There are about 39 species of mammals, 8 species of snakes, 4 types of lizards, 6 types of fishes, 21 types of insects and 170 species of birds in the Betla National Park. The national park has a large variety of wildlife like tiger, elephant, leopard, bison, sambhar, wild boar, python, hyena, spotted deer (cheetal), chinkara, rabbit, fox, common langur, wild dog, nilgai, porcupine, hare, wild cat, jackal, Malabar giant squirrel, mongoose, wolf, antelope, etc. There is a rich variety of birdlife in the park as well. Peafowl, Red Jungle Fowl and Partridges are the common birds which are found here.

The best time to visit the park is between February and April. The region experiences extreme weather conditions with the maximum temperature rising to 40°C in summers. The winters are also quite severe with the minimum temperature dropping to as low as 3°C. The tourists should carry light cotton clothes during the summers and heavy woolens during the winters.

The tourists can drive through patches of dense forests of Sal and Bamboo in the park. The guide and a jeep can be hired from the forest department. The core region of the forest is not open to tourists. There are tree top towers, watch towers and ground level hideouts to view the wildlife.

Besides viewing birds and animals, the tourists can have a look at the two large forts in the forest. It is believed that the Adivasi kings of the Chero dynasty have built these forts. Raja Medhni Raj, the ruler of Chotanagpur started the construction of the fort but his son Pratap Raj completed the fort. The fort had defenses in three directions and three main gates. The largest gate was known as Singh Dwar or the Lion Gate. The Nagpuri Gate has two inscriptions in Sanskrit and Persian and the style of architecture is Islamic.

By Air:
The nearest airport is located in Ranchi, which is situated at a distance of 120 km. 

By Rail:
The nearest railway station is located at Daltongunj. The station is well connected with many places of the nearby region with regular trains. 

By Road:
The sanctuary is easily accessible by road and well connected to other cities of the region by surface network.