Searching for one-horned rhinos
The greater one-horned rhinoceros once ranged across the terai of Uttar Pradesh but had vanished from the area by the late 19th century. In 1984 the forest department brought a small group from Assam and Nepal to a fenced area of Dudhwa with good grassland and water. The population has grown since, and rhinos have been moved to a second area in the park.
Access to the rhino areas is controlled by the forest department, and how you see them changes from season to season. In some years viewing has been by elephant back or by vehicle on set routes; in others it has been restricted. Your naturalist checks what is permitted and plans around it. Check current status before you travel.
Rhinos are most active in the morning, grazing in wet grassland and wallowing in pools. The area is also rich in swamp deer, hog deer and wetland birds such as storks and herons, so the drive rewards even without a rhino.
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
Are there rhinos in Dudhwa National Park?
Yes. Greater one-horned rhinos were reintroduced to Dudhwa in 1984 from Assam and Nepal, after disappearing from the area more than a century earlier. They live in fenced rehabilitation areas within the park and have bred successfully. Viewing access is controlled, so sightings depend on that season's rules.
Can I see rhinos on a jeep safari at Dudhwa?
Sometimes. Rhinos may be seen from permitted routes in or near the rhino areas, but these areas are not always open on normal jeep safaris. In some seasons elephant-back viewing has been offered. We confirm the current options with the forest department before you arrive; check current status before you travel.
Is Dudhwa better than Kaziranga for rhinos?
No. Kaziranga in Assam has a far larger population and easier sightings. Dudhwa's rhinos are fewer and more restricted. The appeal of Dudhwa is a quieter terai park with tigers, swamp deer, rhinos and birds, within reach of Lucknow and the Taj Mahal circuit.
Also in Dudhwa National Park
More hours to plan around
