Wildlife diversity is a notable feature in Nepal, with 10 National parks, 3 Wildlife reserves, one hunting reserve and 6 conservation areas and 11 buffer zone which covers 22.23 % “34,186.62 square km” area of the country. Wildlife tourism is one of the main tourism resources in Nepal.
Thanks to the variation in climate from tropical to glacial and Effective Park and reserve system, Nepal has managed to preserve and been home for more endangered species of flora and fauna in comparison with other Asian Countries. Among the many national parks, Chitwan National Park and Sagarmatha National Park are listed in the UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site.
1. Chitwan National Park
Activities: Jungle safari on elephant back, jungle walk, canoe ride, jeep drive, experience Tharu culture.
Accommodation: Resort and lodges
Access: Park headquarters at Kasara is a 21-km drive from Bharatpur which is 20 minutes by air or 146 km by road from Kathmandu. [Chitwan Jungle Safari]
Wildlife: 56 species of mammals that include one-horned rhinoceros, Royal Bengal tiger, rhesus monkey, langur, deer, leopards, gaur, wild boar, wild dog and wild cat; 49 species of amphibians and reptiles that include the endangered long-snouted gharial, marsh mugger crocodile and python.
Birds: 539 species of birds that include summer migrant birds like paradise flycatcher, Indian pitta and parakeets. While winter birds include waterfowl, Brahminy ducks, pintails, bar-headed geese, cormorants and migratory birds from Siberia.
Vegetation: Deciduous forest with 600 plant species.
Best Season: October-March (average temperature 25 degrees Celsius); April- June (hot, up to 43 degrees Celsius), July-September (rainy)
| Nepali | SAARC | Foreigners | Total Foreigner Fee | Child Discount |
| NPR 150 | NPR 1000 | NPR 2000 | Npr 2000 | Below 10 Years Free |
2. Sagarmatha National Park
Activities: Trekking, Mountaineering, experience Sherpa culture
Accommodation: Resort hotels, lodges, tea houses, camping
Access: Fly to Lukla by air from Kathmandu and then trek onward [Everest Base Camp Trek]
Wildlife: Himalayan tahr, ghoral, musk deer, pika (mouse hare), weasel, jackal, black bear, wolf, lynx and snow leopard
Birds: 193 species of birds including impeyan pheasant (Danphe), blood pheasant, red-billed chough, yellow-billed chough, snow cock, snow pigeon, Himalayan griffon and lammergeier
Vegetation: Pine and hemlock forests at lower altitudes, while above 3,500 m silver firs, birch, rhododendron and juniper trees forest
Best Season: October-November and March-May; December-February (snow, daytime temperature 5 degrees Celsius) June-September (rainy)
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| Free | NPR 1500 | NPR 3000+NPR 2000(regional tax) | NPR 5000 | Below 10 Years Free |
- At Monjo, there is the Sagarmatha National Park entrance station where you will have to show your passport and pay a National Park fee.
3. Bardia National Park
Activities: Jungle safari on elephant back, jungle walk, boat ride, jeep drive
Accommodation: Jungle lodges
Access: 3 hours drive (95 km) from Nepalgunj, which is 1 hour by air or 516 km by road from Kathmandu
Wildlife: 53 mammals that include the Royal Bengal tiger, one-horned rhinoceros, elephant, swamp deer, blackbuck; reptiles include gharial crocodile, marsh mugger crocodile; fresh-water Gangetic dolphin is mostly seen in the Karnali River
Birds: 400 species of birds include Bengal florican, lesser florican, silver eared mesia and sarus crane
Vegetation: Sal, savannah forests and grasslands
Best Season: October-March, April-June (hot, up to 42 degrees Celsius), July-September (rainy)
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| NPR 100 | NPR 750 | NPR 2000 | NPR 2000 | Below 10 Years Free |
- The park HQ. is at Thakurdwara and a sub-headquarter at the eastern entrance to the park at East Chisapani. Visitors entering the park must stop and pay an entrance fee.
- Be sure to keep your permit as it might be checked later by park guards.
4. Langtang National Park
Activities: Trekking, Mountaineering, the experience of Tamang culture
Accommodation: Lodges, camping
Access: From Dhunche, which is 117 km by road from Kathmandu [Langtang Valley Trek]
Wildlife: Wild dog, red panda, pika, muntjac, musk deer, Himalayan black bear, Himalayan tahr, ghoral, serow, rhesus monkey, langur monkey, snow leopard
Birds: 373 species of birds including tragopan and impeyan pheasant
Vegetation: Subtropical forests of alpine shrubs and grasslands below 1,000 m
Best Season: October-November and March-May (cold at higher elevation); June-September (monsoon), December-February (snow)
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| NPR 100 | NPR 1500 | NPR 3000 | NPR 3000 | Below 10 Years Free |
- The park Headquarters is at Dhunche and a check post at Ghora Tabela. All visitors must stop at either place to pay an Entrance Fee, and are required to show your passport.
- Be sure to keep your Entry Permit as it might be checked later by the park guards.
5. Makalu Barun National Park
Activities: Trekking, Mountaineering
Accommodation: Camping
Access: 40-minute flight to Tumlingtar from Kathmandu and then a six-day walk
Wildlife: Endangered red panda and snow leopard, Himalayan black bear, clouded leopard, ghoral, Himalayan tahr, wild boar, barking deer, Himalayan marmot, weasel, langur monkey and serow; Arun River has 84 varieties of fish including salmon
Birds: 400 species of birds including wren babbler, olive ground warbler
Vegetation: Subtropical forests to subalpine and alpine vegetation
Best Season: October-November and March-April; April-May (hot at lower elevations), June-September (monsoon)
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| NPR 100 | NPR 1500 | NPR 3000 | NPR 3000 | Below 10 Years Free |
6. Annapurna Conservation Area
Activities: Trekking, Mountaineering
Accommodation: Resort hotels, lodges, camping
Access: From Pokhara [Annapurna Base Camp Trek]
Wildlife: 102 mammals including blue sheep and endangered snow leopard; 39 species of reptiles and 22 species of amphibians
Birds: 474 species of birds including multi-coloured impeyan pheasant, kokla and blood pheasant
Vegetation: Various species of orchids and rhododendrons
Best Season: March-May; September-November
| Nepali Fee | SAARC Fee | Foreigners Free | Total Foreigner Fee | Child Discount |
| NPR 100 | NPR 1000 | NPR 3000 | NPR 3000 | Below 10 Years Free |
7. Kanchenjunga Conservation Area
Activities: Trekking, Mountaineering
Accommodation: Tea houses, camping
Access: Fly to Taplejung via Biratnagar from Kathmandu
Wildlife: Endangered snow leopard, Himalayan black bear, musk deer, red panda, blue sheep, rhesus monkey
Birds: 252 species of different birds including impeyan pheasant, red-billed blue magpie, ashy drongo
Vegetation: Indigenous gymnosperms, Nepal’s endemic flowering plants, varieties of rhododendron and orchids
Best Season: March-May; September-November
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| NPR 100 | NPR 500 | NPR 2000 | NPR 2000 | Below 10 Years Free |
- To get a permit to this conservation area you need to be part of an organized trekking group. [Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trekking]
8. Manaslu Conservation Area
Activities: Trekking, Mountaineering
Accommodation: Camping, lodges
Access: bus to Dhading which is 87 km from Kathmandu or to Besisahar 106 km from Pokhara and then trek [Manaslu Circuit Trek]
Wildlife: 33 species of mammals including snow leopard, musk deer and Himalayan Tahr; three species of reptiles
Birds: 110 species of birds
Vegetation: 1,500-2,000 species of flowering plants
Best Season: March-May; September-November
| Nepali Fee | SAARC Fee | Foreigner Fee | Total Foreigner Fee | Child Discount |
| NPR 100 | NPR 1000 | NPR 3000 | NPR 3000 | Below 10 Years Free |