On the winter morning of December 7, 2024, when it was cold and the sun was just about to rise, I wore my Jacket, took my camera, and started walking towards my car. I embarked on my Jhirna Zone safari fully excited and in the hope of having some new wildlife adventures. It was just 5:30 in the morning, and it was completely dark everywhere. But I was hopeful for my upcoming safari trip and making some new memories. As I continued further with my Jhirna Safari Guide, the sun started rising, and it was starting to get bright slowly but steadily.
Since it was so cold in the morning, I decided to go to the entrance gate in my car and then decided to take the safari jeep from there. After driving for a while amidst the terrain of the forests, I reached the main entrance gate of the Dhela Zone, where we got our permits checked and identity verifications done. Then we started on our journey ahead.
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Always Leave Very Early in the Morning for the Jhirna Zone Safari
I was excited for the upcoming adventure and started proceeding ahead with my safari guide. It’s always recommended to reach the jungles early in the morning so that you can get to know more about the ecosystem and animal movement. It will also help you in identifying the tiger pug marks easily, and that will enable you to plan the trip better for maximum wild animal sightings, especially tigers.
I still remember the first time I saw a Male Tiger in the Jhirna Zone. Those memories were also coming back in my mind as I began my trip and hoping that this time too I end up spotting one. What an amazing sight that would be!
Crossing the Dhela Zone to Reach Jhirna Zone
While travelling to Jhirna Zone, you have to cross the Dhela Zone. As we began our trip, we saw a peaceful environment everywhere. The sun was rising from one side, and slowly it was becoming bright.
The mountains on one side of the road were such an amazing sight to look at, while on the other side, there were dense grasslands everywhere. The natural landscape was truly beautiful, and the overall chilly winter morning made me more excited for the upcoming adventures.
Continuing with Our Jhirna Zone Safari
As we were navigating the roads of the Dhela Zone, we reached a point where we saw many jeeps parked on the side of the road. We heard an alarm call of an animal nearby and realised that we should stop too. After observing for quite a while, we decided to move forward to a better area.
Out of nowhere, we spotted many Sambar Deer at a far-off distance on the left side of the road. They were at a distance from us, and we stopped our jeep to get a clear and better look. We then realized and were sure that maybe there is a tiger nearby.
The sambar deer were alert as they could sense that some wild animal might be around. They were constantly vigilant and looking all around them to stay safe. After spotting them for a while with my binoculars, we decided to move ahead so that we could reach the Jhirna Zone Entry Gate on time.
Moving further ahead, we saw a peacock and some more deer at a distance, and we stopped there for a while to enjoy the amazing and beautiful sights. Many people think that it’s easy to spot these animals and birds, but as a Wildlife Enthusiast, I know how difficult it is. You need the perfect combination of luck and timing.
We finally left, and the sun had come up fully at this point. We could see the rays scattering everywhere, the birds chirping all around, and the winter chill hitting our faces constantly.
Finally, We Arrived at the Jhirna Zone Entry Gate
After driving a few miles into the Jungle and off-road areas, we reached the main entry point of the Jhirna Zone and got our permits and IDs checked. We then started moving ahead with our safari journey.
There’s one interesting fact about the Jhirna Zone situated in Jim Corbett National Park. It’s open throughout the year for tourists and wildlife enthusiasts. While other zones like Dhikala and Bijrani are often closed during seasons like monsoon, the Jhirna zone offers a great opportunity for wildlife lovers to visit this place and make amazing memories in the wild jungles.
Entering the Core Jungle Area of the Jhirna Zone
After crossing the Jhirna Zone Entry Gate and driving for a while, we entered the internal jungle region. We decided to halt there for a while and enjoy the serenity of the jungle area. A small river tributary was passing in front of the road where we halted.
Suddenly, my attention caught hold of a Kingfisher bird who had a fish stuck to its beak and was trying to kill it.
The bird was really beautiful to look at, and we captured numerous photos and videos while standing there. Lots of things keep happening in these jungles, so you must always stay proactive in spotting these unique wildlife moments.
We suddenly heard an alarm call at a far-off distance. So, we started looking around in the hope of spotting a tiger. But to our luck, nothing. We then decided to proceed ahead.
Excitement Grew When Our Jhirna Safari Guide Spotted Tiger Pug Marks
After driving for a while, our guide brought us to a point where we spotted tiger pug marks on the road. This sparked excitement amongst all of us, and we stopped there to examine it carefully.
It’s always a hide-and-seek game where you are constantly seeking the tiger, and he is always ahead of you. But that’s what makes the safari trips interesting and full of curiosity and suspense.
We then came across elephant foot marks, and that seemed like recent ones, maybe yesterday, those giant creatures were here in the evening or in the afternoon hours. After proceeding further, we came into one of the densest jungle regions.
We continued with our Jhirna Zone Safari and, after a while, reached an open land area which is popular for spotting a female tigress. We halted there for a while and could hear the chirping of the birds everywhere. With the sun coming further up in the sky, it was getting bright and sunny.
The beautiful mountains in sight amplified the overall view of the scenery in front of us, and we just stayed there in silence to enjoy the calmness of nature. The Jhirna Zone Jungle is literally quite large, and since morning, we haven’t been able to complete one full round of this area. But the constantly changing views every few minutes are truly what these wildlife adventures are all about.
After travelling for further few kilometers, we again came across more tiger pug marks. This confirmed to us the presence of the tigress, but we were unable to catch up with her since she was already miles ahead of us.
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Reaching a Unique Point That Crosses Between Two National Parks
After driving for a few more miles, we reached a point where on one side you could see the Jim Corbett National Park, and on the other side was UP’s Amangarh Tiger Reserve that falls under the Bijnaur district. As we continued, we saw another jeep coming towards us from the other side, and decided to get some updates from them.
They too weren’t able to spot a tiger, but they said the jeep in front of them spotted one. This is the unique hide-and-seek game of the jungle that one has to play to catch a glimpse of these majestic animals.
As we drove further, we came to a point where we saw many more jeeps standing and we too decided to take a pause. To my amazement, there was so much silence and serenity all around that it made the entire landscape immensely peaceful.
No chaos of city life, just pure silence of nature and its elements. We could hear a few birds chirping around too, and it was literally music to the ears.
We then decided to go further deep into the jungle areas usually where most of the people do not come for the safari trips. It’s a rather less explored region of the Jhirna zone. Filled with dense forest and unpredictable terrain all around, it’s the territory of many tigers and leopards.
But Driving a Few More Miles Ahead, We Heard Strong Alarm Calls.
It was the barking deer giving strong alarm calls and it was very loud and clear. There was pin drop silence everywhere around and only the alarm calls of the barking deer were prominent. Suddenly, we heard fast chirping of many birds in the vicinity, which made us 100% sure that a tiger is around the region, but somewhere hidden in the deep forests.
After staying there for a good couple of minutes, we decided to move ahead in our Jhirna Zone Safari towards the core area of the Chaar Number Tigress. The tigress is called by that name because she has the number 4 mark on her body. We then continued with our safari further in the hope of spotting the tigress, and the anticipation was growing faster than ever.
Spotted Cheetal and Sambar Deer with My Binoculars
I took out my Binoculars and started to look out for some animals around that region, as in front of me was an open land area filled with tall grass and trees behind. I then spotted Cheetal and Sambar Deer together, enjoying the warm sunlight in that open land area. They are usually not spotted together, but it was a rare sight that I encountered that day!
The only reason they are found together is to stay safe from any unwanted threats. Cheetals are usually found in groups and stay together close to each other. On the other hand, the smelling sense of the Sambar deer is immensely strong and paired with the strong vision of the Cheetal; it creates a very strong alarm system that works in their favour to keep them safe from bigger wild animals.
We also Saw Vultures, Langoor, and Beautiful Bulbuls
After driving for a while, we came across another jeep and the Jhirna Safari Guide told us that a short while ago they heard strong alarm calls which indicated the presence of a tiger nearby. We started looking everywhere and then suddenly heard more alarm calls. I took out my camera and zoomed in on a distance where a water tributary was flowing by and saw a group of cheetal drinking water.
I also spotted two vultures sitting at a distance on the hill surface near to where the Cheetals were drinking water. The two vultures were sitting peacefully and the view was amazing to look at. It’s a rare sighting spotting these birds in such jungles.
Similarly, on the other side of the jungle area, I spotted a group of langoor sitting on the branches of a tree. There were many of them and all of them were enjoying the morning sunlight.
After spotting these animals for a while, it was time to proceed with our safari trip. The alarm calls also stopped after some time.
After navigating for a while, we came across a beautiful Red Whiskered Bulbul sitting on a small plant at a distance. I pulled out my camera to get a good photo and video of that shot and recorded the scene for a while. The bulbul was extremely colorful and vibrant to look at, and its chirping was music to the ears.
On the other side, as I moved my camera, I saw a Red Vented Bulbul sitting on the branch of another tree. This is one of the most common bulbul species found in India.
Then It Was Time To Head Back
As our Jhirna Zone Safari was drawing to an end, we weren’t having any luck spotting the tiger and decided to head back to our Jhirna Forest Rest House. While returning, we came across a group of elephants who were grazing at a distance in the open field, which was filled with grassland.
Although they look very calm from the outside, they are one of the most dangerous and ferocious animals in the wild jungles due to their size and weight. They get triggered when any safari vehicle comes too close to them or they sense any danger from other animals. Therefore, it is very important to protect yourself from any unwanted situation, especially when you spot wild elephants in these jungles.
We then continued with our remaining journey back to our accommodation as we were running short on time. In the entire trip, we were unable to spot a tiger, and I was hoping what if during this last stretch of the safari, a tiger suddenly comes to sight! It would be an amazing experience.
Many times it has happened with me that I ended up spotting a tiger towards the end of the safari. So, I was hoping for the same this time too.
Entering Back into the Dhela Zone of Jim Corbett National Park
After driving for a while, we entered the Dhela Zone and I was still hopeful that maybe a tiger could appear from somewhere. Suddenly, I saw a Cheetal who was alert and was moving towards the forest area. It was a male deer, and they prefer to stay alone and avoid groups.
We then entered the Main road of the Dhela Zone, which leads to the Dhela Zone Entry gate. I then spotted a Jackal (Siyaal) running in the direction of our jeep. These are intelligent, cunning and smart creatures who always stay alert in the jungle ecosystem.
They are known for running very fast and this allows them to protect themselves and stay safe in case any other and bigger wild animal charges towards them. Although they are small, but quite dangerous and can be found everywhere in Indian Jungles.
As per our Jhirna Safari Guide, many recent incidents were reported of Jackal attacks on locals and many of them abduct small children too. So, it’s highly important to stay safe from these small yet dangerous creatures of the wild and protect yourself by maintaining a safe distance all the time. They usually stay alone, avoid groups, and prefer to feed upon dead meat, insects, eggs, and similar things.
After spotting the Jackal for a while, it was finally time for me to head back towards the Main gate of the Dhela Zone. This and this bring us to the end of our jungle adventure trip in the Jhirna Zone. It was tough luck spotting a tiger but maybe next time we will be able to find one.
This is the beauty of nature that it takes luck and timing to spot your favourite animal in the dense wild jungles.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Jhirna vs Dhela Zone: Which one is better for a Jungle Safari?
Both the Jhirna and Dhela Zones are good for jungle safaris. Both of them are open throughout the year. This makes it easy for wildlife enthusiasts to plan their wildlife adventure trips. You can also spot a wide range of wildlife biodiversity. This includes a broad range of unique birds and wild animals. However, Jhirna Zone and Dhela Zone differ from each other in demography. Jhirna Zone comes under the core area of Jim Corbett National Park. It has dense jungles, a significantly large off-road area with lots of uphill and downhill. To go there,you have to pass through the Dhela Zone. On the other hand, Dhela is a buffer zone. It majorly has grasslands and flat surface spread across vast areas.
What to do when an alarm call is heard in Jhirna or Dhela Zone?
Whenever you hear an alarm call either in the Jhirna or Dhela Zone, always stop on the roadside. Do not make any noise, and start looking with your binoculars for any wild animal in the vicinity. It’s possible that wild animals such as a tiger or a leopard might be nearby. They might hide in the dense jungles. Also, stay proactive, and always follow the guidelines prescribed by your safari guide.
What makes the Core Jungle Area of the Jhirna Zone Special?
- The Serene and Vibrant environment
- Presence of various water crossings
- Diverse set of birds and wild animals,
- Less crowdedness
- great place for wildlife photography, videography and spotting.
All of these things make this area one of the best places to visit in the Jhirna Zone..
How Can I do my Jhirna Zone Safari Booking?
You can get your bookings done with the Jungle Revives team. We will help you prepare a personalized itinerary in line with your preferences. You can connect with us, and we will get in touch with you. Plan one of the best wildlife trips in the upcoming days with us.
What are the gear essentials to carry during winter wildlife safari in Jhirna Zone?
You gear essentials should include multiple warm jackets, camera and zoom lenses/good quality smartphone with camera/go pro, binoculars, sturdy boots/shoes, lots of water bottles, woollen caps, sunglasses, power banks, a small first aid kit, and good quality backpacks to carry all these essential items.
