List of Best Wildlife Sanctuaries in Goa That You Must Visit Once

We should not be surprised to hear uncommon things about Goa, known to the outside world as the Land of pristine beaches. But you'll know the beautiful wildlife sanctuaries at Goa, which would make you feel glad when you visit this small country in India. The Goa tourism sector focuses instead on beach and beach activities in other main parts of the region.

The most important is to introduce the main sanctuaries of wildlife to visitors to Goa. That is a positive sign of more passionate exploration of the land and an opportunity to know your own interiors. The huge jingles of Goa are now a major part of tourism for these wildlife sanctuaries. The wildlife is a favorite haven for many rare animals and birds, together with a unique plant and trees collection.

For those who really want to know about the range of forests and the people, there must visit those sanctuaries to identify with the items in the jungles closely.

Here are some of the Best Wildlife Sanctuaries in Goa:

1. Bhagwan Mahavir Sanctuary

The access to the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary can easily be reached from Molem and is the largest of four protected wildlife areas of Goa and covers a surface area of 240,000 sq km. Tickets are available at the Forest Interpretation Centre, 2 km from the entrance of the park, near the city of Molem.

A tour through a travel agency or a day jeep in Molem or Collem is the best way to explore the park. Dudhsagar Falls and Devil's Canyon will also be visited on most tours. Staff can arrange tours to the interior of the park at the Dudhsagar Spa Resort. Shy wildlife includes jungle cats, Malay giant squirrels, gaurs, sambars, leopards, chitals, slender loris, Malayan pythons, and cobras. Some kilometers into this park is an observation plateau; as with most parks, early in the morning or late in the evening is the best time to watch wildlife.

2. Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary

The Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary in the Ponda region is the smallest of all wildlife sanctuaries in Goa. Located at the foot of the lush, green Western Ghats, this 8-kilometer natural reservation lies a bit from the coast.

The Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary is a major attraction to school kids and tourists and home to many wildlife, such as Indian Bison, Sambar Deer, Indigenous Peafowl, Malabar Giant Squirrel, and a wide array of snake and deer. In this garden, more than a hundred different species of birds reside alongside the Common Grey Hornbill and Golden Backed Woodpecker.

Moreover, the sanctuary has a zoological park, an expansive deer park, botany, and a rosary garden that can accommodate visitors to the eco-tourism resort, where nature lovers can stay and explore the diverse wildlife of Goa. Adventure lovers in Goa can also choose a trek through the reserve for insight and the picturesque natural atmosphere.

3. Butterfly Conservatory Of Goa

This little butterfly sanctuary, situated 5 kilometers to the north of Ponda, houses over 100 species of freely flying butterflies (not included), in a small jungle. It's a work of love for the owners and worth seeing if you visit nearby spice plantings.

4. Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary

This serene sanctuary on Chorao Island was created in 1988 by the Forestry Department of Goa, named after Late Dr. Salim Moizzudin Abdul Ali, India's most renowned ornithologist, to protect the birdlife and the mangroves which have been cultivated here and in the recovered marshland. You can expect to see colorful kingfishers, baby-crooks, sand-sparrows, curls, drongos, and mynahs, to name just a few, in addition to the omnipresent white egrets and purple herons.

Some visitors have also noticed marsh crocodiles, foxes, jackals and otters, and bulbous, mudskipper fish that skim at low tide across the water. In the sanctuary, you can find a bird-watching tower when the river level is not too low, depending on the tides.

In the dugout canoe, a relaxing drift in the mangrove swamps of the sanctuary also offers fascinating insights into the life of those who are not especially interested in the birds themselves.

Early morning (around 8 am) or evening (a few hours before sunset), the best time to visit is, however, since it's a river, boat rides depend a little on tide times. There will be boatmen with dug-out boats waiting at Chorao Island ferry to take you to paddle around the sanctuary and waiting for a One and Half an Hour journey, at about INR 800. The department also manages two boats with a capacity for up to 10 or 12 individuals, respectively for INR 750 or INR 900. If you are a keen birdwatcher, do not forget to bring binoculars and a field guide to everything feathered.

5. Molem National Park

Molem Wildlife Sanctuary is Bhagwan Mahaveer's core area, which is Goa's largest sanctuary for wildlife. It is best explored between November and March, located in the Sanguem region.

You can spot Barking Deer, Black Panther, Bengal Tiger, Bonnet Macaque, Leopard, Civet, and Wild Boar as you wander around the sanctuary. It has 120 bird species such as Wagtail, Fairy Bluebird, Drongo, Three-Toed Kingfisher, Great India Hornbill, and Golden Oriole, recorded as a heaven for bird watchers.

The biggest attraction here is the adventurous jungle safari, with vehicles allowed within the sanctuary; the park is famous also for its trekking and observation trails in Goa. An experienced guide during traveling through the thick woods is also advisable.

6. Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary

The pretty, remote feeling of the Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary is about 9 km to the Southeast of Palolem and is the second biggest sanctuary of Goa. If you have private transportation, it is easily accessible. Don't expect to hit its exotic residents (including sambars, gourds, leopards, and blackberries) but there are no shortages of frogs, snakes, monkeys, insects, and blazing birds.

Trails are walkable, from one of the watchtowers, 7 km to 12 km from the entrance to the park, start early in the morning for the best visitors. It might be worth staying for a night in one of the forest departments ' households right behind the reception at the park entrance if you are serious about spotting wildlife. They are clean and they can arrange meals. Before the park even opens, you can start from here.