Phones are no longer allowed in the wild in India’s major tiger reserves

Spotting a Bengal tiger in the wild is one of India’s most thrilling travel experiences. The country’s national parks and tiger reserves are home to over 3,000 tigers, offering some of the world’s best safari drives–especially during the dry months from October to June.

But if you’re heading into the forest soon, there’s a new rule to know: mobile phones are no longer allowed inside several of India’s major tiger reserves, including Ranthambhore National Park and Bandhavgarh National Park, as authorities move to reduce disturbances inside these protected habitats.

What is the phone ban?

Several of India’s major national parks and tiger reserves have introduced a new rule banning visitors from carrying or using mobile phones during safari drives. The policy is designed to minimise human disturbance in wildlife habitats and keep the focus on conservation rather than social media.

The move follows broader guidelines issued by India’s Supreme Court, which aim to curb disruptive behaviour within protected areas. Officials say phones have increasingly led to noisy crowds, vehicles clustering around sightings and risky attempts to capture photos or selfies near animals–all of which can interfere with the natural rhythms of the forest.

Why is the phone ban happening?

Forest officials say the restriction comes after growing concern about how smartphone use is changing behaviour within safari zones. In recent years, tiger sightings have become increasingly chaotic, with safari vehicles rushing toward the same animal as visitors try to film or livestream the encounter.

In some cases, tourists have even called guides or other drivers to share the exact location of an animal, causing multiple vehicles to converge on a single spot. Authorities warn that this kind of activity can disrupt the natural flow of the forest. Excessive noise, idling engines, and vehicles blocking pathways can alter the movement of animals such as tigers, leopards, and deer, interfering with their natural routes and disturbing the quiet balance of their habitat.

How does the rule work, and how is it enforced?

Under the new policy, visitors are not allowed to carry or use mobile phones inside safari zones in several of India’s major tiger reserves. In many parks, guests must leave their phones at the entrance gate before the safari begins, while others require visitors to hand devices to their guides or drivers for safekeeping during the drive.

Authorities say the stricter enforcement is meant to prevent the kind of behaviour that has increasingly disrupted wildlife sightings in recent years. When a tiger appears, safari vehicles often converge on the same spot as visitors try to film videos or livestream encounters. In some cases, tourists have even phoned other drivers to share the exact locations of animals, causing multiple jeeps to rush toward the same area. Forest officials warn that these sudden gatherings can block natural pathways, create excessive noise and disturb animals such as tigers, leopards and deer as they move through their habitat.

Where are phones banned?

The rule applies to several of India’s most popular tiger reserves, including:

• Ranthambore National Park (Rajasthan)
• Bandhavgarh National Park (Madhya Pradesh)
• Kanha National Park (Madhya Pradesh)
• Pench National Park (Madhya Pradesh / Maharashtra)
• Satpura National Park (Madhya Pradesh)
• Panna National Park (Madhya Pradesh)
• Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (Maharashtra)
• Umred Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary (Maharashtra) 

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