Core Zone or Buffer Zone? How to Choose Your Tadoba Safari
Updated: Oct 2
Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve is Maharashtra's oldest national park, and its layout confuses a lot of first-time visitors. This guide explains what "core zone" and "buffer zone" mean and how that affects the way you plan your safari.
How the reserve is laid out
Tadoba National Park was declared in 1955, covering about 116 sq km. The neighbouring Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary was added in 1986, and in 1995 the two were joined to form the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve.
Today the reserve covers about 1,727 sq km. About 625 sq km of that is the core zone, the protected forest at the centre. The remaining 1,101 sq km is the buffer zone, a ring of forest and villages around the core.
Think of it like a fried egg. The yolk is the core and the white is the buffer. Animals do not know where the line is, so tigers, leopards and bears move freely between the two.
Core zone
The core is the most protected part of the reserve. Only a fixed number of vehicles go in each day, and they stick to set routes. Because the forest is least disturbed here, sightings are generally most frequent. Permits are limited and sell out well in advance, especially for weekends and holidays.
Buffer zone
The buffer is the ring of forest around the core, with villages and farmland mixed in. Permits are usually easier to get and cost less, there are fewer vehicles on the road, and the drives are quieter. Tigers do live in the buffer, and many visitors have excellent sightings here.
Core vs buffer at a glance
Permits: core sells out early, while buffer is usually easier to book, even at short notice.
Cost: buffer permits usually cost less than core permits.
Crowds: the core has more vehicles, and the buffer is often quieter.
Monsoon (about July to September): the core is closed, but several buffer gates stay open.
Weekly closure: core gates are usually closed on Tuesdays and buffer gates on Wednesdays. Check the official portal before you book, because rules can change.
Gates close to Aranyam
Aranyam Resort is about 300 m from Moharli Gate, one of the main entry points into the core zone. Approximate drive times from the resort:
Moharli (core): about 2 minutes
Agarzari, Devada, Adegaon and Junona (buffer): about 15 minutes
Khutwanda: about 30 minutes
Zari Peth, Keslaghat, Nimdela and Mamla: about 1 hour
Zari: about 1.5 hours
So you can do a core safari from Moharli and a buffer safari from a nearby gate without changing where you stay.
Safari timings
There are two safaris a day, in open gypsies with a driver and a forest guide. The times shift with the season. For example:
October: about 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM, and 2:30 PM to 6:30 PM
November to February: about 6:30 AM to 10:30 AM, and 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
March to June: earlier starts in the morning and later finishes in the evening, as the days get longer
Check the exact timing for your date when you book.
How to book a safari
The easiest way is to let us do it. When you stay at Aranyam, we can arrange your core or buffer zone safari, subject to availability (terms and conditions apply). Send us your dates, the number of people and which zone you prefer.
If you would rather book yourself, permits are sold on the official Tadoba booking portal run by the Maharashtra Forest Department: mytadoba.mahaforest.gov.in.
Either way:
Book core zone safaris as early as you can, because they sell out.
Buffer safaris are usually easier to get closer to your date.
Every person in the vehicle needs valid ID proof.
So which should you book?
If your main goal is the best chance of a sighting and you are planning well ahead, try for the core zone and book early. If you would rather have a quieter, more flexible drive, or you are booking at short notice, the buffer zone is a good choice in its own right.
Many guests do both: one core safari and one or two buffer safaris. That combination fits well into a two-night stay.
Whichever zone you pick, staying close to the gate matters more than most people expect. Less time on the road before sunrise means more time in the forest. To check room availability or ask us to arrange your safari, message us on WhatsApp at +91 94221 39224.
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