Welcome to Part 2 of the Bijrani Zone Safari trip 2025, where I stayed 24 hours inside the Forest Rest House and experienced the Bijrani Zone Jungles from up close.
Part 1 covered the journey from Ramnagar to reaching the Bijrani FRH on a Safari Jeep with one of the most experienced drivers/guides by my side. It was an adventurous trip where I spotted numerous deer, elephants, barking deer, and sambar deer.
I have posted a full video of my Part 2 Video on the Jungle Revives YouTube Channel. You can check it out and experience the virtual safari and wildlife exploration experience up close with me.
So let’s straightaway dive into Part 2 experience where I will be embarking on an afternoon safari session in the Bijrani Zone Jungles.
Table of Contents
Getting Ready for the Bijrani Zone Safari & Starting the Trip from FRH
In the conclusion of Part 1, I settled down after reaching the Bijrani Forest Rest House, freshened up, and got ready for the exciting journey in front of me. I took my camera gear, wrapped my face properly so that I could be protected from dust and the bright afternoon heat of the sun, and sat in the jeep, ready to explore the wild and beautiful Bijrani Zone. After a couple of minutes, I embarked on the Safari Journey and left the FRH.
It was all sunny, hot, and very bright all around. I could feel the dryness in the atmosphere. If you are planning to go on an afternoon safari session in the Bijrani Zone, always follow a couple of guidelines, such as:
- Wear light colored clothes.
- Pick colors that easily blend in with the jungle atmosphere.
- Wear shoes that are comfortable and lightweight, yet rugged for off-road terrain.
- Always carry a hat and sunscreen with you.
- Keep an ample number of water bottles in the safari jeep to stay hydrated regularly.
- Don’t forget your camera and binoculars. Keep all the necessary accessories as needed.
If you are looking for a comprehensive checklist where you can get the answers about what to pack for a Jim Corbett Bijrani Zone Jungle Safari, then you must go through the guide that I have linked here.
Coming back to the landscape, as I left the Bijrani FRH, it was green everywhere as hills and trees surrounded the nearby areas. Although it was dry everywhere, the overall ambiance was beautiful to look at.
Naturalist Bhuvan Pandey Accompanying Me on Bijrani Zone Safari
In this afternoon safari, I was accompanied by naturalist Bhuvan Pandey, who is an experienced personnel and knows a lot about the Jim Corbett and its ecosystem. As he was prepping for the trip, he told me that a tiger spotting had been observed in the Ringhorah side of the forest, as per information received from fellow guides and naturalists.
Hearing this, I got excited and was hoping that maybe I too would be able to spot one today over the afternoon Bijrani Zone Safari Trip.
As the Bijrani Safari Jeep started moving forward, I spotted a Woolly-Necked Stork standing near a water hole at a distance. It’s a bird that usually stays alone and hunts for its prey alongside the water.
The water hole was quite big, and it had a shape similar to that of a tiger’s pug mark. It’s just outside the Bijrani FRH, where tigers and many other animals are often spotted drinking water to stay hydrated in this hot and bright weather.
As the jeep driver started moving forward, I could see many mounds across both sides of the road. They are basically mud structures, which are signs of a healthy and thriving forest ecosystem.
The Road in front of me was a bit muddy
This region had received a bit of rainfall in the past couple of days. It made the road a bit challenging to drive because the jeep might get stuck in some heavily mudded spots. Thankfully, we had a proper off-roader jeep and were not that worried about getting stuck.
It’s only because of this rainy season that from July to October, the Bijrani Zone is closed and any safari activity in the region is suspended until the monsoon fades away.
Heard Alarm Call and Got a Glimpse of a Barking Deer
As the jeep driver drove a bit further, I heard a strong alarm call of a Barking deer, and upon looking carefully, I got a glimpse of him hiding in the jungles on the left side of the road. It was a fully grown deer and usually found near dense forests and trees.
After driving for a while, the jeep stopped, and I started embracing the silence of the jungle.
It was peaceful and calm so much that I wished I could stay here forever. Rarely do I get a chance to experience this peacefulness, and every time I do, I just want to slow down and be present in the moment.
I could hear the slow chirping of birds and the movement of the tree leaves with a mild breeze, and that made me realize how precious our nature and wildlife are. We must do everything in our power to conserve it for future generations and maintain its existence so that it can safely house all the wild animals and birds in the years to come. It’s their safe haven, and we must protect them.
I then continued with the Bijrani Zone Safari as my driver started driving the jeep towards the pathway ahead.
Spotting a Hawk Eagle in the Bijrani Zone is Always Special
Suddenly, I heard a sound which resembled that of an eagle. I took out my binoculars and started looking everywhere. It was only after careful observation; I spotted a Hawk Eagle sitting on the branch of a tree. It was sitting peacefully and looking everywhere to hunt its prey. It’s a popular bird known for its quick reflexes and strength.
I spotted the Hawk eagle for a while, shot amazing photos and videos with my camera setup, and then moved forward from there. Till this point, the Bijrani Zone Safari in the afternoon session was going amazingly as expected.
After a while, I reached a spot where some water had gathered in the corner, and upon closer look, I found a tortoise swimming in the water. You need to be vigilant and observant to spot these creatures and not just look for a tiger.
The Jungle was very peaceful as no outside safari vehicles were present in the region. Since I was staying in the Bijrani Forest rest house, I was able to move out of the FRH a bit early. That’s the major benefit of staying inside the jungles, as you can keep a tab on every activity going on in the region without any disturbance.
Reached a Photogenic Spot during the Bijrani Zone Safari
As our jeep drove further, I reached a point where the scenery and overall landscape were very appealing and peaceful. This place is quite a photography spot, and you can get down here to click some amazing photos.
But as I looked around more carefully,
I spotted a group of female Sambar Deer at a Distance
One of the deer was licking the other, and that shows safety and adoration, not fear. It’s pure love. I also saw a small sambar deer child in the group. After spotting them for some time, I decided to move ahead with my Bijrani Zone Safari journey.
As I continued further, my guide told me that a few months back a tiger had killed an elephant in the Bijrani Zone of Jim Corbett National Park.
As he was telling me more details about it, my eye caught sight of a female Serpent Eagle sitting on the branch of a tree. There was a flycatcher bird also sitting next to her, but that was not visible properly in my camera due to the green leaves on the tree. Spotting birds makes me immensely happy, and I was mesmerized by their presence. Snakes are he favourite prey of Serpent Eagles.
After a while, I also caught sight of a Male Serpent Eagle sitting on another branch of a tree. It was making loud noises so that a female eagle would come near to it. The loud calls are for uniting with the females, and this is a part of their behavioural patterns.
Today’s safari was turning out to be very interesting because I was not just focused on spotting a tiger, but also looking out to capture amazing moments of any bird or animal that may cross my path.
Spotted a female Sambar Deer and Her Child During Bijrani Zone Safari
As my jeep drove further, I came to a spot where I saw a female sambar deer and her child standing near a tree.
They came very close to our jeep and were exploring the areas nearby out of alertness and curiosity. I decided not to disturb them anymore and started moving ahead towards the water hole.
After reaching the water hole, we spotted a beautiful peacock standing near there, and it was really one of the most beautiful sights you can find in a wildlife park. The peacock was eating insects in peace, and we stood at a distance observing the amazing views.
Water holes are generally considered a mating point for many animals, and you never know which animal or bird you may end up spotting there. So it’s a place that packs lots of surprises for any wildlife explorer.
Approaching the Monsoon River Point in Bijrani Jim Corbett
After driving for a while, my Bijrani Safari Jeep reached a point which is called the Monsoon River point. It means as soon as the monsoon starts, the area will be filled with water, and a river stream will start flowing through the region.
Suddenly, I heard a strong sound of a bird at a distance. As I started looking for it, I came to see it at a very far distance, sitting on the branch of a tree. It was the Black Male Titar Bird.
This bird usually walks on the ground and often gets onto the trees when it senses any danger nearby.
Merging onto the Road that leads to Malani Forest House in Bijrani
After a while, my jeep came onto the road that leads to the Malani Forest Rest House. As my driver kept on driving through the narrow road of the Bijrani Zone jungles, I heard a very strong alarm call of a barking deer. The way the barking deer was giving the alarm call indicated the presence of a tiger nearby. My excitement rose suddenly, and I became vigilant.
A quick fact:
After hearing the alarm call of the barking deer, I continued moving forward, and the road through which I was driving had a lot of mango trees on both sides. That’s why the region is called Aamstrot. Suddenly, as I was looking all around for any more bird sightings, I saw the nest of an eagle on the top of a tree.
Upon looking more carefully, I saw that the eagle was feeding her children. Usually, the female eagles lay down 1-3 eggs, but I could only see 1 small eagle child.
I continued driving forward, and after a while, spotted another hawk eagle sitting on the branch of a tree.
This was turning out to be an interesting day where I spotted so many eagles during the entire Bijrani Zone Safari. It was looking to hunt its prey, and I was waiting there to see in case I would end up capturing the moment of the hunt.
Approaching the End of Bijrani Jeep Safari
As the time of the afternoon Bijrani Zone Safari was drawing to an end, I still had no tiger sightings, but a lot of eagle spotting today. I decided to head back towards the Bijrani Forest Rest House as the evening was drawing closer. While returning, I came to a place that sees a lot of elephants crossing the region, as it’s a favourite spot for them to graze on the bushes that are present there.
A few years back, I too encountered an elephant sighting in the same place in Bijrani Zone, and even he charged towards our jeep passively. Still, the memories of that elephant spotting are fresh in my mind.
As my jeep drove further, I reached a spot where there was a small water body nearby. Suddenly, I saw a big tortoise moving slowly to the other side. It was very big unlike anything I ever saw. It was going towards the inner side of the jungle. I stayed there looking at him for a while before it disappeared into the dense bushes.
Finally, I reached back to the Bijrani Forest Lodge, Tired but Happy
I felt fulfilled that I had spotted so many birds and animals today. Although no tiger was spotted during the safari, I was still happy that it turned out to be a memorable adventure trip into the Bijrani Zone.
Now I was getting excited for the morning safari the next day. Hopefully I might end up spotting a tiger. Hope for the best!
As I parked my jeep in the parking area, I suddenly noticed a group of elephants behind Bijrani FRH. They were going towards the same road that I had just come from.
A few moments later, all gates of the Bijrani Forest House were closed, and the day was finally over. I went to my room to freshen up and rest, and prepare for the next day’s safari adventure. The Forest Rest House staff activated the entire electric fencing. It was getting dark. This protects the compound from any external threat.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is wild animal spotting common, such as that of a tiger or elephant near the Bijrani FRH?
Yes, although not that much, but often tigers and elephants roam around the area surrounding the Bijrani Forest Rest house. If you are lucky, you may spot them from the inside of the compound area. But that’s quite rare.
What is the timing when the Bijrani Forest Rest House remains open?
The Bijrani Forest Lodge’s gate opens around 5-6 AM, and it closes between 6-7 PM. Post that the electric fencing activates to protect the area from any wild animals.
What is the duration of the Afternoon Bijrani Zone Safari?
The afternoon safari lasts for about 3 hours. I started my trip around 3 PM and came back to the FRH around 6 PM. It takes 3 Hours to navigate through the entire route of the Bijrani Zone. The probability of spotting wild animals and birds is maximum.
What is the list of gear items I should pack for my Bijrani Jim Corbett Safari in the Afternoon?
I have compiled a list of essential and additional items that you can carry with you while going on an afternoon Jim Corbett Bijrani Zone Safari. You can go through the complete list of gear items and plan your custom checklist accordingly.
Is there a canteen available in the Bijrani Forest lodge?
Yes, there is a canteen available inside the compound, but only limited options are available for food and catering. You must bring your own food with you, and do not depend solely on the canteen for your food needs. There are few chefs. Although if needed, they can cook your food based on the raw ingredients provided.
