Be prepared for chaos at the ticket line before the park. Boat tour tickets (which you can buy online) and bus tickets are separate. You buy the bus ticket first, and then boat tickets at the dock within the park. There are plenty of boat tickets, even though people are rushing. There is a bit of waiting and crowds, and the monkeys will jump on you if you open your bag/have food. The people on the boat ride before us (1:30 session) came off unhappy and said it was boring (this was during the heat of the day when the animals are resting). I went on the 3:30 session and saw plenty of beautiful elephants, birds and deers. The guide told me that the first morning session is the best chance to see tigers. I went on the boat at the end of the dock, these ones seemed to have more western tourists, and life jackets were not compulsory. We seemed to have more space on the boat, and the guys working on the boat were wonderful, they even took my phone to get some great photos. In summary, it’s chaotic and you’re not guaranteed to see anything (that’s nature for you), but if you get lucky, it’s so so worth it! Tip: Take binoculars!!

We took both a boat ride and trek (2.5 hours) in the reserve. The boat trip in my opinion is a waste of time. Any wildlife you may happen to see will be at a considerable distance away. The trek however is accompanied by a guide who can help spot wildlife and also talk to native flora and fauna. For the walk they will advise you on appropriate dress and provide you with leggings to protect feet from leeches. Hiking boots aren't required, just good walking shoes.

It was a nice boat trip through the Waters in the morning hours. We could spot some animals at a distance, but the journey was enjoyable. We liked that the staff was very strict and ensured that everyone wore the Life-jackets and nobody was allowed to move around.