Ranthambore Safari Bookings Surge as 40,000 Register in Two Hours

Ranthambore Tiger Reserve has witnessed an overwhelming response to advance safari bookings for the upcoming tourism season, underlining the rising popularity of wildlife tourism in India. Nearly 40,000 tourists registered within just two hours after bookings opened for the October-December season, officials said.

The booking window for safaris scheduled between October 1 and December 31 opened at 12 noon on August 1. According to the Ranthambore administration, around 14,000 registrations came from foreign tourists, highlighting the reserve's growing international appeal. Officials said the surge in demand resulted in a massive spike in traffic on the official booking portal, but the upgraded digital system handled the load smoothly. The portal's verification, booking and live reporting mechanisms continued to function efficiently despite thousands of users accessing the platform simultaneously.

Deputy Conservator of Forests, Manas Singh, said the new booking system ensured greater transparency by displaying real-time seat availability across different safari options. Even two hours after bookings opened, safari slots remained available on several dates, including peak holiday periods such as Diwali and Christmas, allowing visitors to choose dates more conveniently.

The administration also highlighted the platform's robust cybersecurity measures. During the booking process, the system reportedly blocked around 20 lakh suspicious cyberattack attempts, more than 150 suspicious IP addresses, and over two crore fake requests, while maintaining uninterrupted services for genuine users.

In a first for the reserve, foreign tourists were able to directly book safaris from their home countries through the official portal. Online bookings were received from countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Netherlands, with officials describing the initiative as a significant step toward making the booking process more accessible for international visitors.

The strong response reflects the continued growth of wildlife tourism in India, with destinations such as Ranthambore attracting increasing interest from both domestic and overseas travellers. Improved digital infrastructure, transparent booking systems and enhanced visitor accessibility are expected to further strengthen the country's eco-tourism sector while supporting conservation-focused tourism initiatives.