Madhya Pradesh: 50% Safari Fee Discount at Ratapani, Madhav and Rani Durgavati Tiger Reserves

50% Safari Fee Discount at Ratapani, Madhav and Rani Durgavati Tiger Reserves in Madhya Pradesh

Tourists can now enjoy jungle safaris at 50% reduced rates at Madhya Pradesh’s Ratapani, Madhav, and Rani Durgavati Tiger Reserves. The state forest department has taken this step to attract more tourists. Hotel and resort owners will also be allowed to organize safaris for tourists, provided they pay the prescribed fees to the forest department. Booking rules have been updated to make the process easier for visitors, though there are concerns about potential overcharging.

The decision applies to the newly developed core areas of these three tiger reserves. Tourists can explore these zones at half the earlier cost. Along with this, private hotel and resort operators will now be allowed to use their vehicles for safaris inside tiger reserves, national parks, and wildlife sanctuaries. To do so, they must purchase entry tickets and pay 70% of the standard safari fee to the forest department.

70% Tickets Available Online

Additionally, safari vehicle owners must register their vehicles by paying ₹10,000 under a non-roster registration system. The forest department has implemented these new provisions immediately. Under the revised rules, apart from the 10% quota for the Field Director, 70% of the remaining 90% safari tickets will be available online, where tourists must book the entire safari vehicle.

10% of the tickets will be reserved for those who want to book only a single seat, and the remaining 10% single-seat tickets will be available online a day before the safari at 2 PM. Madhya Pradesh currently has nine tiger reserves, 11 national parks, 26 wildlife sanctuaries, and one conservation reserve, all of which will follow these new rules.

Concerns Over Possible Overcharging

Granting hotel and resort owners the right to conduct safaris may lead to overcharging of tourists. The forest department has yet to clarify how it will prevent such practices. However, this system will benefit tourists by reducing waiting times and allowing quicker access to jungle safaris through hotel assistance.