Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary operates as a multi-range system within the lush Western Ghats forests of Kerala. The two main safari access points are Muthanga (closer to Sultan Bathery) and Tholpetty (in the northern range). Both operate fixed morning and evening jeep safari windows with strictly limited vehicle slots per session — booking in advance is essential. The sanctuary is contiguous with Bandipur and Mudumalai, forming the Kerala link in the Nilgiri elephant corridor. The forests here are denser and wetter than their Karnataka counterparts, supporting evergreen and semi-evergreen species alongside the deciduous mix. Elephant herds, gaur, and langurs are commonly seen, while tiger sightings are uncommon but possible. The Tholpetty range is particularly known for its atmospheric forest roads and relatively fewer crowds compared to Muthanga.