Driving through a massive, open-concept wilderness sprawling across the undulating hills of Kevadia offers a front-row seat to the wonders of the animal kingdom. The Sardar Patel Zoological Park, popularly known as the Jungle Safari, is a state-of-the-art wildlife park designed to break away from traditional cage enclosures. Here, magnificent animals from across the globe including majestic Asiatic lions, royal Bengal tigers, African cheetahs, and towering giraffes roam freely in sprawling, carefully recreated natural habitats. As your safari vehicle winds through the massive, themed biomes, the lack of iron bars makes your encounters feel incredibly close and authentic. The park also features one of the world's largest geodesic dome aviaries, where you can walk along elevated wooden pathways while colorful, exotic birds fly freely around you. It is a beautifully planned sanctuary that pairs modern conservation with an exciting, educational adventure for visitors of all ages.
One fun fact people love:
The zoological park is home to two massive, custom-built geodesic dome aviaries one for domestic birds and one for exotic species where visitors can stand inside the structure as dozens of rare birds soar, chirp, and nest completely unhindered around them.
Where in Kevadia is it?
The Jungle Safari park is located along the banks of the Narmada River, about 3 kilometers from the main Statue of Unity monument in Kevadia, Gujarat.
How to reach:
- You must park your personal vehicle at the central tourist parking lot in Kevadia.
- From the central hub, you can board the official Statue of Unity shuttle buses directly to the entrance gate of the zoological park.
- Inside the zoo, visitors travel in eco-friendly, open-air electric golf carts provided by the park management to navigate the massive loops.
Best time to visit:
November to February is the most pleasant period, as the winter weather in Gujarat is cool and comfortable, making the animals highly active and visible in their open enclosures.
Best time of day:
Go either:
- Early morning (around 08:30 AM to 11:00 AM) when the park first opens, as the animals are being fed and are highly active before the afternoon heat sets in.
- Late afternoon (around 03:30 PM to 05:00 PM) when the temperature drops, coaxing the big cats out of the shaded areas of their habitats.
Entry fee:
The entry ticket for the Jungle Safari is INR 200 for adults and INR 125 for children, which includes the cost of the internal electric golf cart ride.
Commute difficulty:
Easy. The park features smooth, well-paved pathways designed for the electric carts, making it highly accessible for families, elderly visitors, and strollers.
Things nobody tells you about this place:
- The zoo covers more than 375 acres of hilly terrain; even with the electric golf carts, you will still need to walk a significant amount to explore the aviaries and specific viewing decks, so wear cushioned sports shoes.
- Outside food and plastic water bottles are strictly prohibited at the entrance gates to protect the animals, though purified drinking water booths and light snack stalls are available inside the park.
- Because the enclosures are massive and designed to look like wild habitats, some animals might be resting deep within the foliage, meaning you will need a bit of patience and perhaps a pair of binoculars for the best views.
- The golf carts operate on a hop-on-hop-off system at designated stations; during peak weekend hours, you might have to wait in short lines at each station to get onto the next available cart.
- The ticket counter at the physical venue closes early once the daily visitor capacity is reached, so booking your safari tickets online in advance is highly recommended to secure your slot.
