OCEAN6 HOLIDAYS · CURATED WILDLIFE JOURNEYS · KARNATAKA
The Bison Wildlife Resort Kabini is a luxury tented wildlife camp on the banks of the Kabini backwaters, set at the confluence of Nagarhole and Bandipur National Parks – barely 0.5 km from the Nagarhole safari gate, the closest stay to the forest entrance in the Kabini zone. Waterfront safari tents, treetop machans and the private Little Bison suite open onto one of India’s densest big-cat landscapes – home to leopards, tigers, wild elephants and the legendary black panther of Kabini.
EST. ON THE RIVER’S EDGE · 2 NATIONAL PARKS · 1 FRONT-ROW SEAT
PHOTOGRAPHY · THE BISON RESORT, KABINI
01 — The Field Notes
LOCATION
Kabini backwaters, H.D. Kote, Karnataka
SAFARI GATE
0.5 km – closest camp to the gate
FROM MYSORE
~80 km · 2 hrs
FROM BANGALORE
Stays
Waterfront tents · Machans · Little Bison
CHECK-IN / OUT
12:30 PM / 10:30 AM
BEST SEASON
October – May · Mar-May for big cats
IDEAL FOR
Couples · Photographers · Families
Tariffs & safari charges are set seasonally by the resort and the forest department · View Tariffs & Packages + Trip Estimator →
02 — The Experience
Most jungle resorts ask you to drive to the wilderness. At The Bison, the wilderness drifts past your veranda. The camp sits on a grassy bank where the Kabini backwaters meet the tree line of Nagarhole – which means elephants amble along the far shore at breakfast, gaur graze the meadows at dusk, and on a fortunate night, a leopard’s eyes catch the moonlight beyond the camp’s edge.
The design language is pure safari romance-canvas tents with four-poster beds, planter’s chairs, lantern-lit pathways and an observation deck built for slow evenings. It carries the spirit of a classic African bush camp, reimagined for South India’s most celebrated wildlife landscape.
Days follow the forest’s rhythm: a pre-dawn coffee before the jeep rolls toward the gate, a languid riverside afternoon, a sundowner as the sky turns copper over the water, and dinner under a ceiling of stars with the orchestra of the night forest playing around you.
— THE OCEAN6 FIELD JOURNAL
THE CAMP · KABINI BACKWATERS
THE LOUNGE, BY LANTERN LIGHT
03 — The Camp
№1
SIGNATURE · RIVERFRONT
Spacious canvas tents face the backwaters directly – private verandas, elegant interiors, well-appointed baths. Mornings begin with mist lifting off the river; evenings end with elephant silhouettes on the far bank.
FOR COUPLES & PHOTOGRAPHERS WHO WANT THE WATER IN CONSTANT VIEW
№2
Elevated · Canopy
Dwellings raised above the camp, finished in natural forest materials, with sit-outs perched among the canopy. A bird’s-eye sweep of backwaters, camp and forest in a single frame — what no ground-level room can give.
For the adventurer who keeps every comfort intact
№3
PRIVATE · EXCLUSIVE
The camp’s most exclusive address – private lounge, private dining arena and a personal bonfire space, with wildlife views from bedroom, sit-out and lounge alike.
FOR HONEYMOONS, ANNIVERSARIES & WILDERNESS ENTIRELY YOUR OWN
№4
Jungle Luxury · Panoramic
Named after Kabini’s famous melanistic leopard, featuring glass-and-canvas walls filled with iconic wildlife photography. Features a scenic private verandah overlooking the backwaters, complete with an open stone shower and a private jacuzzi.
For couples, luxury travellers, and wildlife enthusiasts
№5
Secluded · Natural Ambience
Tucked into a secluded forest thicket for ultimate privacy, surrounded by nature and rich birdlife. Features spacious canvas structures with timeless four-poster beds, wooden floors, and partial forest views.
For Couples, Birders and those seeking more privacy
№6
Rustic Duplex · Cozy Retreat
A warm, inviting two-bedroom duplex with carpeted floors, niche wooden furniture, and a secondary bedroom in the loft. A brick-and-mortar structure rather than canvas, offering maximum privacy and a spacious layout for group gatherings.
For Families (upto 4 pax) with elderly people or children
04 — The Kabini Advantage
0.5km
TO THE NAGARHOLE SAFARI GATE
2
NATIONAL PARKS AT THE DOORSTEP
250+
BIRD SPECIES IN THE LANDSCAPE
The Kabini zone of Nagarhole Tiger Reserve is counted among Asia’s finest big-cat territories. On jeep safaris into the tourism zone, guests routinely encounter leopards lounging on fig branches, tiger pugmarks on red-earth tracks, herds of gaur – the wild bison that gives the camp its name – dholes on the hunt, and some of India’s largest tuskers.
The boat safari is Kabini’s quieter masterpiece. Cruising the backwaters at golden hour, you watch elephants bathe, marsh crocodiles bask and ospreys dive – wildlife viewing at water level, without an engine’s dust. In the dry summer months, the receding reservoir draws one of Asia’s largest seasonal congregations of wild elephants to these banks.
Safari drives run in fixed morning and afternoon slots under forest-department regulation, with limited vehicles per session. This is precisely where planning matters – Ocean6 secures your safari slots in advance as part of every Kabini itinerary, so your journey is built around confirmed drives, not waitlists.
THE ELEPHANT CONGREGATION
THE LEOPARDS OF KABINI
TIGER COUNTRY
The Black Panther of Kabini
The forest’s most famous resident – a melanistic leopard – has made this zone a pilgrimage for wildlife photographers worldwide. Sightings are rare and never promised. But nowhere on earth are your odds better.
05 — Beyond the Safari
R.01
A candle-lit table set deep in the wilderness – lanterns, a personal butler, and the night forest for company.
R.02
Drinks at a lookout over elephant country as the sun sets behind Nagarhole.
R.03
A motorboat anchored mid-backwater after dark, beneath a sky the city never shows you.
R.04
Drifting the river’s edge in the traditional round basket-boat of the Kabini
R.05
From Malabar pied hornbills to osprey and river terns – over 250 species recorded in the Kabini-Nagarhole landscape.
R.06
Guided walks through the forest-edge communities and landscapes of H.D. Kote.
R.07
The camp’s social heart – stories traded over a crackling fire, afternoons in the riverside pool.
06 — The Calendar
BIG-CAT SEASON
MARCH — MAY
Peak big-cat sightings as wildlife gathers at the shrinking backwaters. The famous Kabini elephant congregation. Warm days, magical copper evenings.
OCTOBER — FEBRUARY
Cool, crisp safari mornings and superb birdwatching with migratory arrivals. The most comfortable season for families
JUNE — SEPTEMBER
An emerald, mist-laden forest and a quieter camp – ideal for romantic riverside escapes. Safari access subject to forest conditions.
07 — The Approach
KIA AIRPORT · 0 KM
RAIL · ~140 KM IN
FOREST COUNTRY BEGINS
~220–240 KM · 5–5.5 HRS
By road from Bangalore:approximately 220-240 km via Mysore and H.D. Kote – about 5 to 5.5 hours. From Mysore: approximately 80 km, around 2 hours. Nearest railhead: Mysore Junction. Nearest airports: Mysore and Kempegowda International, Bengaluru. Ocean6 arranges private chauffeured transfers from both cities, timed to the resort’s 12:30 PM check-in – so your first afternoon by the river is never rushed.
08 — The Ocean6 Way
Share your travel dates with Ocean6 Holidays and receive a bespoke Bison itinerary within 24 hours.
09 — Questions, Answered
On the banks of the Kabini backwaters in H.D. Kote Taluk, Karnataka, at the meeting point of Nagarhole and Bandipur National Parks - approximately 0.5 km from the Nagarhole safari gate, 80 km from Mysore and 220–240 km from Bangalore.
October to May. Summer (March–May) delivers the strongest big-cat sightings and the Kabini elephant congregation. Winter (October–February) offers pleasant weather and exceptional birdlife. The monsoon turns the camp into a lush, quiet riverside retreat.
Six signature stays: Waterfront Luxury Tents and Rustic Machans to exclusive, highly Private Bush Tents, Saya's Den, Luxurious Little Bison Suite and dedicated Suite Cottage.
Jeep and boat safaris into Nagarhole are usually charged separately and are subject to forest-department slot availability. Every Ocean6 Kabini itinerary includes pre-coordinated safari bookings so your drives are confirmed before you travel.
The melanistic leopard roams the Nagarhole forests accessed from the Kabini safari zone. Sightings are rare and never guaranteed, but this zone offers among the best odds in the world - alongside frequent leopard, tiger, elephant, gaur and wild-dog encounters.
Drive via Mysore and H.D. Kote - roughly 220-240 km, about 5 to 5.5 hours. Ocean6 arranges private chauffeured transfers from Bangalore and Mysore, timed to the resort's check-in.
Yes. Couples favour the candle-lit bush dinners, private sundowners and starry boat rides; families enjoy coracle rides, the bush pool, birdwatching and campfire evenings. Ocean6 tailors the experience mix to your occasion.
Ocean6 designs the complete journey, not just the room: confirmed safari slots, your preferred tent or machan, private transfers, curated experiences and extensions to Coorg, Mysore or Bandipur - all managed by one dedicated travel concierge with support throughout your trip.