My Jungle Junction

Nawegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve, Gondia & Bhandara, Maharashtra

Lakes, hills and mixed forest in eastern Vidarbha. Nawegaon-Nagzira combines Navegaon, Nagzira and Koka into a quiet, birdy tiger reserve within reach of Nagpur.

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15+ years of travel experience
Hosted by Amit (MJJ)

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Plan Your Safari

Talk to a wildlife specialist.

By submitting, you agree to be contacted by My Jungle Junction.

By submitting, you agree to our Cancellation & Refund Policy and Privacy Policy.

My Jungle Junction's Guide to Nawegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve

The Nawegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve Safari Experience

The reserve was notified on 12 December 2013, as the 44th tiger reserve in India and the fifth in Maharashtra. It is formed by Navegaon National Park, Navegaon Wildlife Sanctuary, Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary, New Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary and Koka Wildlife Sanctuary. The notified core is about 656 sq km, and the buffer notified in 2016 brings the total to roughly 1,895 sq km.

Visitors normally enter through the Nagzira, Navegaon and Koka areas, and we suggest two nights, allowing for two or three drives and a lake visit.

Nawegaon-Nagzira is important as a link between tiger populations in central India, especially between Pench, Kanha and Tadoba.

The Nagzira hills and the Navegaon Bandh lake have long shaped how people and wildlife share this region of eastern Vidarbha.

656

sq. km reserve

1 + 1

Core + Buffer zones

2013

Declared National Park

Nawegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve Safari Packages

My Jungle Junction's Bestselling Nawegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve Safari Packages

At My Jungle Junction, Amit and the team build Nawegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve itineraries around how the park actually works: which gate suits your dates, how many safaris give a fair chance of good sightings, and where to sleep so early starts stay painless. We book permits and vehicles well ahead, keep groups small, and can pair Nawegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve with other reserves on the same trip. Tell us your dates and pace and we will shape a plan rather than hand you a fixed list.

How Many Safaris Should You Do in Nawegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve?

Plan Your Safaris at Nawegaon-Nagzira

Tiger density here is lower than at headline parks, so we plan Nawegaon-Nagzira as a varied wildlife trip. A mix of forest drives, lakeside time and birdwatching works better than racing between tracks. Two to three safaris are enough for most guests, with more outings suited to photographers and naturalists.

Two safaris suit a short break from Nagpur, and give you a taste of the forest and wildlife.

Three safaris across two nights is what we usually suggest. It lets you cover different sectors and lights, which matters more than the count of drives in a quiet park.

Four to six safaris suit birders, photographers and naturalists who enjoy slow, patient watching, and can spread across Nagzira, Navegaon and Koka.

This park suits people who want solitude and variety more than guaranteed tiger action. For a better tiger chance, combine it with Tadoba or Pench.

Best Safari Zones

Safari Zones in Nawegaon-Nagzira

Nawegaon-Nagzira is managed as five connected protected areas rather than numbered zones. Navegaon National Park and Navegaon Wildlife Sanctuary surround the large Navegaon Bandh lake. Nagzira and New Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuaries lie to the south, with hilly forest and small waterholes. Koka Wildlife Sanctuary is the remote north-eastern part of the reserve. Tourism gates and safari routes change over time and are managed by the forest department, so we confirm which entries are open for your dates and book the sectors that give the best chance of wildlife.

Navegaon (National Park)

Forest and the Navegaon Bandh lake, a popular area for birds and general wildlife viewing.

Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary

Hilly forest with waterholes and small lakes, historically known for wildlife viewing.

New Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary

An extension of the Nagzira forest, forming part of the core of the tiger reserve.

Koka Wildlife Sanctuary

The remote north-eastern part of the reserve, with quieter forest and fewer visitors.

Buffer zone

Forest and village fringe notified in 2016, used for additional wildlife viewing and nature stays.

How to Reach & When to Visit

How to Reach & Best Time to Visit Nawegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve

✈️

By Air

Nagpur's Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport is the nearest major airport. Allow around three hours by road, depending on your entry gate.

🚆

By Train

Gondia Junction and Bhandara Road are the closest stations on the Mumbai-Howrah line. Nagpur Junction also works well, with a longer road transfer.

🚗

By Road

The reserve is reached by road from Nagpur via the Nagpur-Bhandara-Gondia corridor. The exact route depends on whether you are heading to Nagzira, Navegaon or Koka.

Best Time to Visit Nawegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve

October to June is the main visiting window, with winter best for birds and summer best for animals at water.

🍂
Winter
Oct - Feb

Pleasant weather and migratory birds on the lakes make this the most comfortable time for general wildlife and birding.

☀️
Summer
Mar - Jun

Hot, but animals concentrate around remaining water, giving you better chances of tigers, leopards and gaur.

🌧️
Monsoon
Jul - Sep

The reserve is generally closed to tourists during the monsoon. Confirm reopening dates with us before you plan.

MJJ Insight : Safari entry and sector bookings are handled by the Maharashtra Forest Department. Tell us your dates early and we will confirm which sectors are open and book the best option.

The Wildlife of Nawegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve

Beyond the Tiger: Nawegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve's Wildlife

Tiger and leopard are the main predators, with sloth bear, dhole (wild dog), jackal and hyena also recorded. Herbivores include gaur, sambar, chital, nilgai, barking deer and wild boar. Nawegaon-Nagzira is a good birding destination, with Navegaon Bandh attracting winter ducks, storks, herons and cormorants, while the forest holds hornbills, orioles, paradise flycatchers and raptors. Reptiles include Indian rock python, cobra and monitor lizard. The reserve is also known for its smaller wildlife and butterflies in the post-monsoon months.

Nawegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve, Gondia & Bhandara, Maharashtra - wildlife sighting
Nawegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve, Gondia & Bhandara, Maharashtra - wildlife sighting
Nawegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve, Gondia & Bhandara, Maharashtra - wildlife sighting
Nawegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve, Gondia & Bhandara, Maharashtra - wildlife sighting

Navegaon Bandh & the Nagzira Hills

A conservation corridor with lake and forest views

Nawegaon-Nagzira is known less for celebrity tigers and more for its landscape: the large Navegaon Bandh lake, the Nagzira hills and wildlife corridors that link central Indian reserves. Its tiger population is modest, but it plays a major role in connecting populations. Ask your naturalist about recent camera-trap news, because tigers are still settling into this young reserve.

Navegaon Bandh Nagzira Koka Gondia Bhandara

The reserve's best-known feature is not a single animal but the connection it offers between neighbouring tiger areas. The forest here lies between Pench, Kanha and Tadoba and helps tigers disperse between them.

The Navegaon Bandh lake is a well-known birdwatching spot, particularly in winter, and the surrounding forest holds gaur, sambar and sloth bear.

Conservation efforts focus on building prey numbers, protecting forest and supporting nearby villages. We recommend asking your guide for the latest news, as the reserve's tiger population is still growing.

As a relatively new reserve, many of its tigers are young or recent arrivals, so there are few long-term celebrities. That is part of its appeal: you are seeing a reserve in the early part of its recovery.

Your Stay in Nawegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve

Your Stay in Nawegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve

Where to Stay in Nawegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve

Accommodation is a mix of Maharashtra Tourism and forest department rest houses, small resorts and homestays around Navegaon Bandh, Nagzira and Gondia district. Facilities are generally simpler than at larger parks, so choose by proximity to the sector you plan to visit. Staying near Navegaon Bandh suits birders and families, while stays close to Nagzira suit forest drives. Larger hotels are available in Gondia and Bhandara, and Nagpur works as a base for a very short trip. We recommend booking early and letting us handle transfers.

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Safari Etiquette

Dos and Don'ts on a Nawegaon-Nagzira safari

✓ Dos

  • ✓ Keep your voice low inside the forest.
  • ✓ Listen to your guide and naturalist.
  • ✓ Respect safari routes and forest regulations.
  • ✓ Carry water, sun protection and suitable clothing.
  • ✓ Keep your camera ready without disturbing wildlife.

✕ Don'ts

  • ✕ Ask the driver to break rules.
  • ✕ Request a driver to block an animal's movement.
  • ✕ Feed wildlife.
  • ✕ Throw anything from the vehicle.

Why Should You Visit Nawegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve

A quiet reserve and a vital link in the central Indian tiger landscape

Nawegaon-Nagzira matters both for visitors and for conservation. For visitors, it offers a calm and uncrowded wildlife experience with lakes, forest and good birding, without the queues of headline parks. For conservation, it sits in a key part of the central Indian tiger landscape, connecting Pench, Kanha and Tadoba, and helps tigers move between populations. Protecting this corridor is essential for long-term tiger survival. If you want a gentle, nature-focused trip with the possibility of leopards, gaur and perhaps a tiger, it is a rewarding choice. It is also a landscape where communities, forest staff and conservation groups work together on habitat and prey recovery, so a visit supports that effort directly.

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FAQs

Frequently asked questions about Nawegaon-Nagzira

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