Kaziranga is not one safari. It has four main ranges, each with its own gate, tracks and feel.
This guide explains what each range is good for. It ends with a simple plan for three ranges in two days.
Why the range matters
Many visitors do one safari in the range nearest their hotel, then leave. That shows you one slice of the park.
The ground changes from range to range. Some is open grassland, some is wetland and one range is hilly forest.
Two or three ranges show you far more of Kaziranga. They also give you a second chance if one drive is quiet.
The numbers
Kaziranga counted 2,613 one-horned rhinos at its 2022 census, up from 2,413 in 2018.
A 2024 survey counted 148 adult tigers in the park. That is 18.65 tigers per 100 sq km, reported as the third highest density in the world after Bandipur and Corbett.
Do not plan around a tiger, though. The grass is tall and tigers keep out of sight.
People often call the rhino, elephant, tiger, wild water buffalo and eastern swamp deer Kaziranga's Big Five. It is a handy phrase, not an official title.
Central range (Kohora)
Kohora is the easiest range to reach. It sits close to the highway and many of the lodges.
It is good for rhinos and makes the best first safari. It can also be the busiest.
Kohora has cycling trails too. The Orchid and Biodiversity Park is nearby at Durgapur.
Western range (Bagori)
Bagori is also strong for rhinos. If you want a second good shot at them, go here.
Kohora and Bagori were the first two ranges to open in October 2026. They are also the only two with elephant safaris, which are expected to restart later in the season.
Eastern range (Agoratoli)
Agoratoli is the range for wetlands and birds. It tends to be quieter than Kohora.
Winter brings the migratory birds, and December to February is the peak. Bring binoculars. A long lens helps, but good binoculars matter more.
Burapahar range (Ghorakati)
Burapahar is the hilly range. It is quieter, with forest instead of open grass.
It is the range for hoolock gibbons. Sightings are never certain, so listen as much as you look.
Go for the forest and the calm. Count any gibbon as a bonus.
A two-day plan
Day one, morning: Central range at Kohora. It is the easiest start and a strong first look at rhinos.
Day one, afternoon: Western range at Bagori. A second range gives you different grassland and another chance at rhinos.
Day two, morning: Eastern range at Agoratoli, for the wetlands and the birds. In the afternoon, visit the Orchid Park or start the drive home.
Want gibbons instead? If Burapahar is open, swap it in for Bagori.
Our tip: keep Agoratoli for a morning, not an afternoon. Birds are busiest early, and the light on the water is softer.
Before you book
Not every range opens on the first day of the season, so check which are running. In late December, book every slot ahead.
Fees are paid at the range office, and your operator confirms the current rate. Our jeep safari guide covers timings, booking and the rules announced for this season.
Plan it with us
Our Kaziranga Wildlife Escape follows this plan. It is three nights from Guwahati, with the Central, Western and Eastern ranges.
For a longer trip, see Meghalaya and Kaziranga. Our Kaziranga page has the stays. For the hours between safaris, read Kaziranga beyond the jeep.
