Responsible Travel
Dandeli's forests are a working landscape as well as a tourist destination — home to villages, a forest department, and a protected tiger reserve. Visit with that in mind. The code below applies on every forest walk, river outing and safari, whether led by our guides or the forest department.
Forest safety & wildlife etiquette
- Keep a respectful distance from all wildlife, wild or habituated.
- No camera flash or spotlights around animals.
- Never feed wildlife — it changes their behaviour and creates risk for future visitors.
- Stay with your guide and on the agreed route; do not wander off at night.
- Keep voices low and movements slow, especially near water sources at dawn and dusk.
- Pack out everything you bring in; do not leave food waste or plastic on trails.
- Follow all forest department and guide instructions without exception.
Waste & plastic
Carry out everything you carry in. Avoid single-use plastic where you can, and never leave food waste, wrappers, or bottles on trails or riverbanks — litter attracts wildlife to roads and campsites in ways that put both animals and future visitors at risk.
Respecting guides & forest department rules
Guides and forest department staff know the terrain, the animals, and the rules that keep both safe — follow their instructions without exception, even if it means turning back or changing a route. Permits, timings, and closed areas exist for real conservation and safety reasons, not as a formality.
No smoking or alcohol in the forest
Smoking and alcohol are not permitted on forest walks, safaris, or river activities — fire risk and impaired judgement are serious hazards in a working forest landscape.
Stay in groups
Stay with your guide and your group at all times, and never wander off alone, especially after dark. Groups are safer for you and calmer for wildlife.
If you see something, say something
If you notice other visitors littering, feeding animals, using flash near wildlife, or otherwise breaking forest rules, mention it to your guide or to forest department staff. Protecting this landscape is a shared responsibility, and quiet peer pressure from fellow travellers goes a long way.