NEPAL - WILDLIFE

While the high Himalaya makes up Nepal's northern region, the southern flatland known as the Terai is covered with dense tropical jungle. The safari destinations here offer exciting opportunities to view wild animals and birds from elephant-back, jeep, boat or on foot.

The best season is October-March. April-June is hot (above 40 degrees Celsius) and July-September is rainy. The resort listed below offer convenient package tours which include transport, jungle activities, cultural show, accommodation and meals.

JUNGLE SAFARI IN NEPAL

While the high Himalayas makes up Nepal's northern region, the southern low land, known as the Terai, is covered with dense tropical jungles teeming with diverse wildlife and exotic birds. Here you will find some of the most exciting safari destinations in the world. You will be going into deep jungle on elephant back or four-wheel drive vehicle to view wild animals in their natural habitat. Other thrills are canoe ride, nature walks, birds watching excursions, and village tours and in the evening local Tharu people perform their cultural dance by the fire(depending on the lodge) or the expert naturalists introduce you with the history of parks, animals, birds etc through slide shows or orientation programmes. So the JUNGLE SAFARI in Nepal will provide you with the thrilling experience as the national parks of Nepal are rated as probably the best parks in the Asia and in the World

ROYAL CHITWAN NATIONAL PARK

Among the 14 national parks and wildlife reserves in the Kingdom, the Royal Chitwan National Parks (932 sq. Km) is the most popular safari destination. More than 43 species of animals are found in Chitwan. The endangered One Horned Rhino, Royal Bengal Tiger, Gharial Crcodile, four-horned antelope, striped hyena, and the Gangetic dolphin are the main attractions here. The best part is that it is close to Kathmandu and easily accessible (only 165 km overland ), and Bharatpur airport adjoining the park is a mere 25 minute flight away (there are daily flights form Kathmandu). Many adventures also choose to go down by raft. However you go, a jungle safari is an experience you will remember for a long time. The Programmes The Normal programmes for Chitwan is for 2 nights and three days. from Kathmandu it takes only half and hour to reach the park by flight, 4 hours by car or 7 hours by raft. Infact rafting is the most thriling way of reaching the park if you are not afraid of water and love adventure. The rafting river (TRISHULI) follows the road to Chitwan after 90 minutes of drive from Kathmandu.

Your programmes start from your arrival in the lodge or resort you are staying in. After your arrival you are served with the hot lunch and after lunch, depending on the location of the resorts, you are taken for an excting tour of elephant breeding centre or tharu village walk or jungle ride. You will be spending next full day in the park with activities like elephant back safari to view the animals, dug out canoe ride, bird watching tour, jungle walk, tharu village walk etc. In the evening the resort will organize you tharu cultural dance or slide shows or other forms of entertainment (depending on the lodges). Next day waking up early in the morning you will proceed to jungle walk to encounter the animals and the birds early. After breakfast if you are travelling back to your destination transfer is provided or if you are extending the stay oher programmes follows

KOSHI TAPPU WILDLIFE RESERVE

Situated in Eastern part of the country, Koshi Tappu Wildlife Resort covers 175sq.kms and it was established in 1976.
Rapid and complete inundation of the reserve to depth ranging from 10 to 300cms occurs during the monsoon. The Sapta -Koshi river also changes its courser from one season to another. The vegetation is mainly tall Khar -patter grassland with a few patches of Khair -sisso, scrub forest and deciduous mixed reverie forest. The reserve offers important habitat for variety of wildlife. The last surviving population (about 10individuals) of Wild buffalo is found here. Other mammal's occurring here are hog deer, wild deer, spotted deer and blue bull.

This reserve is one of the best habitats for bird in Asia (probably in the world). A Total of 280 different species of birds have been recorded here. These include 20 species of ducks, 2 species of ibises, many storks, egrets, herons and the endangered swamp partridges and the Bengal Floricans. In the winter bird as far as from Siberia and Tibet come to stay in this reserve So if you are looking for bird watching tour this may be the best option in entire Asia. That's why the reserve is called he bird watcher's paradise.
A trip to Koshi is best for at least 3 nights and from 3 nights it will be better to have as many times as you can manage to get into the deep grassland to view rare species of birds and animals.

Access: 45 Minutes of flights from Kathmandu to Biratnagar and 45 minutes of drive from the Biratnaga will take you to the door of National Park. If you wish to travel by road it will take 1 2 hours from Kathmandu by normal car/coach.

ROYAL BARDIA NATIONAL PARK

ROYAL BARDIA NATIONAL PARK Situated at south eastern side of Nepal and close to the Indian border, the park is one of the most picturesque and unexplored national park in Asia. One hour of smooth flight to Nepalgunj and 4-5 hours drive from there will take you to the park. The park is best known for the largest wild tusker in Asia. The other activities in the park includ, elephant back safari, rafting, Bird watching and Jungle excursion with swimming and fishing. The best time to visit the park is from October to April.
It is better to plan the trip for at least 3 nights to Bardia Nationa Park so as to view more wildlife and to get the maximum of the trip. The prices for trips are as follows: ( US$ and per person, per night basis)