Tholpetty Wildlife Sanctuary

The safari last 1.5 hours, costs rs2250 per jeep, so its affordable. its one single road to enter and exit from the other side, its not like Kabini or Nagarhole which branches out like a combing search safari. Its hard to spot animals coz of the thick forest. We spotted Elephants, Sambar deer, tortoises, giant squirrel

The Tholpetty safari offers a wonderful opportunity to travel through the forest on an easy off-road trail. The actual animal spotting is purely luck-based; we only saw a few deer and one elephant. Interestingly, we saw far more animals just driving back to Kutta through the Tholpetty forest! In my personal opinion, the \text{₹}20 fee for an hour of travel through the forest (which is still a great experience) is a much better value than the \text{₹}2000 jeep safari. Come for the beautiful journey, not just guaranteed sightings.

A good ride through the forest. But couldn't find a great verity of animals. It depends. You really get a great time with the nature and fresh air. Could spot the footprints of tiger. There is a change in the timings. The safari starts from 6 am to 10 am in the morning and 3 pm to 6 pm in the evening. 60 trips per day. 30 in the morning and 30 trips afternoon. So if you are planning to go on weekends and holidays be sure you reach at the earliest. And. The best time to go for is from November to jan. The climate also too good. Maximum number of people that can travel in a jeep is 7. It starts from 3-4. Costs 2100rs. One guide will accompany you to describe things and helps you to spot the animals.

Better to buy tickets online a day before through keralaecotourism website. There are two slots, one morning 6 and evening at 3. Animal sighting is purely based on your luck but signs of animals can be found there, even tiger marks.

Tholpetty Wildlife Sanctuary, located in the northern part of Wayanad, is one of Kerala’s most captivating wildlife destinations. The sanctuary offers an authentic forest experience, where visitors can immerse themselves in the beauty of untouched nature. The jeep safari, usually conducted early in the morning or late in the afternoon, is the best way to explore the park. As you move through the dense forests and open grasslands, there’s a high chance of spotting deer, elephants, gaurs, peacocks, and a wide variety of birds. If you’re lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of a leopard or the majestic Bengal tiger. The forest is peaceful, with a calmness that makes the experience refreshing and memorable. The guides are knowledgeable and ensure safety while sharing insightful details about the flora and fauna. The sanctuary is well maintained, and the natural landscape—misty air, towering trees, and serene lakes—adds to the charm. Tholpetty is ideal for nature lovers, photographers, and anyone looking to disconnect from city life. While sightings aren’t always guaranteed, the overall atmosphere makes the visit worthwhile. It’s a perfect blend of adventure and tranquility, offering a true taste of Kerala’s rich wildlife heritage.

Good forest range. It's a buffer forest. Recommended to go in summer if you want to spot wildlife. If you just want to see the vegetation then monsoon or winter.

We participated in a Sunday evening safari during rainy season at Tholpetty Wildlife sanctuary. Overall, the experience was pleasant, but compared less favorably to the similar offering 20 km away at Nagarhole in Karnataka (see below for details), which we did the next day. For one jeep with 5 people (including a 5 year old child), we paid Rs. 5500, compared to Nagarhole, where the per-person charge was Rs. 1000/adult, 500/child. Pros: No wait. Was able to pay by foreign credit card without a problem. Note to foreign travelers: one passport is required for identification purposes). The tour lasted about two hours. We saw one elephant—a tusker!) deep in the woods and one peacock, but that’s it. Since this was rainy season, wildlife sightings are much rarer. Cons: The safari vehicle used was cramped and very inconducive both to comfort and wildlife viewing as the seats faced inward with very little head clearance and very little window surface area. See photo for comparison to the Nagarhole (Karnataka) safari vehicle. In terms of price, I might be wrong about this, but I believe that one has to rent the entire jeep at a cost of Rs. 5000, which may not be economical for smaller groups. Overall, if you are visiting the Tholpetty area and cannot make the short drive to the Karnataka side of the forest, then this excursion is recommended. I would strongly suggest trying to do so in the dry season to maximize chances of wildlife sightings. If only possible to visit during the rainy season, I would favor the Nagarhole side both for price (pay per head as opposed to per vehicle), vehicle design/comfort and wildlife viewing opportunities.

We haven't seen anything except deer inside the forest. Despite travelling 1.5 hrs through the forest with 4500 INR loss, nothing could be seen. And road was completely offroad (I mean not good for old members)