How to Book Dhikala Canter Safari Online — Step by Step Guide (2025)

What is Dhikala Canter Safari?

Dhikala zone sits 32 km inside Dhangarhi Gate — deep in the heart of Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve. It is the largest, most celebrated, and most wildlife-rich core zone in the park. For day visitors (anyone not staying overnight at the Dhikala or Gairal Forest Rest Houses), the only way to enter is via the 16-person sharing Canter safari bus.

The Canter is a sturdy open safari bus with 16 seats across raised benches. It travels 32 km through dense sal forest into the Ramganga river valley, spending approximately 2 hours in the Dhikala Chaur grasslands before the return drive. The open sides and elevated seating give excellent sightline for wildlife photography.

Dhikala Canter Safari Price & What is Included

Dhikala Canter Safari Timings

Step-by-Step Booking Process

1. 1Decide your preferred date and shift (morning or afternoon). Check that your travel date falls within 15 Nov – 15 Jun.
2. 2WhatsApp or call our safari desk at +91 99974 88004 with: (a) preferred date, (b) shift, (c) number of seats, (d) pickup point — Ramnagar or Dhangarhi Gate.
3. 3We check real-time seat availability on the Forest Department permit portal. Availability is confirmed within 15–30 minutes.
4. 4Pay a partial advance via UPI, NEFT, or bank transfer to lock your seats. The balance is collected before the safari date.
5. 5Receive written confirmation with your seat numbers, permit ID, and pickup time. Keep this confirmation on your phone.
6. 6On safari day: be at the pickup point at least 15 minutes before departure. Carry the same government photo ID used for booking (Aadhaar, Passport, Voter ID, or Driving Licence).

How Far in Advance Should You Book?

This is the most critical factor for Dhikala canter safari. Only 4 Canters are permitted inside Dhikala per shift — and each canter holds just 16 seats. That means the total capacity per shift is 64 seats across all canters. During peak season (November to February), these seats fill 20 to 30 days in advance.

Which Shift is Better — Morning or Afternoon?

The morning shift is generally preferred for tiger sightings — the early golden light is ideal for photography, and tigers are more active before the heat rises. The afternoon shift is excellent for elephant herds, which often gather at the Dhikala Chaur and Ramganga river banks in the late afternoon. If you can only do one shift, choose morning. If doing both on the same day (not recommended — too tiring), note there is a gap of approximately 30 minutes between return and re-departure.

What to Carry on Dhikala Canter Safari

• •Original government photo ID (same ID used at booking) — mandatory
• •Camera with zoom lens (minimum 200mm recommended for wildlife)
• •Binoculars — makes a significant difference for distant sightings
• •Light jacket or shawl (mornings inside the forest are surprisingly cool even in May)
• •Water bottle — the forest has no shops inside
• •Snacks for the 5-hour round trip (no food stalls inside Dhikala)
• •Sunscreen and hat for the afternoon shift
• •Wear earthy or neutral colours — khaki, olive, beige, grey. Avoid white or bright colours

Dhikala vs Other Zones — Why is Dhikala Special?

Dhikala has the highest wildlife sighting index (9.4/10) of any zone in Jim Corbett. The Dhikala Chaur — a vast open grassland along the Ramganga reservoir — is one of the few places in India where you can observe tigers in open terrain rather than thick forest. The zone also hosts the largest concentration of wild elephants in Corbett, resident gharial colonies along the Ramganga, and an extraordinary density of spotted deer, sambar, and wild boar. Birdwatching is exceptional — over 250 species have been recorded in the Dhikala range alone.