By Gautam, Travel Writer | Eco-Explorer | Wildlife Enthusiast

If you’ve ever wondered what India’s wilderness looks like after the sun sets, hold onto your safari hats — because Lucknow is about to change the game. Set within the quiet wilderness of Kukrail Reserve Forest, the Kukrail Night Safari and Adventure Park is poised to become India’s first-ever urban night safari, opening in phases from late 2026 through mid-2027.

It’s ambitious. It’s sustainable. And it’s unlike anything North India has seen before.

🐾 Where Wild Meets Wonder: What Is the Kukrail Night Safari?

Imagine riding a silent tram through misty trails, spotting a leopard’s glowing eyes or listening to the distant roar of a lion under the moonlight. That’s the vision behind the Kukrail Night Safari — a fully immersive, after-dark wildlife experience designed with global inspiration and local love.

Unlike conventional zoos or safaris, this one flips the script: animals roam in enclosures designed to mimic their natural habitats at night, when they’re most active. The goal? To connect visitors to wildlife in a way that’s both respectful and unforgettable.

🛠️ The Project Blueprint: Scope, Timeline & What’s to Come

This isn’t just a park; it’s an eco-tourism marvel in the making.

• Total Area: ~855 hectares of forest, with Phase I covering ~65,000 sqm

• Phase I Features (Opening 2026–27):

  • 38 wildlife enclosures

  • Eco-friendly tram safari

  • 7D theatre, art gallery, walking trails (1.9 km), children’s zone

  • On-site vet hospital, staff quarters, and safety features like CCTV

• Phase II: The relocation of the Lucknow Zoo, expanding the animal count with giraffes, chimps, and other global species

With over ₹1,500 crore allocated (₹631 crore for Phase I alone), this project isn’t just big — it’s monumental.

🦁 What Wildlife Can You Expect?

While the final lineup is evolving, here’s what’s confirmed or in the pipeline:

• Big cats: Lions, tigers, leopards

• Bears: Sloth and Himalayan black bears

• Herbivores: Blackbuck, nilgai, deer species

• Others: Hyenas, jackals, wild boars, hog deer

• Future Enclosures: Giraffes, zebras, chimpanzees (Phase II)

And here’s the twist — instead of cages, animals are displayed in zoned habitats like the African Savanna, Arid India, and Indian Wetlands, with guided lighting and minimal intrusion.

🌿 A Model of Sustainable Tourism

The Kukrail project isn’t just about showcasing wildlife — it’s about protecting it.

• Built in unused open areas to preserve forest integrity

• Learnings from Singapore’s Night Safari integrated into design

• Maintains Kukrail’s legacy as a conservation hotspot (it already houses India’s oldest gharial breeding center)

Every enclosure, trail, and feature is designed with minimal environmental impact — proving tourism and ecology can coexist.

⚖️ Legal & Environmental Status

• Approved by: Central Zoo Authority (CZA)

• Under review by: National Green Tribunal & Supreme Court (tree-felling and EIA concerns)

• As of 2025, construction is greenlit and work begins this April

Expect clarity later this year — but Phase I remains on track for a 2026–27 debut.

🧭 Why You Should Be Excited

If you live in India — or plan to visit — this could become your most unique wildlife experience without needing to fly to Africa or Singapore.

Here's what makes it special:

• Nighttime exploration of nature in an urban setting

• Great for families, students, and wildlife enthusiasts

• A whole new reason to explore Lucknow beyond its kebabs and Nawabi palaces

It’s not just a visit — it’s an adventure after dark.

🎒 Planning Ahead: What to Know

🌌 Final Thoughts: Nighttime Is the New Wild

We’ve explored forests in the day. We’ve read about animals in books. But the Kukrail Night Safari promises something different — a story you live through the stillness of night, under the stars, surrounded by the pulse of the forest.

So start planning. Because by 2027, Lucknow won’t just be the City of Nawabs — it’ll be the city where night comes alive in the wildest way.