Karziranga is one of the top places to visit in the north east India.

Bagori Range of Kaziranga: A Quick Morning Jeep Safari

I’m have always found Kaziranga a bit too mainstream and the more accessible parts are near the highway, which denies the visitors that sense of real wilderness. But we were there anyway, as the starting point for the 2-week 3-state trip with HolidayScout. The plan was to have an easy start with a wildlife safari and a visit to the Kaziranga Orchid Park, before moving onto more exotic areas in Arunachal. Anyway, we soon figured out that this trip was going to be a bit different from my last trip, as we were going to the Bagori Range for safari.
Bagori 10
Safari in Bagori Range

Safari Zones in Kaziranga: A Quick Primer

Those who are familiar with Kaziranga would know that it is divided into several ranges, each forming their own safari zones, namely Kohora, Bagori, Agoratoli, & Burhapahar. Each of them can offer a different experience to the visitors. Out of these Kohora is the most accessible and is surrounded by a huge number of resorts and guesthouses. In fact, the entrance of Kohora is basically a local marketplace. This is why most people end up there and this is where I also had my most disappointing experience a few years ago. Nevertheless, this time, it was decided that we visit the Bagori- the Western Range, for jeep safari instead of Kohora. It is also located on the highway and in fact, it is closer if you are driving from Guwahati. Yet, this is free from the hustle-bustle of Kohora and there is no market at the entrance.

Jeep Safari at Bagori Range

Bagori 20
Dubori Lodge, where we were staying
We were staying at Dubori Lodge near Kohora, which was a compact but delightfully crafted property. After breakfast, we drove for half an hour to reach Bagori Gate, where we found the forest department jeep waiting for us. That this was going to be a comparatively better day of sighting became apparent soon as we noticed a rhino pretty soon. Although it was a bit far away, I could feel that more of them are going to appear soon.
Bagori 5
Can you spot the rhino?
Bagori 4
Howbout that one?
But before that, this was the time for birds. To be honest, I could not click all of them. With my limited 200mm zoom, a lot of smaller birds eluded me, although the bar-headed geese, which must have arrived here from Central Asia for the winter, was big enough to capture.
Bagori 2
bar headed goose
Bagori 21
bar-headed goose from a better angle
While Kaziranga has many other big mammals including the tiger, they are not easily spotted and the only other big ones we saw was the deer, probably a barking deer. Surprisingly, the usually available wild buffaloes were absent too. A wild boar was probably visible but disappeared before I could click.
Bagori 13
Barking deer… most probably
Nevertheless, the rhino appeared soon, and this time it was pretty nearby. It was a bit too busy grazing and we waited for a few minutes before it finally looked up and gave us a clear view. It was as close as the one I saw in Pobitora. Unlike that one who charged at the jeep, this one was cooler and paid no heed to the tourists. After a while, we saw another one, and then a few more at a distance.
Bagori 6
Yeah… finally!
Bagori 19
Another rhino
Meanwhile, the birds kept appearing. Adjutant storks, Indian rollers, woodpeckers, etc were abundant, along with a few others that I could not identify.
Bagori 9
Indian roller
Bagori 11
Adjutant stork?
Bagori 12
Woodpecker
Bagori 3
white-breasted waterhen?
However, the best frames of the day were delivered by a pretty big black-necked stork. Earlier, I was somewhat unhappy about the grey, dull sky, which usually is the case in Assam in the winters. But this one was nearby, and our location was perfect for the lighting and the reflections. It was a pretty big one, almost 5 feet tall, and was busy fishing. I stood there for at least 10 minutes and clicked dozens of images, Here are a few of them.
Bagori 16
black-necked stork I
Bagori 17
black-necked stork II
Bagori 15
black-necked stork III

The Bagori Gate is located on the national highway. It actually falls on the Nagaon district and you get there first even before reaching Kohora if you are driving from Guwahati. Just keep your eyes open on the left side as the right side is dominated by tea gardens.

Do I need separate accommodation for Bagori?

There are some resorts nearby but even if you are staying near Kohora, you can drive to this gate. It should take no more than 30 minutes from Kohora.

Jitaditya Narzary

1 thought on “Bagori Range of Kaziranga: A Quick Morning Jeep Safari”

  1. Pingback: Kaziranga: DIY Travel Guide | The Travelling Slacker

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