A trip to Nepal is incomplete if you miss out on a jungle safari.
While the mountains of the North have some of the highest and most magnificent
peaks in the world, the tropical jungles of the Terai boast some of the best
wildlife habitats in the subcontinent. Some of these rich wildlife habitats are
now protected, and can be toured on elephant back, 4 Wheel Drive, dugout canoe
or on foot accompanied by a licensed guide.
Nepal has 16 national parks, wildlife reserves and conservation areas, occuping
16 % of its total geographical area. Jungle safaris on elephant back or Jeep
rides are offered at the Parsa Wildlife Reserve, Royal Bardia National Park and
the Royal Suklaphant wildlife reserve, all located in the Terai. PHOTOS COMING
SOON!
The Royal Chitwan National Park is one of the finest National Parks in
Asia. It lies in the subtropical inner Terai lowlands of South-Central Nepal.
This is the most popular destination for tourists wanting to have a broad
experience of the region's wildlife.
Chitwan was declared a National Park in 1973. In 1984,UNESCO designated
it as a Natural World Heritage Site. The Park offers protection to 56 species of
mammals including the one-horned rhinoceros, Bengal tiger, leopard,
sloth bear, wild elephant, striped hyena,
Gangetic dolphin and wild bison. There are an
estimated 470 species of mammals, over 500 species of birds,126 species of
fish,150 species of butterflies and 47 species of reptiles in the park !
A recent study also points out that over a third of Nepal's tigers are in
Chitwan. The Park is spread over an area of 932 sq km and located in the
lowlands of the kingdom. The forest cover is predominantly Sal, interspersed
with tall grasslands, small hills, ox-bow lakes and flood plains. The best time
to visit Chitwan is from October through to February when the
temperature averages 25 degrees Celsius. The months of March, April
and June can be hot, while July - September is the monsoon
season, when the rivers swell and parts of the park are inaccessible.
The Royal Bardia National Park is spread over 968 sq km and located in
the Western Nepal Terai. It is easily the largest and least disturbed wilderness
in the Terai, and is predominantly Sal forest sprinkled with tall grasslands. It
is bound on the North by the Chure Hills and is skirted on the west by the
Geruwa River. It is said that here, your chances of spotting a tiger in
Nepal are the highest. Other animals include the rhiniceros, swamp
deer, leopards, jungle cats, blue bulls
( nilgai ) sloth bears, barking deer and langurs.
There are a few wild elephants, and one of the males is considered
the largest in Asia !
The Geruwa River that rushes in through a break in the hill range is home to
the famous mahseer game fish, gharial and mugger
crocodile and the freshwater Gangetic dolphin.
The park also has cobras, kraits and pythons. The
park boasts more than 250 species of birds, including the endangered Bengal
florican, sarus crane and many species of geese, ducks and
parakeets. The activities on offer include jungle safari on elephant back,
walks, boat rides, Jeep drives and cultural dances. The best time to visit is
from October - March.
The Royal Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve is a smaller ( 305 sq ) version of
Bardia, located at the South Western extreme of the Kingdom. Its topography is
primarily river floodplains, open grassland and Sal forest. It also has a
large lake and the Bahini river flows through the park. The park is home to tiger,
leopard, a good number of swamp deer ( prime habitat, often
sighted ), otters, hispid hare, blue bull ( nilgai ),
leopard, hog deer and wild boar. The park also has over 300
species of birds and most of the tourists who make the trip here are keen bird
watchers. Reptiles include gharial and mugger crocodiles, Indian
python, cobras, kraits, rat snakes and monitor
lizards. Activities include wildlife watching on elephant back and jungle
walks. The best time to visit is February - March.
The Parsa Wildlife Reserve is located to the east of the Royal Chitwan
National Park. It is spread over 499 sq km of hills and flatlands, and has
a sub-tropical monsoon climate. The forests are predominantly Sal, with
other species like Chir Pine, Sissoo and Khair, and grasslands making up the
rest. This reserve has tigers, leopards, sloth bears,
wild dogs( dhole ), deer, blue bull ( nilgai
),hog deer and barking deer. It also is home
to over 300 species of birds, including the endangered giant hornbill
and the Bengal florican. Snakes found are cobras, kraits
and pythons. October to March is just right for a
visit. Activities include safaris on elephant back and jeep, and jungle
walks.
