Enjoy the wildlife sights on offer in India with an overland tour

Tigers, lions and elephants all feature as part of the country's vibrate wildlife parks.

As well as having some of the most diverse and lively cities in the world, India also boasts a number of wildlife havens for those on overland adventures in the country to take a peek at through their binoculars.

And the wealth of habitats and national parks in the country also offer intrepid travellers the chance to get up close with some of the most beautiful wild animals on the planet.

Boasting tigers, elephants, rhinos and exotic birdlife, India tours are a must for all wildlife lovers. Start in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserves, four areas of exquisite natural beauty spread across the southern end of the 1,600km-long Western Ghats mountain range, where you can catch a glimpse of the Indian elephant in its natural environment.

The Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, spread across Kerala, is the untouched gem of the group, with a large population of the animals set among gorgeous Indian landscape.

Tigers are much-revered in India, but can be hard to catch a glimpse of due to their status as an endangered species. In 2012, the Supreme Court passed a ban on tourism in the 'core areas' where tigers still dwell, but some of the country's tiger reserves still offer 'buffer zones' where adventurous tourists can catch a glimpse of the animal in the wild. Karnataka boasts 300 tigers across six reserves, so is your best bet to spot one of the striped animals.

As with all such nature reserves, you'll need to bring your 'quiet voice' if you're going to get up close with the animals. But after a few days of hunkering down in a four-wheel drive trying to get a glimpse through your binoculars, you might want to cut loose and enjoy a night or two in one of the major cities.

That's where a trip to Delhi comes in. The huge city clashes the old and the new, with the remnants of ancient temples hidden in among towering and sophisticated modern buildings. There, you'll get a real taste of the diverse treats on offer in India, with museums and monuments to visit during the day and enjoying frosty cocktails in New Delhi at night.