Jungle Safari

Safari Tour in Chitwan

Nepal's Royal Chitwan National Park, established in 1973 by kingly decree, offers a spectacular CAMERA SAFARI experience. The park's diverse subtropical flora and fauna are an interesting comparison to jungle preserves of Africa. You will see the Indian Subcontinent's version of Rhino, Tiger, Elephant, and Crocodile, as well as a breathtaking variety of jungle birds and steaming river wildlife.

The best time to visit ROYAL CHITWAN NATIONAL PARK is November through February. Summer is swelteringly hot, humid and rainy in the Terai but winter is subtropically delightful. If you visit in September-October or March-April, be prepared for authentic jungle heat. Whichever season you prefer, our staff will be delighted to serve you, our bamboo thatch lodges are light and breezy, and cool drinks are always on tap.

Royal Chitwan is a naturalist's paradise, with hundreds of species of mammal, bird butterfly, and plants. Your Camp Naturalist will help you see many remarkable life forms. About 400 one-horned Asian rhinoceros now populate the park. (Unfortunately, poachers are still a serious problem due to the market value of many parts of a rhinoceros. Their horn powder fetches incredible prices in Chinese makets.)

Of the 3,000 or so estimated original Bengal tigers who used to prowl Chitwan Park, only about 150 remain. However, the Bengal tiger population has experienced a sudden increase since 1999 - so your chances of seeing a tiger while on elephant-back are quite good. You may also see leopards, deer, monkeys, sloth bear, and antelope from your elephant-powered viewing seat.

ALL-INCLUSIVE Elephant-Back Camera Safari & Culture Tour
4 Day / 3 Nights Schedule:

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner -- one evening Nepali buffet, otherwise Continental menu

Slide Presentation by Camp Naturalist on history of the Park, plus fauna, flora, & human culture of Chitwan Valley

Elephant-back tour of Rhino grazing lands - spectacular photos from elephant-eye level

Dugout canoe tour of crocodile waters - keep your fingers in the boat!

Tharu (indigenous people of Chitwan region) cultural folk dancing evening programme - beautiful dancing with ethnic history

Nature walk through the Park with excellent Local guides

Traditional Tharu village tour exhibiting weaving, potting, indigenous crafts

Nepal Government tax (currently 13%) included

Bird watching in the Park - a bird-lovers' paradise

Royal Chitwan National Park entrance fee included

Experience the Wildlife at Chitwan National Park

Chitwan's early morning elephant-back camera safari is not to be missed. Magnificent elephants guided by their ride-along driver carry a viewing platform on their back which can comfortably hold 2 adult observers. You will be safe, up high on the elephant's back, yet intimately close to rhino, leopard, cobra, and even tiger. The elephant drivers will often schedule a second safari walk in the late afternoon, depending on weather and the elephant's mood.

Jeep safaris drive you to wildlife spots in the Park for approx. four hours. Jeep drivers are usually savvy naturalists looking for good photos for their customer. Jeeps can go places that elephants don't go (and vice versa) so schedule an optional jeep safari for your second full day in the Park.

Canoeing along the Rapti river is another fascinating option. You may observe Gharial crocodiles, marsh muggers, and lots of subtropical river fish. It is possible - though rare - to spot Gangetic river dolphin. Chitwan boasts at least 400 species of birds, it is a paradise for bird-lovers. For less than US$10, you can canoe downstream for approx 1 hour, then hike a three-hour guided nature walk for the return trip.

Jungle walks on foot are educational and a good way to spot wildlife. Hire a guide to enjoy & stay safe. Your lodge manager will be happy to recommend a skilled park guide. The lodge manager will arrange any type of guide scheduling and also arrange guide service payment for you, on request.

Two-night hikes into the deeper jungle, camping at government campgrounds costs approx. US$6 per night. You'll need a jungle guide at about $11/day Contact Nepal Sherpa Treks for current pricing If you would like to camp out in the jungle, be sure to bring your camping gear & mosquito netting AND MAXIMUM SUNSCREEN/INSECT REPELLENT with you from Kathmandu.

DAY BY DAY ITINERARY

Day 01:
Arrive in Kathmandu and explore around the city.

Day 02:
Kathmandu: Morning after breakfast at the hotel we leave for a sightseeing of Boudhanath temple, Patan and Monkey temple. Evening walk in the city and Darbur squar area. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 03:
Kathmandu-Royal Chitwan National Park: Morning after breakfast at the hotel a drive of 05 hrs takes us to the Royal Chitwan park, check in resort on arrival. Met by your Jungle guide and proceed to the resort. Welcome drinks and introductory talk by the program manager / Jungle guide. Lunch at the Resort. Post lunch after a brief rest a short tour around Tharu (Chitwan's an indigenous tribe) village. Dinner and overnight at the resort.

Day 04:
Chitwan Natioanl Park: Wake up with bed tea and get ready for an exiting day. After breakfast get ready for a canoeing - jungle walk - return to the resort. Hot lunch at the resort and have a brief rest. Post lunch we leave for and elephant safari. One can monitor wildlife activities in the deep jungle while sitting back on an Elephant. The duration of the elephant back safari is about 1 hour but you can hire an Elephant as long as you wish in additional price. Elephant ride is the most pleasant activities in the parkYou may not want to miss the opportunity to explore Elephant breeding center where number of elephants are kept for reproducing purpose only. We retrun to the resort near dusk to enjoy an cultural program performed by Tharu youngsters, famous for Tharu Stick Dance. Dinner and overnight at the resort.

Day 05:
Chitwan Natioanl Park: Early morning we leave for a bird watching tour (this tour must be made at the time birds awake and head for food just before sun dawn). The Chitwan National Park is the realm of more than 450 species of birds. Most people consider it as a heaven of the bird world. Drive to Kathmandu.

Transportation to Chitwan National Park

By Air: Daily flights Kathmandu to Bharatpur (25km from the Park border) and Kathmandu to Meghauli . Both about 30 minutes in the air. Jeep Transfer from airport included with "Air" version of our Chitwan Lodge holiday, below.

By Public Bus: For the adventurous, public busses go from KTM to Tadi, bus ticket costs approx. US$5.

The comfortable and scheduled Tourist Bus costs about US$10. Drive lasts approx 7 hours KTM-Tadi, depending on landslides, labor strikes, other road phenomena. From Tadi, ride 6Km (2 hours) by ox-cart to Sauraha or hire a jeep taxi for approx. US$1 or hire a bicycle for about US$1/day, or walk. About midway from Tadi to the Chitwan lodges, you must wade across a river (dry season) or allow local fishermen will ferry you across in their dugout boats (wet season) for US$0.50.

By Private Taxi: You can also rent a taxi in Kathmandu on a by-the-day rate (approx. US$150) and split cost with one or two other passengers.

By River: Nepal Sherpa Treks can organize rafting trips to Chitwan. This is a splendid way to go if you have a few days extra time. Put in rafts at Mugling, 110km out of Kathmandu. Float downstream for two days.

River Rafting prices - please Contact Nepal Sherpa Treks for up to date quotation. All River Guides trained and licensed by His Majesty's Government Ministry of Tourism.

People often do taxi down to Chitwan, but we recommend the Tourist Bus for those who prefer to go by road - it's cheaper, just as fast, and possibly more reliable than a taxi of unknown repair...