Can you visit Kaziranga National Park in the off-season, AKA monsoon season when it is closed to the public? Well, the obvious answer here is no. Technically you cannot, nor should you try rocking up here.
The reality though is that if you have the right connections, are flexible and indeed have a bit of luck, then monsoon season might actually be the best time to visit Kaziranga National Park. Don’t believe me? Try visiting any major Indian attraction during a local holiday.
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What is Kaziranga National Park?
Kaziranga National Park is one of India’s greatest wildlife success stories. Located in the state of Assam, the park was first established as a protected reserve in 1905 after concerns that the Indian one horned rhinoceros was heading towards extinction. It later became a national park in 1974 and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
Today it is home to around two thirds of the world’s one horned rhinos, as well as Bengal tigers, Asian elephants, wild water buffalo, swamp deer and hundreds of species of birds. The park covers more than 1,000 square kilometres of floodplains, grasslands and forests along the mighty Brahmaputra River.
When is Kaziranga National Park open?
Kaziranga National Park is generally open from late autumn until spring, with the annual monsoon forcing it to close for several months.
- November to April: Fully open with jeep and elephant safaris operating.
- May: Limited access before seasonal closure.
- June to September: Closed due to the monsoon and flooding.
- October: Gradual reopening depending on weather conditions and road conditions.
Opening and closing dates vary slightly each year depending on rainfall and flood conditions.
Visiting Kaziranga National Park in the off-season
The park being semi closed means that you cannot go on safari as such and there are potential issues with rain, but the reality is that rhinos do not just go on holiday, or hibernate because there is a little bit of rain. To the contrary, they go about their lives. This was to such a degree that we even got to see them from the main road leading to the hotel. At first this was very much from a distance, but if you have the time and patience they do eventually move.
We though did not stop there, not only seeing them from outside the park, but also arranging a morning viewing, which luckily went very well. This included a range of old, young, male and female rhinos simply going about their daily lives.
Is it better to visit Kaziranga National Park in the off-season? This will depend greatly on you. For me though, what you lose in terms of official safaris is more than made up for by the sheer lack of other tourists here. That not only helps with seeing these majestic beasts, but also makes everything else in the region a whole lot more enjoyable.
What about Kaziranga and the surrounding area?
You pretty much only need to spend one night in Kaziranga and the surrounding villages before heading on to Shillong or Guwahati, but indeed a pleasant time can be had. There are quite literally accommodation options galore in the off-season, with us opting for a truly fabulous glamping experience. There’s also other coll stuff to do around here, such as boat trips to see the indigenous blind dolphins. This with some sun and beer also added was a pretty decent way to spend an afternoon.
The town itself is small and simple, but this is rural India, which means you will get your fill of great street food, small mom and pop restaurants, liquor stores and cheap haircuts. These quite literally are a few of my favourite things.
Click to see our India Tours, which include group and bespoke packages to Assam.
