Best time to visit
Monsoons are the cynosure of Agumbe. We have hence categorized experiences based on monsoon.
Pre-Monsoon: January to May.
This marks the breeding season for king cobras with good opportunities to sight them. Being spring it is also the best time to watch butterflies, birds and myriads of other insects. Many animals are active as the race to produce offspring well before monsoon is in full swing. Many festivities, weddings, ceremonies and folk events take place and the cultural fervor is vibrant in villages.
Monsoon:June to September makes up the monsoon season.
Green is the ruling color smudged only by mist and downpours. Monsoon rains are relentless but life in the forests are resplendent with life. From reptiles, amphibians, fungi, and hosts of lesser-known fauna appear during this time. It is a great time to capture macro life as well as the scenic beauty of Agumbe (misty mountains, to heavy downpour, glistening canopies and overflowing streams and rivers).
Post-Monsoon: October to December.
The monsoon clouds recede leaving the forests fresh and lush. Most animals slowly recuperate while new off springs take baby steps into the big world. Amphibian
calls slowly make way for bird calls once again, the butterflies flutter by and the leeches retire in search of dampness that is soon drying up. The best time for school and college programs as well as for wildlife photographers.
Wildlife to look for:
These forests are a treat to the eyes especially for those who love macro life.
Reptiles: The region is home to the world’s longest venomous snake the King Cobra and 41 different species of snakes. Various other reptiles like rouxii lizards, skinks, monitor lizards and the Western Ghats flying lizard (Draco) can be spotted.
Avifauna includes Malabar grey hornbill, Malabar whistling thrush, Malabar pied hornbill, Fairy blue bird, Malabar trogon and the Hill Myna, among 50 others!
Monsoon is the best time to see the Amphibian biodiversity which includes Malabar gliding
frog, Coorg yellow bush frog, False hour glass frog, dancing frogs and many more. As the forest cover is thick and
evergreen, visibility for long distances is very low.
Mammals like Barking deer, Indian gaur, Sambar
deer, Black-naped hare, Slender Lorris, Jungle cats, Civet cats, Leopard cats and Leopards can be seen on rare occasions.
Malabar giant squirrel, Flying squirrel, bonnet macaques and langurs are a fairly common sight.
Apart from the above highlights one can see an amazing array of insect, plant, fungi, aquatic life here.