Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the finest names in the wildlife tourism of Kerala. It is a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and is also segmented into four major sections: Tholpetty, Kurichiat, Sulthan Bathery, and Muthanga. However, a single wildlife trip to Wayanad lets you cover these sections and enjoy fun-filled activities. There are many things to do in Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary to keep you engaged throughout your tour. So whether you are looking for fun-filled activities or enjoying a relaxing mode amidst nature, this sanctuary is ideal.
Moreover, if you are willing, you can take part in educational programs at the site, which will be greatly insightful. Thus, a lot of thrills, unique experiences, and insights await you there! So, read further to learn about the specific activities you can participate in at Wayanad, which will help you build your travel bucket list for an amazing wildlife tour!
List of Top Things to do in Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
- Feel the thrill at every turn on Jeep Safari.
- Take Elephant Ride for Jungle Exploration.
- Enjoy birdwatching and take cool birdie pics.
- Admire the greenery by taking a Nature Walk.
- Spend fun time at Elephant Training Camp.
- Challenge yourself with Trekking on Jungle Trails.
- Have a cultural experience exploring local villages and tribal people.
- Know about honey collecting and enjoy shopping at Eco Shops.
- Attend Nature Awareness Camp to learn about jungle life.
Feel the thrill at every turn on Jeep Safari
A jeep safari is a chance to enjoy countless wildlife moments by exploring animals’ natural habitats. Hence, no doubt, a jeep safari ride comes first on the list of top things to do in Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. You can spot various flora and fauna by enjoying a Jeep safari in Wayanad. On safari, you can spot tigers, leopards, jungle cats, elephants, monkeys, deer, sloth bears, dhole, and gaur. In addition, Jeep Safari will take you to the depths of the jungle and allow you to spot some lizards and snakes inside this sanctuary.
Moreover, spotting some unexpected bird species is common in jeep rides (make sure you always carry binoculars). While exploring this sanctuary, you can spot peacocks, babblers, jungle fowls, cuckoos, owls, and woodpeckers. It is one of the most exciting ways to explore the jungle and to get an insightful experience of diverse biodiversity. Therefore, booking your jeep safari tour in advance is advised to enjoy a hassle-free wildlife experience.
Tips: Wear appropriate clothes for the weather conditions, and remember to carry your camera, hat, sunglasses, and binoculars.
Take Elephant Ride for Jungle Exploration
Elephant ride is not just an activity you can enjoy in Wayanad Sanctuary. But it is an experience you must have on your wildlife tour. This ride will give you a different perspective to admire the forest as you sit on the elephant’s back. Through this ride, you can explore that jungle region that can’t be explored by jeep because some lands are unsuitable for vehicles. On top of that, you can enjoy birdwatching and closely admire the natural beauty.
In addition, this ride lets you enjoy the beautiful landscape of this lush green region. The slow moment of the elephant enhances your sighting experience as you can peacefully admire the surrounding beauty. This ride is an absolute delight you should enjoy while on your wildlife trip in Wayanad.
Tip: It is best to go on an elephant safari in the early morning, as the weather is pleasant.
Enjoy birdwatching and take cool birdie pics
This sanctuary is home to a diverse range of wild flora and fauna that will amaze you from each side of the jungle. Wildlife exploration through jeep and elephant gives you a better chance to enjoy wildlife photography. But enjoying a birding tour in Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is just something else. Twittering and the musical chirping of birds in this wildlife sanctuary would be soothing to your ears. There is no doubt that bird watching is the ultimate level of enjoyment for bird lovers.
A vast collection of around 350 avian species makes the atmosphere beautifully colorful. And during the breeding season, you can spot some migratory birds in this sanctuary. You can hire professional birders and a naturalist who can assist you in giving information about the species of birds. The landscapes and plants in Wayanad Sanctuary also deserve the shots of your camera. You can find famous species of plants, including Rosewood, Bamboo, Mazhukanjiram, Vengal, Chadachi, Karimaruthi, and Venteak. Catching birds in flight or while chirping on trees is a phenomenal experience.
Tip: Carrying a good quality binocular while enjoying nature photography is highly advised.
Admire the greenery by taking a Nature Walk
A walking tour inside the wildlife sanctuary is an excellent idea for enjoying a nature walk. There is around 12 km of land for you to cover on foot, giving you a refreshing environment and cool breezes. However, a guide must accompany you while enjoying a nature walk to inform you about this sanctuary. This sanctuary has a dedicated region to admire nature’s beauty. Wayanad’s diverse and fascinating ecosystem is blessed with popular Anjili and Mullu Murikku trees that grace the scenic view of the jungle.
You can find that this jungle is blessed with beautiful trees, including Grewelia, eucalyptus, and teak. You will also witness lustrous plants like Lagerstroemia, lanceolate, veteran indicia, Terminalia, and Paniculate. October to February is the best time to enjoy this activity in Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary.
Tip: It is advised to carry a reusable water bottle to hydrate yourself, as there is no cafe inside the sanctuary.
Spend fun time at Elephant Training Camp
Hearing the Jovial screams of Elephants and playing with them is one of the best things to do in Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. So head to Elephant Camp to enjoy this activity and spend time with these huge and cute creatures. This camp is situated in the Muthanga range of Wayanad Sanctuary, and it was established more than 100 years ago. Currently, this camp has seven trained elephants, and you can indulge in fun-filled activities with them.
You can attend an elephant training camp and see how these elephants are trained to obey commands and maintain calmness around humans. From learning about them to enjoying the performances and activities, each moment in this camp would be epic. Your camp visit would be a great highlight of your Wayanad tour, providing information.
Tip: It is advised to read the complete guidelines for this camp before proceeding and planning your visit, as it will take 3-4 hours to enjoy a wholesome experience there.
Challenge yourself with Trekking on Jungle Trails
Trekking is another adventurous thing to do in Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. There are many trails in and around this sanctuary that you can choose from simple to hard-level trekking. Chethalayam Waterfalls Trek, Muthanga Loop, and Muthanga Hike are some popular trekking trails that you can take to add another layer of thrill to your trip. While enjoying this experience, you can indulge in birding, hiking, and walking amidst the verdant green environment.
Apart from that, you will have an opportunity to observe the various kinds of flora and fauna. Some famous animals in this region are elephants, gaurs, dholes, and tigers. In addition, these trekking trails offer you incredible sights of peacocks, owls, and many more birds. Moreover, these trekking excursions in Wayanad offer cinematic views and beautiful flowers. Serenity and tranquility are two elements that grace your trekking experience in Wayanad Sanctuary.
Tip: Carry all the essentials before you embark on your trekking and get expert guidance to enjoy a hassle-free experience.
Have a cultural experience exploring local villages and tribal groups
Wayanad Sanctuary is well known for maintaining a balance between humanity and the wilderness. And the touch of nature makes this harmonious balance a delight. There are various tribal groups living in the forest area on the outer side of the jungle. Some of them that you can explore to get some unique experiences are Paniyas, Adiyans, Kurichiyas, Kattunaikkans, Kurumas, and Ooralis.
Moreover, there are many villages near this sanctuary that you can visit and get an insight into the lifestyle and traditions of local people. Exploring tribal people and villages will add incredible travel experiences that take a special place in your heart. You can interact with people and indulge in several activities.
Tip: Make sure to get a half-day tour to explore these tribals and their villages and enjoy the wholesome travel experience.
Know about honey collecting and enjoy shopping at Eco Shops
There are two eco shops at Muthanga and Tholpetty where you can enjoy a unique shopping experience. These two shops are the honey processing unit at Ponkuzhi and Begur. A sale counter at Kuppady is located under Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. Tribal people of this region collect pure honey from the jungle and sell it through honey collecting and processing units, Muthanga and Tholpetty. After that, the process of filtering and bottling is done by workers and packing it to sell to customers. So you can purchase these bottles of pure honey of various species of bees to get something home from this jungle part from memories. In addition, you can buy books, soap, t-shirts, and eco-friendly carry bags. Exploring these units will give you insightful experience about the honey-collecting process. Moreover, you will get pure honey and add a unique shopping experience to your trip.
Tip: Interact with local people to learn the depth of this honey-collecting process and purchase some shop-bought honey bottles.
Attend Nature Awareness Camp to learn about jungle life
The forest department organizes the nature camp from October to January. An average of 50 to 75 were conducted depending on the funds received. In this camp, expert staff, teachers, and other individuals will lead the classes and enlighten the visitors on several topics, including fire prevention and nature conservation. Moreover, there are many more things to cover under these nature camps, including tiger monitoring, vulture nest monitoring, and various training programs. Apart from this, there are multiple opportunities to uncover the wildlife layer by attending socio-economic surveys. You can apply for these camp programs in advance to be a part of them and get something unique to witness with knowledgeable staff.
Tip: Knowing the complete program guidelines before visiting here is advised. Try to be a part of most programs to understand forest life better.
Now, you know that besides jungle exploration, there are numerous other ways to get what this jungle offers. Your single tour lets you indulge in this sanctuary’s exciting and fun activities. Wayanad is a green gem of Kerala, and this wildlife sanctuary is a hotspot to experience wilderness and natural beauty. So, plan your wildlife tour to experience each aspect of your trip by booking your Wayanad wildlife tour with us. We include safari tours, meals, stays, sightseeing, and transfers to give you a remarkable travel experience. Enquire now!