Periyar jungle safari in a jeep

The jungle safari in a 4-wheel jeep is the most common way of scouring the Periyar forest. This also helps in economising time for sighting opportunity. It is recommended to sign up for the early morning safari at 5:30 am as the jungle is getting ready to wake up; the ambience is serene and the tourist bustle is at a minimum. The forest is much cooler and peaceful at this point of time. This overland safari is great to experience the troughs and peaks of the low hilled valley, and see wildlife at close quarters. The jeep is accompanied by a forest guard and a driver who can tell you all about the wildlife around, species of plants and trivia on bio-diversity. The safari also follows the community engagement programme, which hires guides and drivers from the local Thekkady community. Elephants, monkeys, lion tailed macaque and Nilgiri Tahr are some of the animals that one is likely to spot during the jeep safari. Though guides are likely to hold your interest by stories of tigers and leopards, the hit rate of spotting one is realistically quite poor. The elephant and avian population makes up for not spotting tigers.

Opening hours and ticket prices: Ambadi Junction, Thekkady; nature walk/ green walk Rs 800 for 4 persons, 7 am, 10 am, 2 pm, 2.5-3 hours; jungle scout Rs 1500 for 2, 7 pm, 10 pm; bamboo rafting Rs 3000 for 2, 8 am-5 pm; border hiking Rs 4000 for 4, 8 am-5 pm; tiger trail Rs 6000 for 1, overnight stay; boating Rs 150 for 1, cameras Rs 25; entry adults/children/foreigners/foreigners children 25/15/310/110