Kaziranga's topography is overwhelmingly flat, typifying the fertile floodplains of the Brahmaputra Valley. The elevation ranges only slightly from roughly 40 meters (131 feet) to 80 meters (262 feet) above sea level. This flat expanse is interrupted only by slightly elevated earthen mounds—known as "chapories"—which provide crucial refuge for wildlife during the intense monsoon floods.
To the south, the terrain rises to meet the Mikir Hills and the Karbi Anglong plateau. These hills serve as an essential topographical feature, as they act as a safe highland corridor for elephants, rhinos, and other animals migrating out of the flooded plains during the height of the monsoon season. The lowest points of the area are the riverbeds and permanent beels (lakes), which are continually shifting due to the massive flow of the Brahmaputra.