Bondla wildlife Sanctuary is the most popular and famous wildlife sanctuary in Goa. The smallest of the Goan wildlife sanctuaries, Bondla wildlife sanctuary spreads over an area of 8 sq. kms. and is located 3000 ft. above on the lush foothills of the Western Ghats. It is a popular spot for both tourists and school children. A wide variety of animal life can be encountered here. Additionally Bondla also provides sanctuary to Leopards and dancing bears. Another attraction at Bondla are the Hindu carvings which were found while constructing the sanctuary garden.

nature lovers' paradise. Bondla will tempt you with its lush forest, botanical garden, rose garden, fenced deer park, mini zoo and Elephant rides. Rangado river flows on the east and Mandovi river is on the north of the forest. The landscape of the Bondla wildlife sanctuary is strikingly beautiful and the lush green vegetation provides a natural ecosystem. The Bondla national park has a Botanical Garden, Rose Garden and Deer Park within its premises. One can also opt for a jeep safari inside the deer park in the Bondla sanctuary. This sanctuary is a favorite among school children who come here for educational excursions.

Elephant rides are a major attraction for children and adults alike. You can enjoy elephant rides within the sanctuary which are organized twice daily. The Forest Department has set up tourist cottages at the entrance of the Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary to facilitate accommodation to those wanting to spend a night or two. These cottages are ordinary but well maintained. There is also a restaurant that provides simple, tasty food.

The forest cover of Bondla wildlife sanctuary consists of moist deciduous forests and evergreen vegetation patches. One can find bamboo plantations along with trees like Terninalia Crenulata also known as Matti, Rosewood, Lagerstroemia, Kindall, Jamba and Mimusops, etc. Besides the trees once can find orchids, medicinal herbs and roots that are native to tropical forests.

Here you can see a number of animals like Bison, Wild Boar, Deer, Gaur, Porcupines, Jackals, Leopards, Peacocks, Sloth Bear, Pythons, Elephants, Toddy Cat and a variety of snakes.In the crocodile enclosure, watch the crocodiles as they clamber themselves out of the water and rest over the rocks in the sun. In addition to wildlife viewing Bondla is good for bird-watching too. You can spot a variety of birds that include Brown fish owl, Ruby throated yellow bulbul, Indian scimitar babbler and Oriental dwarf kingfisher.

Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary is situated near Usgao, a small town that lies at the junction of Ponda, Sanguem and Sattari talukas. You can reach Bondla by taking a bus from Ponda. However most tourists travel by cab.There are many tour operators that have Bondla included in their sightseeing packages for Goa. To reach the Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary follow the same routes as for Mollem, but turn off NH 4 A at Tiska near Usgao. For accommodation, it is advisable to book the cottages in advance, especially if you are planning your visit on a weekend or public holiday. The Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary remains closed on Thursdays.