Away from the coast, the Goan landscape breaks into the dramatic and green foothills of the Western Ghats. These foothills shelter the Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary; the smallest wildlife reserve in Goa, which occupies an area of 80sq. km. The sanctuary has the sambar, gaur (Indian bison) and wild boar, amongst others animals. Elephants have been spotted here at times. Perhaps they come in from across Karnataka to enjoy the sea breeze and check out Goa. The sanctuary houses a botanical garden, a rose garden, a small deer-park and a zoo, which was initially established to shelter orphaned animals.

The wildlife in Goa is rich with a great variety of flora and fauna. The climate here is the perfect to support to a wide variety of animals and plants. The major fauna here include names like Chital, Panthers, wild dog, Sambar, Bison, the Flying Squirrel, chowsinga, Langurs, Tiger, sambar,Crocodiles, langur, jungle cat, Four Horned Antelope, Sloth Bear, Chinkara, Black Buck, Panther, Wild dog, Wolf, Jackal, Giant Squirrels, hyena, bonnet monkey, pangolin, nilgai, and many more. The flora in Maharastra is also remarkable. The major are deciduous forests of Terminalia, Logerstroemia Isnceolata, Teak, Dalbergia Latifolia, Terminalia Paniculata, Albizzia, T. bellerica, Anogeissius, Boswelia, Dalbergia, Shisham, Andug Prerocarpuss, Adina cordifolia, Pterocarpus marsupium, T. tomentosa, Grewia tiliaefolia, and Bamboo.

At the confluence of the Mandovi and Mapusa Rivers lies the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, spread across an area of 2sq. km. in the Charoa Island. The wildlife sanctuary supports rich mangrove forests, which are home to a host of birds, a sizeable population of flying foxes, jackals, crocodiles, turtles and some other life forms endemic to coastal wildlife

The Nature Interpretation Centre run by the Forest Department is a valuable repository of knowledge. At present, the Department is capable of providing rudimentary facilities like snake-proof camping sites, canvas tents, reference material and loads of goodwill. For those who really want to rough it out, there is no end of possibilities. If you are brave enough, the Forest Dept can provide cots and mosquito-nets. So that all that lies between you and the jungle is a thin mesh. Otherwise, the Forest Department has one two-bedded suite available at Poinguinim, 2 km. away from the Sanctuary. The dense forests, perennial streams, and picturesque undulating terrain provide for a unique wildlife refuge.