Spread over 834.16 sq.km the Dandeli wildlife sanctuary is the second largest in Karnataka and is contiguous with the Mahaveer sanctuary in Goa .

The undulating streams , swaying bamboos, abundance of wildlife, sylvan surroundings and trekking tracts make Dandeli sanctuary a unique holiday destination. River /kali and its tributaries, Kaneri and Nagajhari, meander through the forest.
Sighting animals is difficult and always involves an element of luck. The sanctuary is home o the barking, spotted and mouse deer, sloth bear, panther, tiger, gaur, elephant, wild dog, civet cat, bison, jackal, langur and giant flying squirrel, besides a variety of colourful birds and reptiles. The reptilian and amphibian fauna of the region include a variety of ruffles and frogs.

Evening ride in a coracle (a circular boat, woven with bamboo and lined with buffalo hide), down the river Kali is memorable. The leisurely drift of the coracle allows you to watch hornbills returning to nest in tall trees on river banks, observe darters drying their plumes on deadwood entrenched in the river and admire egrets flying against an orange sky.

35 km from Dandeli National Park is Syntheri rocks, awsome monolithic granite structure amidst thich forest, with the perennial river Kaneri flowing by its side. There are innumerable trekking trails and fishing spots at Dandeli.

In the Dandeli National Park . It has well furnished tents, dormitories, a herbarium, well stocked library, video film screening etc. Jungle safaris are arranged for tourists both during morning and evening hours.


The main wildlife species include elephant, tiger, leopard, gaur, flying squirrel, mouse deer etc., and main bird species include magpie robin, golden backed woodpecker, crested serpent eagle and a large variety of other birds.

Flora and Fauna

Moist deciduous and semi-evergreen forests. The area is also rich in bamboo.

Mammals

The elephant, gaur, tiger, panther, sambar, spotted deer, mouse deer, barking deer, sloth bear, wild boar, wild dog, mongoose, porcupine, jackal and the common langur are some of the mammals found here.

Birds

The golden-backed woodpecker, crested serpent eagle, white-breasted kingfisher, grey hornbill, great pied hornbill, the Malabar pied hornbill and more are found here.

Reptiles

Crocodiles and various kinds of snakes can be found here.