Subject · Wildlife · Mammal

Red Panda

Ailurus fulgens · best May–Jun, Oct–Nov

In season now

Where and when

Months by place

Red Panda shooting windows: places down, months across
Subject	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Singalila National Park and the adjoining Tinchule forest, Nepal side — Kaiakata, Dobate, Choyatar, Tumling	Outside the window	Outside the window	Outside the window	Outside the window	Outside the window	Outside the window	Outside the window	Outside the window	In season	Peak	Peak	Outside the window
Singalila / Tinchule ridge — same bases	In season	Outside the window	Outside the window	Outside the window	Outside the window	Outside the window	Outside the window	Outside the window	Outside the window	Outside the window	Outside the window	In season
Singalila / Tinchule ridge	Outside the window	Outside the window	Outside the window	Outside the window	Outside the window	Peak	In season	In season	Outside the window	Outside the window	Outside the window	Outside the window

Best for November

Odds: Likely, 4 of 5. Verdict: Prime.
Red Panda at Singalila National Park and the adjoining Tinchule forest, Nepal side — Kaiakata, Dobate, Choyatar, Tumling: you will probably see it (Sep–Nov)
Odds: Coin flip, 3 of 5. Verdict: Prime.
Red Panda at Singalila / Tinchule ridge — same bases: about an even chance of seeing it (Dec–Jan)

Its year

Across its windows

Red Panda — Singalila / Tinchule — Autumn Fruiting

Shoot window

Singalila National Park and the adjoining Tinchule forest, Nepal side — Kaiakata, Dobate, Choyatar, Tumling

Red Panda: you will probably see it (Sep–Nov)

Red Panda by month
Month	Presence
Jan	Outside the window
Feb	Outside the window
Mar	Outside the window
Apr	Outside the window
May	Outside the window
Jun	Outside the window
Jul	Outside the window
Aug	Outside the window
Sep	In season
Oct	Peak
Nov	Peak
Dec	Outside the window

Peak: October and November are the peak travel months for weather and visibility.
Days needed: 7 days
Behaviour: Mass aggregation
Coat: Not applicable
Habitat: Autumn colour, Green season / lush
Crowds: Moderate
Also here: Over 300 bird species including satyr tragopan, blood pheasant, fire-tailed myzornis, Darjeeling woodpecker. Yellow-throated marten, Himalayan black bear (rare). Over 600 wild orchid varieties in this window.

Light: Around 27°N but at 2,300–3,600 m. Clear post-monsoon skies mean hard direct sun above canopy and deep shade below it — the contrast range is the problem, not the quantity of light. Overcast and mist days are better for this subject than blue-sky days.
Weather risk: Fog / mist (asset) and High wind
Atmosphere: Post-monsoon air is exceptionally clear — the monsoon washes the atmosphere and leaves crisp skies. Kanchenjunga and Everest visible from the ridge on clear days. Hanging mist through moss forest at dawn.
Permits: Singalila National Park permits and mandatory local guides. Different rules on the Indian and Nepalese sides. Verify current park fees and whether tracker-led off-trail movement is permitted.
Getting there: Bagdogra (India) or Bhadrapur (Nepal) airport, then 4–6 hours by road. Base at Habre's Nest in Kaiakata or park-side guesthouses at Tumling / Kalapokhri. Altitude 2,300–3,600 m — mild but real. Trackers work both the Indian and Nepalese sides.

Who runs trips here: Habre's Nest (Kaiakata) is the established photographer-oriented base, with around 32 wild red pandas recorded in the immediate area. Several photo tours run here, including Nick Garbutt-led trips via Wildlife Worldwide, and Paul McDougall's operation working from the Nepal side.

Confidence: high · Last verified 24 Aug 2026

Red Panda — Singalila / Tinchule — Winter Snow & Mating

Shoot window

Singalila / Tinchule ridge — same bases

Red Panda: about an even chance of seeing it (Dec–Jan)

Red Panda by month
Month	Presence
Jan	In season
Feb	Outside the window
Mar	Outside the window
Apr	Outside the window
May	Outside the window
Jun	Outside the window
Jul	Outside the window
Aug	Outside the window
Sep	Outside the window
Oct	Outside the window
Nov	Outside the window
Dec	In season

Peak: Not established — snow timing is the variable. Needs verification with the lodge for a specific year.
Days needed: 8 days
Behaviour: Courtship / display
Coat: Full winter coat
Habitat: Fresh snow, Autumn colour
Crowds: Quiet
Also here: Excellent winter birding amid lingering autumn colour. Same species list as autumn.

Light: Short days, low sun, and snow-filtered light that solves the canopy contrast problem that plagues the autumn window.
Weather risk: Snow / blizzard (asset), High wind and Fog / mist (asset)
Atmosphere: Snow on moss and rhododendron is the differentiator here — red against white and grey-green rather than red against autumn brown. Lingering fall colour into December.
Permits: As autumn window.
Getting there: As autumn, but colder and with a real chance of snow affecting road access to the ridge. Dry but chilly.

Who runs trips here: Habre's Nest operates through this period.

Confidence: medium · Last verified 24 Aug 2026

Red Panda — Singalila — Monsoon

Shoot window

Singalila / Tinchule ridge

Red Panda: you might see it, but it is far from sure (Jun–Aug)

Red Panda by month
Month	Presence
Jan	Outside the window
Feb	Outside the window
Mar	Outside the window
Apr	Outside the window
May	Peak
Jun	Peak
Jul	In season
Aug	In season
Sep	Outside the window
Oct	Outside the window
Nov	Outside the window
Dec	Outside the window

Peak: N/A — though mid-May to mid-June has a narrow atmospheric case before the rains close in.
Habitat: Green season / lush, Mud / thaw
Crowds: Closed season

Weather risk: Monsoon, Rainy season and Fog / mist (asset)
Permits: Verify seasonal park closure dates — these were not confirmed during research.

Confidence: medium · Last verified 24 Aug 2026

Hides, lodges and tours for the Red Panda

No hides, lodges or tours match these filters yet.

Where it lives

Show the Red Panda range on the globe

Species

IUCN status: Unknown
Regions: Asia
Range on the globe: No range polygons yet

GBIF taxon 5219446