Bhutan Wildlife Safari: How to Plan your Bhutan Safari Tours

With its diversity of indigenous and migratory wildlife, and eco-tourism being an important aspect of the national policy, planning a Bhutan Wildlife Safari is a great way to explore the kingdom and meet the animals. A land of dense sub-tropical jungles to the south and ancient primeval forests in the north and central regions, this isolated kingdom abounds with a wealth of natural wildlife.

From the Asian elephant and the renowned Bengal Tiger to the Himalayan Black Bear, the Musk Deer, Asiatic Black Bears, the rare Sloth bear, cute red pandas, hidden leopards, and the elusive Grey Wolf. If you are planning a wildlife safari in Bhutan, then this is the ultimate guide on how to make this dream a reality.

What to Do while on a Bhutan Safari Tour

The first thing to think about is what you are going to do while on safari. Bhutan is not a huge country, but it has a lot of wild lands and locations, and you need to decide on where you are going and what you want to see when you travel to Bhutan for wildlife safari.

See the National Animal of Bhutan - Takin

The Takin is the Bhutanese national animal, and is a unique local species of gnu, the wildebeest of the African plains. Resembling a muskox, the Takin is actually more akin to sheep than cows, and is often known as the gnu goat.

Spot the Big Cats - Snow Leopard, Bengal Tiger, Common Leopard and Clouded Leopard

Bhutan is home to several species of big cats, including the Bengal tiger, snow leopards, clouded leopards, and the common leopard. There are around 103 Bengal tigers in Bhutan, and they have been seen in areas as high as 4,200 meters above sea level. Snow leopards and Common Leopards are found in Bhutan, preferring the lower ranges within the jungles along the border with India. The Clouded leopard is also present in Bhutan.

Encounter the Winter Visitors - Black Necked Cranes

Black-Necked Cranes are a protected species in the kingdom, due to its auspicious status in Tibetan Buddhism. Found most especially in the Phobjikha Valley in Wangdue Phodrang, they are renowned for their unusual habit in the valley. Every year when the birds arrive, they circle the Gangtey Monastery three times en-masse, before landing in the valley. And when they leave at the end of winter to travel back north to their summer breeding grounds in northern Tibet, they also circle the monastery three times before heading off into the distance.

Explore the Fairies in the Wood - Red Panda and Golden Langur

Exotic and unusual, the Golden Langur is one of a few species of monkeys found in these altitudes in Asia. The beautiful furry creatures are only found in two places, in Western Assam in India and in the foothills of the Black Mountains in Bhutan. One of the most endangered species of primates in the world, the Langurs are held as sacred in Buddhism, and is protected in all its ranges in Bhutan.

The other exotic inhabitant of the woodlands of Bhutan is the unusually-named Red Panda. Completely unrelated to the giant pandas of Southwest China’s Sichuan Province, the Red Panda more closely resembles a raccoon of North America. The last species of its kind in the world, these beautiful and mischievous-looking mammals are hugely endangered, and only found in the area of the Himalayas from central Nepal to Southwest China.

Watch the Himalayan Black Bear, Asiatic Black Bear and Sloth Bear

Bears still wander the forests of Bhutan, and this small isolated kingdom is known for three kinds of bears. The most prominent are the Himalayan Black Bear and Asiatic Black Bear, which can be found in the woodlands of the mountain areas of northern Bhutan. Both of these black bears have the typical white “V” marking on their chests, and are often confused for each other, except for the longer fur on the Himalayan Black Bear.

The vulnerable Sloth Bear is also an inhabitant of Bhutan, although most have just wandered off their normal ranges into the kingdom. Found in the lush tropical lowland and hardwood forests in the south, they are the most dangerous of Bhutan’s bears.

Find the Mysterious Gray Wolf

The largest of all the canine species in the world, the Grey Wolf is the main species found all across the northern hemisphere. However, little is actually known about the population of Grey Wolves in Bhutan, as they are not as common in the northern mountains of Bhutan as they are in other areas of the northern hemisphere. The more dominant Himalayan Wolf, an offshoot of the Grey Wolf that has adapted to high altitudes, is more common.

Step Close to the Asian Elephant

In the wild, the Asian elephants in Bhutan are mainly confined to the southern plains and foothills, where tall trees can conceal them from view. Mostly found in the areas of Samdrup Jongkhar, Sarpang, Tsirang, Samtse, and Gedu districts, they seldom range above 300 meters ASL, but can range for thousands of square kilometers in their travels.

Where to Go for a Bhutan Wildlife Safari

The Most Popular Jigme Dorji National Park

The largest of the National Parks in Bhutan, it covers five districts and ranges over 5,000 meters in altitude differences. The park is known to be a haven for the rare and endangered Snow leopards, and you can also find red pandas, Himalayan blue sheep, and Bengal tigers.

The best way to explore the park is by trekking through the forests and hills, and this is best done in spring and autumn, from March to May and September to November.

Jigme Singye Wangchuk National Park (Phobjikha Valley Included)

Also known as the Bhutan National Park, this is the second largest national park in Bhutan, and covers an area that is more isolated in terms of human habitation. With fewer people, animals are more prominent, and you can find Bengal tigers, red pandas, and the beautiful Golden Langur.

Trekking in the spring and autumn is still the best way to find these amazing animals and explore the park itself.

National Parks Adjoining India

Manas National Park

The Crown Jewel of Bhutan, this is the oldest protected area in Bhutan, and spreads to the edges of the Manas Tiger Reserve in India. For the famous Bengal tigers, this is the best place in Bhutan to visit them in their natural habitats, as well as the one-horned rhinos, Asian elephants, black bears, and clouded leopards.

The best way to travel is by safari vehicle or car, and it should be done best from April to May and August to November.

Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary

One of the most popular parks for tourists in Bhutan, this forest park lies on the border with Assam and is home to Golden Langurs, Gaur, Asian Elephants and the spotted deer or Chital deer.

Best visited from March to June and September to November, it is best to use a car, as walking is too much in this lowland region.

National Parks in Far Eastern Bhutan

Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary

Located in northwest Bhutan, this quiet wildlife sanctuary is an important reserve as it has more endangered species than anywhere else. You will face security checks to get in, and is most renowned for its ranges of red pandas.

Best visited by car from March to October.

Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary

Located in Trashigang District, this sanctuary lies in the easternmost ecosystems of Bhutan. Home of the blue pine and the blue poppy, the park is also home to the rare black-rumped magpie. Easily hike-able from Sakteng village, the park is also the fabled home to the local yeti, known as the “migoi”.

The best time to visit is from March to August, though for yeti hunting, the winter is said to be the best time of year to find footprints…

Khaling Neoli Wildlife Sanctuary

Now renamed as Jomotsangkha Wildlife Sanctuary, this is the most popular park in Southeastern Bhutan on the border with Assam. While it is the smallest protected area of the kingdom, the inhabitants make it hugely popular. Here you can find the cute Pygmy Hog, a small wild pig native to the region, of which only around 150 remain in existence.

The best time to visit is from March to May and late-August to November.

Safety Rules on Bhutan Wildlife Safari

Listen to your guide - Having a guide is important, and your guide knows the best ways to behave and where to best be for the ideal sights of the wildlife. Listen to their instructions, especially when faced with dangerous animals such as the Bengal tiger.

Stay in groups - Groups are safer when traveling on safari, as wild animals are less likely to attack large groups of large mammals such as human tour groups. Stay in your group for safety.

Keep your voices down - Animals are more scared of you than you will ever be of them, so keep your voices down to prevent loud chatter from scaring them all off.

Keep flashlight of your camera and mobile phone off - flashlights and phone camera lights are not recommended, as they can scare off the animals, making it harder to find them again for photo opportunities.

Don't walk around at night - Daytime is the safest time to wander through the woodlands and parks, and it is important not to wander around at night. You may get lost in the darkness (there are no streetlights in the area), and it is possible to suffer animal attacks as many predators are night hunters.

What to Pack for Bhutan Safari Tour

Actually, there is little difference in packing for a safari trip to Bhutan as you would for a trekking trip to the kingdom. You will need those hiking boots and warm socks, and if you are traveling in spring or autumn, then warm sweaters, down jacket, and arm hat and gloves are necessary. Bring sun cream and mosquito repellant as well, and some moisturizers to keep the chill winds from chaffing your face and hands. A small day pack is essential, especially if you have camera equipment, to carry the things you need for the daily excursions.

Conclusion

A Bhutan safari tour is an awesome adventure and an excellent way to discover the many indigenous species that this mountain kingdom has to offer. Safaris are best done in spring and autumn, and you dos till need to book the Bhutan tour with a registered travel agency in order to join a tour of the many national parks this Himalayan Shangri-La has to offer.