranga Safari Online?
Quick answer: book on kazirangasafari.in, which describes itself as “the only website for online safari ticket booking.” It is linked from the Assam government’s Sewa Setu services portal. Pick your range and slot, pay online, and carry the ID you booked with. Book a few days ahead for December, January and long weekends.
Search “Kaziranga safari booking” and you will find a dozen official-looking sites with higher prices. My rule is the same as for Jim Corbett: book the ticket yourself on the government portal, then pay a local operator separately for extras like a pickup.
- Official portal: kazirangasafari.in (Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, Assam Forest Department)
- Booking helpline: +91 7099074675, kazirangabooking@gmail.com
- Park office: Kaziranga National Park, NH-37, P.O. Bokakhat, Golaghat, Assam 785612, phone 03776 268007
- Heads-up: the portal can be unreachable from some networks, including outside India. Try mobile data, or ask your hotel to book on it.
Do You Need a Permit for Assam or Kaziranga?
Quick answer: no. Assam has no Inner Line Permit, so Indians need only a valid photo ID, and foreigners need no Protected Area Permit for Assam. The Kaziranga park ticket is the only paperwork. Permits come into play only if you continue to Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur or restricted parts of Sikkim.
The rules change at the border, though. Going north from Tezpur to Tawang means an Arunachal Tourist eILP, which costs Rs 300 for up to 3 days or Rs 500 for 4 to 14 days. The full process is in my Tawang and Arunachal guide. For North Sikkim, read the Sikkim permits guide first.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Kaziranga?
Quick answer: November to April, which is the window the official portal calls ideal. Choose February to April for the best visibility, after the tall grass dries out or is burnt in patches. Choose November to January for cool weather and misty mornings. Avoid May to September: the park closes for the monsoon, and floods peak in July and August.
| Month | Park status | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| October | Opens in phases (3 Oct in 2026) | Tall wet grass, fewer ranges and slots, some tracks still repaired after floods. Cheapest hotels |
| November to January | Open | Cool, pleasant days, foggy mornings, migratory birds arrive. Peak crowds over Christmas and New Year |
| February to April | Open | Grass shorter and drier, so rhinos and deer are easier to spot. Warmer afternoons |
| May to September | Closed for the monsoon | Monsoon from June to September, floods peak in July and August, animals move to higher ground |
Himalayan regulars, flip your calendar: Kaziranga’s best months are exactly when Ladakh and Spiti are snowed in. For the December to January rush, book your room and safari slot before flights.
How to Reach Kaziranga from Guwahati, Jorhat and Tezpur
Quick answer: most people fly or take a train to Guwahati, then drive 210 to 250 km east on NH-37 to Kohora in 4 to 5 hours. Jorhat (105 km) and Tezpur (90 km) airports are about 2 hours away, which helps if you can get a flight there. There is no railway station at Kohora.
These distances are from the Assam Environment and Forest Department’s “Reach Kaziranga National Park” page, last updated 7 September 2026. All of them are measured to Kohora:
| From | To Kohora | Time by road |
|---|---|---|
| Guwahati railway station | 210 km | About 4 hrs |
| Guwahati airport (LGBI) | 250 km | About 5 hrs |
| Jorhat airport | 105 km | About 2 hrs |
| Tezpur | 90 km | About 2 hrs |
| Golaghat | About 50 km | Verify locally |
| Bokakhat (park HQ) | About 20 km | Under 30 min |
- By bus: NH-37 skirts the park’s southern boundary, and buses bound for Jorhat, Golaghat or upper Assam pass Kohora and Bokakhat. I could not verify current ASTC fares, so check at the Guwahati ISBT counter.
- By taxi: easiest for a group of four. Agree the fare and return date in advance.
- By air or rail: Guwahati has the most flights and trains. Jorhat and Tezpur halve the drive, and Tezpur suits a Tawang onward trip.
Keep in mind that NH-37 cuts through animal corridors between the park and the Karbi Anglong hills. Drive slowly, do not stop to photograph animals on the highway, and avoid driving this stretch at night if you can.
Where to Stay Near Kaziranga
Quick answer: stay in or near Kohora, since it puts you minutes from the Central Range gate and 12 km from Bagori. Budget homestays cost roughly Rs 1,000 to Rs 3,000 a night, mid-range resorts roughly Rs 3,000 to Rs 6,000, and upper-end lodges from about Rs 6,000. Forest rest houses cost Rs 1,200 to Rs 2,400 a room, subject to vacancy.
The private ranges come from 2026 booking listings and are approximate. The forest department figures are firmer. According to the official accommodation page, the park runs the Heritage IB and Forest Guest House at Kohora, the Forest IB at Bagori, Rhino Land Park at Ghorakati and a transit camp at Bagori. These are meant for forest officers and go to tourists only if vacant. For “others”, meaning you and me, the rent is Rs 1,200 for a general room, Rs 1,600 for VIP and Rs 2,400 for VVIP. The Kohora dormitory is Rs 100 per bed. Call the park office before counting on either.
How Much Does a Kaziranga Trip Cost? (2 Nights, Per Person)
Quick answer: for 2 nights in Kohora with 2 to 3 safaris, plan on Rs 2,800 to Rs 5,300 per person on a budget, Rs 5,700 to Rs 9,450 mid-range, and Rs 11,950 to Rs 16,450 in comfort. These figures assume 2 people sharing a room and exclude food and the Guwahati transfer.
| Item (per person, 2 sharing) | Budget | Mid-range | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stay, 2 nights (approx.) | Rs 1,000 to 3,000 | Rs 3,000 to 6,000 | Rs 6,000 to 9,000 |
| Jeep safaris (official fees) | 2 safaris, jeep of 4: Rs 1,600 to 2,100 | 3 safaris, jeep of 4: Rs 2,400 to 3,150 | 3 safaris, private jeep for 2: Rs 4,350 to 5,850 |
| Still camera fee | Rs 200 | Rs 300 | Rs 300 |
| Elephant safari (seat + entry) | Skipped | Skipped | Rs 1,300 |
| Total, 2 nights | Rs 2,800 to 5,300 | Rs 5,700 to 9,450 | Rs 11,950 to 16,450 |
I left food and the Guwahati transfer out on purpose: I could not verify current meal or taxi prices, and a guessed number in a budget table is worse than none. Many Kohora resorts include breakfast, so ask when you book.
A Simple 3-Day Kaziranga Plan from Guwahati
- Day 1, Guwahati to Kohora (210 to 250 km): leave by 7 AM. In case you booked Burapahar, take its 1:30 PM slot on the way in. Confirm next morning’s tickets in the evening.
- Day 2, two ranges: Central Range (Kohora) at 7:30 AM, then the Western Range (Bagori) at 1:30 PM.
- Day 3, a third safari and the drive out: Eastern Range (Agaratoli) for birds, then drive back to Guwahati, or on to Jorhat or Tezpur.
For Kaziranga plus a hill state, two combinations work well. Kaziranga to Tawang: Kohora to Tezpur is 90 km, and Tezpur to Tawang is about 330 km over two days with a night at Dirang. Kaziranga to Meghalaya: return to Guwahati, then it is about 100 km to Shillong. See my 5-day Meghalaya circuit for that leg.
Kaziranga Safari Rules and Safety Tips
Quick answer: no private vehicles are allowed inside the park, and every jeep convoy goes with an armed escort. Get down only at the marked landing points, never walk the tracks unescorted, and stay out of the park after 3 PM. Kaziranga’s rhinos, wild buffalo and elephants can charge a vehicle that gets too close.
- Stay in the jeep. Landing is allowed only at one or two marked points per circuit, and the official page warns “you get down at your own risk.”
- Hire only registered Gypsies from the Jeep Safari Associations at Kohora and Bagori. The official page notes these are run by youth from villages on the park’s fringe, so your money stays local.
- Bring binoculars, as the park itself advises. Birds, deer and buffalo are often far away.
- Keep quiet, and do not ask the driver to chase animals. A rhino with a calf is not a photo opportunity worth a charge.
- Dress for a cold open jeep on winter mornings, with layers and a scarf for dust. My packing checklist covers the basics.
- Emergency: dial 112 for police, ambulance or fire. The park office is on 03776 268007.
Related Reading on DwD
- Tawang and Arunachal Pradesh guide: eILP fees, Sela Pass and the best route
- Meghalaya 5-day circuit: Shillong, Cherrapunji and Dawki
- Living root bridges trek to Nongriat
- Sikkim budget and route planner, 7 and 10 days
- Jim Corbett safari guide, for comparison with Kaziranga
- Snow leopard safari in Ladakh, another winter wildlife trip
- Bhutan’s national parks, across the border from Assam
- Honeymoon ideas in the Himalayas and the North East
Frequently Asked Questions About Kaziranga
Is Kaziranga National Park open in October 2026?
Yes. The park reopened for the 2026-27 season on 3 October 2026 at the Central Kohora Range, with jeep safaris starting the same day. Elephant safaris were expected to follow within about 20 days. Check the official portal for which ranges are running before an October trip.
What is the Kaziranga jeep safari price for Indians?
Jeep hire is Rs 2,200 to Rs 3,200 per vehicle depending on range. On top of that come a Rs 300 road toll, a Rs 100 welfare fee per jeep, and Rs 150 per person in entry and seat fees. A jeep of four Indians pays Rs 3,200 to Rs 4,200 in total, or Rs 800 to Rs 1,050 each.
Which is the best zone in Kaziranga for rhino sightings?
The Central (Kohora) and Western (Bagori) ranges are the usual first choices. They are 12 km apart, close to the hotels, and have open grassland where rhinos are commonly seen. Bagori is widely reported to have the highest rhino density. No range guarantees a sighting.
Do I need a permit to visit Kaziranga or Assam?
No. Assam has no Inner Line Permit for Indians and no Protected Area Permit for foreigners. Your Kaziranga safari ticket and a photo ID are enough. You need an Arunachal eILP only if you continue to Tawang.
What are the Kaziranga safari timings?
Jeep safari entry runs from 7:30 AM to 10 AM and from 1:30 PM to 3 PM, and each circuit takes 1.5 to 2.5 hours. Elephant safaris run between 5:30 AM and 7:30 AM and last about an hour.
How far is Kaziranga from Guwahati?
Kohora, the main base, is 210 km from Guwahati railway station (about 4 hours) and 250 km from Guwahati airport (about 5 hours), according to the Assam forest department. The route is NH-37.
How many days are enough for Kaziranga?
Two nights in Kohora is the sweet spot. That gives you three safaris across two or three ranges without rushing, plus the drive in and out from Guwahati. Add a night if you also want an elephant safari or the Hemtap Hill trek.
How do I book a Kaziranga safari online?
Use kazirangasafari.in, the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve portal, which is linked from Assam’s Sewa Setu portal. The booking helpline is +91 7099074675. Avoid lookalike sites that quote higher “per jeep” prices without a breakdown.
Final Thoughts: Is Kaziranga Worth the Trip from Guwahati?
Yes, and it is one of the easiest big wildlife trips in India to plan: no permit, modest published fees, and 4 to 5 hours from Guwahati to a UNESCO World Heritage park holding more than 2,600 rhinos (inscribed in 1985, as per the UNESCO listing). Book on the official portal, stay in Kohora, do the Central and Western ranges in your first 24 hours, and go between November and April.
Since this guide is based on research, not my own safari yet, your updates matter. If you have been to Kaziranga this season, please share which range had the most rhinos and what your jeep cost in the comments, so the DwD community gets current numbers. Feel free to share this guide with anyone planning a North East winter trip.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments section below 🙂
