Kaziranga Safari 2026-27: Opening Dates, Zones, Timings and Prices

Kaziranga National Park reopened for the 2026-27 season on 3 October 2026. Jeep safaris are running in the Central (Kohora) and Western (Bagori) ranges, with entry from 7:30 to 10:00 am and 1:30 to 3:00 pm. Elephant safaris are expected to start on 1 November, and safari rates are the same as last season.

This guide covers what is open right now, how the four safari ranges differ, timings, what a safari costs, how to book and the best months to go. Dates and rates here were checked on 2 October 2026.

Is Kaziranga open now?

Yes. The park opened to visitors for jeep safaris on 3 October 2026, according to the reopening notice from the Divisional Forest Officer. Kaziranga closes every year for the monsoon, when the Brahmaputra floods most of the park, and reopens range by range as the tracks dry out.

Early October has two limits you should know about. Some tracks inside the open ranges can still be closed while repairs finish, so the safari circuit may be shorter than in winter. The grass is also at its tallest, which makes animals harder to see. If you can wait until mid-November, you get all four ranges, elephant safaris and cooler weather.

Kaziranga safari zones: which range to choose

Kaziranga has four safari ranges for jeep tours, each with its own gate on the highway. You book a safari for one range at a time, and most visitors do two: one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

Central range, Kohora

This is the range to pick if you only have time for one safari. The track runs past wetlands and open grassland, and the watchtowers give long views across the park. Kohora is also where most hotels, restaurants and the main booking counters are.

Western range, Bagori

Bagori is the range for rhinos. The grass is shorter and the animals often graze close to the track, so this is where most people get their best photographs. It works well in the afternoon, when herds of elephants come down to the water.

Eastern range, Agaratoli

Agaratoli is the birding range. From November, its wetlands fill with migratory ducks, geese and pelicans. You will still see rhinos and elephants, but fewer vehicles, which suits anyone who wants a slower safari.

Burapahar range, Ghorakati

Burapahar is hillier and more forested than the rest of the park. It is the place to look for hoolock gibbons, India's only ape, and it sees the fewest visitors. It usually opens last, so check before you plan around it.

Kaziranga jeep safari timings

Jeep safaris run in two sessions a day. For the 2026-27 season, the entry windows in the reopening notice are:

• Morning: entry from 7:30 am to 10:00 am.
• Afternoon: entry from 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm.

A safari lasts about two to three hours and covers roughly 20 to 25 km. Arrive at the gate before the window opens, because permits are checked against your ID and the queue builds up in peak season. The afternoon safari usually gives better light and more animals at the water.

Kaziranga safari prices for 2026-27

Safari rates for 2026-27 are the same as last season. A proposed increase was put on hold in September 2026, when the Assam chief minister said the old rates would stay for this season.

You pay per jeep, not per seat, and a jeep takes up to six visitors. The total is made up of the vehicle hire, park entry fees for each person, and small charges such as the road toll. The figures below are typical published 2026-27 totals for a jeep of six Indian visitors. Some operators quote up to about Rs 5,500, so treat these as a guide.

Foreign visitors pay a higher park entry fee, so the same jeep costs more. Cameras may carry a separate fee. Confirm the current figures at the range office or with your hotel before you pay.

Elephant safari in Kaziranga

Elephant safaris are expected to begin on 1 November 2026. They run at dawn, last about an hour and take you into tall grass where jeeps cannot go, which is why they give the closest rhino sightings in the park.

• Where: from the Central range at Kohora and the Western range at Bagori.
• When: early morning slots only, starting around sunrise.
• Seats: limited each day, and they sell out first. Book as soon as your dates are fixed.
• Season: the elephant safari season is shorter than the jeep season and usually ends before the park closes.

How to book a Kaziranga safari

You have three ways to book:

1. At the range counter. Each range has a booking counter near its gate. This works outside peak season, but you may not get the slot you want.
2. Through your hotel. Most lodges around Kohora arrange jeeps and permits for guests. This is the easiest option for one or two safaris.
3. Through a tour operator. A package covers the transfer from Guwahati, the stay and the safaris, with slots reserved in advance.

Every visitor needs an original government photo ID at the gate. The park drew about 468,000 visitors last season, so slots fill quickly. From mid-November to February, book at least two to four weeks ahead, and earlier for Christmas and New Year week.

Best time to visit Kaziranga

The best time to visit Kaziranga is from November to April. The park is open from October to May, but conditions change a lot through the season.

How to reach Kaziranga

Kaziranga lies along the highway between Guwahati and Jorhat in Assam. Kohora, the main base, is about 200 km from Guwahati, which takes 4 to 5 hours by road.

• By air: Guwahati has the most flights. Jorhat airport is closer, at about 100 km or 2 hours, but has fewer connections.
• By train: Furkating Junction is the nearest major station, about 75 km away. Most travellers find it easier to take a train to Guwahati and drive.
• By road: taxis and buses run from Guwahati, Jorhat and Tezpur. The highway passes all four range gates.

Coming from Meghalaya? Our Kaziranga to Shillong distance guide covers that drive.

Proposed rule changes to watch

Several changes were proposed for Kaziranga in 2026 and then put on hold. None of them applies as of early October, but they could return, so check for news before you travel.

• Higher safari rates: deferred. This season uses last season's rates.
• Daily limits on the number of vehicles: deferred for more discussion with local operators.
• Limits on mobile phone use inside the park and a weekly closed day: reported by local operators as still under discussion, with no official order yet.

Safari tips

• Wear dull colours such as olive, brown or grey. Avoid white and bright red.
• Carry a warm layer for morning safaris from December to February. The open jeep is cold at 7:30 am.
• Bring binoculars. Tigers and many birds are seen at a distance.
• Stay seated and quiet near animals. Rhinos and wild elephants do charge vehicles.
• Do not ask your driver to leave the track or get closer. It is against park rules.
• Carry water, and take all litter back out with you.

How many days do you need?

Two nights is the right length for most visitors. That gives you two or three safaris across different ranges without rushing.

1. Day 1: drive from Guwahati and reach Kohora by early afternoon. Take the afternoon jeep safari in the Western range.
2. Day 2: elephant safari at dawn from November, or a morning jeep safari in the Central range. Afternoon safari in the Eastern range for birds.
3. Day 3: visit a tea estate or the orchid park near Kohora, then drive back to Guwahati.

For more ideas outside the park, see our things to do in Kaziranga.

Plan Kaziranga with Breeziah

Our Kaziranga Wildlife Weekend is a 3-day trip from Guwahati, from Rs 10,999 per person. If you want waterfalls and root bridges as well, the Meghalaya with Kaziranga Wildlife Tour covers both in 7 days, from Rs 17,999 per person.