8 Wildlife Sanctuaries In Andhra Pradesh That The Animal Lovers Shouldn’t Miss In 2024!

23 Mar 2023

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If you are an animal lover and love exploring forests and witnessing wildlife in their natural habitat, wildlife sanctuaries are the best place to be in and the fifth largest state of India, Andhra Pradesh boasts of many such wildlife sanctuaries and national parks that are worth visiting while you are there. The only issue with the same is the fact that each one of them is scattered across the state. If you do want to get the best experience out of it, we would suggest that you have a planned itinerary and a long vacation. For those who want to know a little more about animal reserves and wildlife sanctuaries in Andhra Pradesh, we have sorted out the options for you as well.

8 Top Wildlife Sanctuaries In Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh is a naturally dense area that comes with a lot of natural vegetation and wildlife in the state. It is not just the way everything is managed around but the way the officials have maintained the sanctuaries that have kept the animals in the best and prime conditions around. When it comes to the wildlife variety, there are several types of animal species and even birds that you are likely going to experience and witness while there. From deers to bears, the diversity of wildlife in Andhra Pradesh is very widespread and extensive, making this a worthy visit. Some of the most popular wildlife sanctuaries in Andhra Pradesh are listed below.

Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary
Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary
Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary
Sri Venkateswara Wildlife Sanctuary
Nagarjuna Sagar – Srisailam Sanctuary
Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary
Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary And Rayala Elephant Reserve
Gundla Brahmeswaram Wildlife Sanctuary

1. Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary

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Located around 18 km away from the port city of Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh, the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the top wildlife sanctuaries in Andhra Pradesh. The sanctuary is known for its wide range of mangrove vegetation around the place. It also does have a dry deciduous forest around. The main component that the sanctuary is known around for is the wide range of birds and the small fishes and shrimps around. Over 120 species of birds have been reported to have been spotted there. Aside from that, the place also does have a wide range of wildlife, including golden jackal, fishing cat, sea turtle, etc.

Ideal For: Family, friends, couples
Ideal Trip Duration: 2 hours
Location: Coringa, East Godavari Dist, Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh 533461
Tip: Make sure you keep pin drop silence so as to not disturb the wildlife.

Must Read: Visit These 26 Tourist Places In South India During Summer

2. Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary

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If you are anywhere around Visakhapatnam and have been meaning to see a wildlife sanctuary, the Kambala Konda wildlife sanctuary is one of the best options. It is spread across an area of 70.7 sq.km. It has a spread of the dry evergreen forest with a wide range of scrubs and meadows around which makes it one of the most famous wildlife sanctuaries in Andhra Pradesh. Some of the primary animals that are spotted there include Indian muntjac, leopard, boar, jungle cat, sambar deer, spotted deer and a lot more. There is a wide range of reptiles and birds as well.

Ideal For: Family, friends, couples
Ideal Trip Duration: 3-4 hours
Location: Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh 531173
Tip: Don’t wear bright coloured clothes for wildlife safaris.

3. Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary

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Located around 40 km away from Kurnool, the Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the most popular wildlife sanctuaries in Andhra Pradesh. The place is known for the habitat of the Great Indian Bustard, which is one of the rarest species of birds found. More than animals, people visiting this sanctuary come here to see the sea of migratory birds that flock in from all directions.

The sanctuary is spread across an area of 6.14 sq.km and was established back in 1988 as a mode to keep the population of the Indian Bustard in check. The area is covered in grass dryland, which does have a very unique form of vegetation, unlike the other options. This is also considered as the base site for the majority of the migratory birds. Apart from the birds, some of the animal species spotted in the sanctuary include deer, blackbucks, foxes, bonnet macaques, jackals, sloth bears, and even the jungle cats.

Ideal For: Family and friends
Idea Trip Duration: One day
Location: Rollapadu, Andhra Pradesh 518405
Tip: If you are going for a photography tour, make sure it is planned thoroughly.

4. Sri Venkateswara Wildlife Sanctuary

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If you are visiting Tirumala and want to explore the places around, visiting the Sri Venkateswara Wildlife Sanctuary is an absolute must. This wildlife sanctuary is located just 15 km away from the main city of Tirumala, making this a very popular site to visit and explore. It is one of the largest wildlife sanctuaries in Andhra Pradesh and is spread across an area of 353 sq.km.

The sanctuary was built back in 1989 and is covered with dense and lush greenery, making this a site of a treat. The sanctuary is also infiltrated with a wide range of animal species including tiger, blackbuck, panther, spotted deer, bonnet monkey, bison, fox, jackal along with a wide range of migratory birds to mention a few. This place does have several trekking trails that you can set on and explore. They have two different entry points for trekking that you can further explore around.

Ideal For: Friends and solo trips
Ideal Trip Duration: Half a day to 3 days (depending on the trekking trail)
Location: KT Road, near Nandi Statue Circle, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh 517505
Tip: Make sure you have a guide throughout the wild trip.

5. Nagarjuna Sagar – Srisailam Sanctuary

tourism.telangana.gov

If you want to explore something that is located between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the Nagarjuna Sagar – Srisailam Sanctuary is possibly one of the very best wildlife sanctuaries around Andhra Pradesh. It is located around 60 km away from the Nagarjuna Sagar and does make for one of the best experiences that you can witness around.

This is the largest tiger reserve in the country and is spread across 3568 sq.km. It is nestled between the Nagarjunasagar reservoir and the Srisailam reservoir. Apart from tigers, the sanctuary houses several other wildlife as well, including panthers, tigers, spotted deer, sambars, nilgai, wolves and several other animals as well. The jeep safari is for 1 hour 30 minutes and can cost around INR 800 per person, but the experience is worth every single penny that you spend.

Ideal For: Family, friends, couples
Ideal Trip Duration: 1 day
Location: Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh 518101
Tip: Avoid wearing strong perfumes and fragrances when visiting the sanctuary.

6. Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary

Image Credits: forests.ap.gov

Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary is considered as one of the rarest eco-regions in the entire world that covers the massive area covered in the serene mangrove forests. This is a destination that is among the conservationists of the last remaining areas of the premium mangrove forests of the southern part of the country. Located in the coastal plain of Krishna delta, this wildlife sanctuary is spread across two different districts of Andhra Pradesh namely Krishna and Guntur. From Sorlagondi Reserve Forest to Kothapalem Reserve Forest, from Yelichetladibba Reserve Forest to Molagunta Reserve Forest, there are various forms of forests that one can find here in this sanctuary, and that is exactly what makes it extremely admirable.

Ideal For: Family, friends, couples
Ideal Trip Duration: 2 hours
Location: Andhra Pradesh 521120
Tip: Make sure you carry your cameras to capture the beauty of this estuary.

7. Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary And Rayala Elephant Reserve

Image Credits: Thomas Schoch for Wikimedia Commons

Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary is not just a sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh but is also an elephant reserve that is known for being home to a large number of Asian elephants that migrated to this region from the neighbouring areas back in the years 1983 to 1986. A sizable amount of these species moved from the forests in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to find homes that were more adaptable. This led to the development of this sanctuary by the government in December 1990. In the present day there are around 72 elephants that can be seen inhabiting the forests. The high lush hills and the spell-binding meadows of this sanctuary are simply a cherry on top!

Ideal For: Family, friends
Ideal Trip Duration: 3 hours
Location: Andhra Pradesh, India
Tip: Do not disturb the elephants that are residing in these forests. It is illegal to cause any sort of harm to them.

8. Gundla Brahmeswaram Wildlife Sanctuary

Image Credits: minka2507 for Pixabay

Gundla Brahmeswaram Wildlife Sanctuary, is one of the must-visit sanctuaries in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. This wildlife sanctuary is spread across the area of 1,194 sq kilometers and covers the districts of Prakasam to Kurnool. There is an extensive variety of species that can be observed residing in the lush jungles of this sanctuary. Some of the common sightings in this sanctuary include tigers, sloth bears, pythons, wild dogs, and many more. This sanctuary is famous for the serene forests of Nallamala that are the last of the tracts found in this region.

Ideal For: Family and couples
Ideal Trip Duration: 2 hours
Location: Andhra Pradesh
Tip: Do not litter the wildlife sanctuary.

Further Read: 5 Cottages In Tirupati That Are As Holy & Serene As This City In Andhra Pradesh!

If you have been wondering about the wildlife sanctuaries in Andhra Pradesh, these are the most popular ones present. Every single one of them has their unique traits which make this a worthy visit unlike anything else. So, what are you waiting for? Plan a trip to Andhra Pradesh and make sure that you do have your plans sorted out accordingly so you can make the most out of it.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Wildlife Sanctuaries In Andhra Pradesh

How many wildlife sanctuaries are there in Andhra Pradesh?

There are around 13 wildlife sanctuaries and national parks and biosphere reserves located in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana included. Two out of those are solely for tigers and elephants.

Is there jeep safari available in the wildlife sanctuaries in AP?

Not every wildlife sanctuary will have jeep safari options available, so make sure that you do plan things accordingly. More or less the available safari options will last somewhere around 1-2 hours and the cost will vary.

Is there a specific time of the year that one should visit the wildlife sanctuary?

While the animals are going to be there the entire year around, it is the migratory birds that the majority of the people visit during the season that they visit.

What are the general operating hours?

The majority of the sanctuaries are open from 9 in the morning and close around 5-6 in the evening.

Can kids be brought along in the sanctuaries in Andhra Pradesh?

Kids are allowed inside, provided that you do have all the safety precautions sorted out. Make sure to always keep them safe and away from the wild animals.

Are there accommodation options inside the sanctuaries?

Not every sanctuary will have the accommodation options but there are a few that do. You just need to do your research around the same.

Is trekking allowed inside the sanctuary?

Few sanctuaries don’t allow trekking without permission, so make sure that you do look into the same before you do end up violating any rules.

How many bird sanctuaries are there in Andhra Pradesh?

There are a total of six bid sanctuaries that can be found in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

Name famous national parks in Andhra Pradesh.

There are three national parks in Andhra Pradesh namely: 1. Sri Venkateswara National Park 2. Rajiv Gandhi National Park 3. Papikonda National Park

How many tiger reserves are there in Andhra Pradesh?

There is only one tiger reserve in Andhra Pradesh named Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve.