Hyderabad has unveiled India's first Virtual Reality (VR) Wildlife Safari at the Botanical Garden in Kothaguda, offering an innovative blend of technology and nature.

Key features of the Virtual Reality Wildlife safari:

- Virtual Reality Safari Bus Ride: Visitors embark on a 3-kilometer virtual journey, equipped with VR glasses, simulating an authentic wildlife safari. The experience combines real safari footage with 3D animal models for a lifelike adventure.

- Augmented Reality (AR) Zoo & Library: Interactive stations allow children to color animal images and animate them using tablets. Scanning animal cards produces 3D animations, enhancing learning through engagement. 

- Plant Sound Experience: Special devices detect electrical signals from plants and convert them into audible sounds, enabling visitors to "hear" the plants. 

- VR Kayaking: A real kayak placed in water lets users paddle through a virtual river using VR technology, merging physical activity with a virtual environment.

- 9D Cinema Experience: A short film featuring dinosaurs, where visitors feel movements, wind, and water effects, making the experience more realistic. 

- 360° VR Tour of Telangana’s Natural Beauty: The safari also offers a virtual tour of Telangana’s famous waterfalls like Bogatha, Kuntala, and Pochera, and provides insights into tribal life and traditions.

This initiative by the Telangana State Forest Development Corporation (TSFDC) aims to promote wildlife conservation awareness while offering an engaging experience for visitors, especially children. The Kothaguda Botanic Gardens is set to become one of Hyderabad’s major tourist attractions, further enhancing the city’s appeal.

The VR Wildlife Safari represents a significant advancement in wildlife tourism, providing an accessible and educational platform for individuals to connect with nature through cutting-edge technology.