Kaziranga reopened for the 2026-27 season on Saturday, 3 October. This guide covers the jeep safari: when it runs, how booking works and which range to pick.
It also covers what to wear, the rules announced for this season and how to watch a rhino without bothering it.
The 2026-27 season
The park closes every monsoon, when the Brahmaputra floods the grassland. Last season ended on 29 May 2026. The final safaris ran on 28 May.
Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah opened the new season on 3 October at Kohora, in the Central range. Kohora and Bagori opened first. The other ranges open in phases.
So check which ranges are running before you fix your dates. The season usually runs from October to May. Assam Tourism names November to April as the best time to go.
Safari timings
Two jeep slots were announced at the reopening. The morning slot runs from 7:30 to 10:00 am. The afternoon slot runs from 1:30 to 3:00 pm.
Timings can shift during the season. Your driver or operator will confirm your slot the day before.
Take the morning slot if you can. The light is soft and the air is cool. In December and January the mornings are cold and misty, and the grass rises out of the fog as the sun climbs.
How booking works
Private cars cannot enter the park. Every safari uses a licensed jeep, hired through the jeep associations at Kohora and Bagori.
Fees are paid at the range office. Rates change, so your operator confirms the current rate before you travel.
Carry the original photo ID you used to book. Keep it on you during the safari, not back in your room.
The park director has announced online safari booking. Until it starts, book through your hotel, your operator or the jeep counters.
The December rush
Late December is the busiest week of the year. On 28 December 2025, The Sentinel reported more than 1,000 jeep safaris a day.
There were queues at the counters. Advance bookings had been running since 22 December.
If you travel between 22 December and 1 January, book your jeeps well ahead. Reach the gate early, and keep a spare morning in your plan.
The four ranges, in brief
Kaziranga has four main ranges for visitors. Each has its own gate and its own jeep tracks.
Central (Kohora) is the easiest to reach and the best start for first-timers. It is good for rhinos. Western (Bagori) is also strong for rhinos.
Eastern (Agoratoli) is the range for wetlands and birds. Burapahar (Ghorakati) is hilly and quieter, and known for hoolock gibbons.
For a fuller comparison and a two-day plan, read which Kaziranga range to choose.
Jeep or elephant?
Assam Tourism lists jeep safaris in all four ranges. Elephant safaris run only in the Central and Western ranges.
Elephant safaris had not restarted when the park reopened this October. They are expected later in the season, so confirm before you plan around one.
A jeep covers more ground and reaches more of each range. We plan most trips around two or three jeep safaris in different ranges.
What to wear and carry
An open jeep at dawn is colder than you expect, above all in December and January. Wear layers you can peel off as the sun comes up.
Bring a windproof jacket, a cap and a scarf for the dust. Pick muted greens, browns and greys over bright colours.
Carry binoculars, water and your original ID. A small bag that sits at your feet is easier than a big one.
A phone ban inside the park has been announced but was not confirmed in force when we wrote this. Check before you go, and bring a camera if pictures matter to you.
Watching a rhino safely
Kaziranga counted 2,613 one-horned rhinos at its 2022 census. Sightings are never guaranteed, but no other park holds more of them.
A rhino looks slow, but it is huge and it can charge. Stay seated, stay inside the jeep and keep your voice low.
Never ask the driver to get closer. Let the animal choose the distance. If it stops grazing and turns to face you, let the driver back away.
No flash, no food and no litter. Do not shout or whistle to make it look up.
Our tip: after a sighting, sit still and silent for a few minutes. That quiet is when the best moments tend to come.
Rules announced for this season
In August 2026 the park director announced several changes. The Sentinel reported them on 2 August.
They include a phone ban inside the park, online safari booking and caps on visitor numbers. One range would close one day a week. Every jeep would carry a trained guide.
These were announced, not confirmed in force, when we wrote this in October 2026. Check before you go. We check them for every trip we plan.
Getting there
Kohora is about four to five hours by road from Guwahati, via Nagaon on NH-715. Jorhat airport is about two hours away.
The foundation stone for four-laning NH-715 between Kaliabor and Numaligarh was laid on 18 January 2026. The plan includes an elevated wildlife corridor of about 34.5 km.
Plan your Kaziranga trip
Our Kaziranga Wildlife Escape is three nights from Guwahati. It has safaris in the Central, Western and Eastern ranges, plus the Orchid Park and Kakochang Falls.
For a longer trip, Meghalaya and Kaziranga adds the hills. Rhino, Tea and the River Island adds a tea bungalow and Majuli.
Our Kaziranga page has the stays and how we run safaris. Read about Kaziranga beyond the jeep, or our story of coming eye to eye with a one-horned rhino.
