A Safari park is a park where animals are kept for free roaming. The area is open to visitors to have a glimpse of wildlife. There is a difference between zoo and safari park. A safari park allows anyone to observe animals in their natural habitat whereas a zoo merely provides an opportunity to see animals housed in their enclosures. In safari park, animals are brought from outside. Safari park allows free movement of animals which was previously non-existent in this region. It is undoubtedly a good recreational spot.
Gazipur National Park, formerly known as Gazipur Safari Park, is a safari park in Gazipur, Bangladesh. It is a popular destination known for its wildlife conservation efforts and recreational activities.
This safari park is spread over 3,810 acres of Sal Forest which makes it one of the largest safari parks in the world and the largest in Asia. The tourist spot is located about 40 kilometers north of Bangladesh’s capital city near the Dhaka—Mymensingh Highway. It was inaugurated on October 31, 2013.
After the July Revolution and the depose of Sheikh Hasina’s oppressive rule in Bangladesh, a few areas of the park were subjected to vandalism as it bore the name of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The name of the park was changed following the revolution and the park has been opened for visitors since 15th November 2024.
The park is divided into some major sections: Core Safari, Safari Kingdom, Biodiversity Park, Extensive Asian Safari Park and Children’s Park.
Only authorized buses can enter into Core Safari zone. But visitors can see the animals in natural environment while sitting inside the bus. This zone is made up with 1,335 acres of land in which 20 acres of land for tiger, 21 acres of land for lion, 8.50 acres of land for black bear, 8 acres of land for African cheetah, 81.50 acres of land for chital, 80 acres of land for gaur, 105 acres of land for elephant, 35 acres of land for hippo, 22 acres of land for deer, 25 acres of land for nilgai, 407 acres of land for buffalo and 290 acres of land for African safari.
This safari park is home to 47 species of animals and birds out of which 28 species are local. The total population of animals and birds is about 3000. Most notable are: Tiger, Lion, Elephant, Zebra, Deer, Swan, Butterfly, Duck, Snake, Bear, Peafowl, Nilgai, Hippopotamus, Alligator, Kangaroo, Gharial.
I have visited the safari park on last January 9. After entrance through purchasing tickets, I along with the visitors visited the African Safari Park on board a mini bus owned by the park authority. They saw animals like Royal Bengal Tiger, white and red lion, deer, wild cow, giraffe and bear et cetera.
This was followed by a visit to a museum of valuable trees, plants, animals and natural vegetation. The entire area was surrounded by Sal, Segun, Acacia and other valuable trees. Finally, the young students visited the museums of birds and fishes. They were delighted to see various species of birds and fishes there.
How to Get There from Dhaka
By Road:
1. Bus: Several bus services operate from Dhaka to Gazipur. Buses like BRTC, Shohagh Paribahan, and Ena Transport ply this route. The journey typically takes around 1-2 hours depending on traffic. From Gazipur town, you can take a local bus or CNG auto-rickshaw to the Safari Park.
2.Private Car/Taxi: You can also drive to Gazipur Safari Park from Dhaka. The distance is approximately 40 kilometers via the Tongi-Gazipur link road. The journey usually takes about 1-1.5 hours depending on traffic conditions.
By Train:
There is no direct train service to Gazipur Safari Park. However, you can take a train from Kamalapur Railway Station in Dhaka to Joydebpur Railway Station. From Joydebpur, you can then take a bus, taxi, or CNG auto-rickshaw to reach the Safari Park, which is approximately 15 kilometers away.
Once at Gazipur Safari Park, entry tickets are required for access, and additional fees may apply for safari rides and other activities. It’s advisable to check current opening hours and availability of transport options before planning your visit.