Top 7 Wildlife Tours in Nepal

Nepal is a home to incredible Himalayas, majestic temples, and unspoiled hilly villages. However, there is another side of Nepal’s beauty as well – and that is Nepal’s rich flora and fauna. Nepal’s southern lowland is full of well-preserved jungles that are the natural habitats of endangered wildlife and unique vegetation. So, Nepal is a fascinating destination for adventurous wildlife tours. They are ideal for travelers of every age group. So, if you are interested to check out Nepal’s wildlife treasures, here are the top 7 wildlife tour destinations in Nepal where you can have a real close-up experience of rich wildlife.

1. Chitwan National Park

Chitwan National Park is the first National Park of Nepal, established in 1973. It is a home to the endangered one-horned rhinoceros. The Park is situated in south central Nepal, covering 952.63 sq.km. in the subtropical lowlands of the inner Terai. In 1984 UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site and in 1996 area of 750 sq.km. surrounding the park was declared a buffer zone. Chitwan valley consists of tropical and subtropical forests. Sal forest cover 70% and Grassland cover 20% of the park. Chitwan National Park is home to more than 50 mammal species, over 535 birds and 55 amphibians and reptiles. The endangered fauna found in the park are one horned rhinoceros, Royal Bengal tiger, Gaur, wild elephant, pangolin, four horned antelope, golden monitor lizard, python, lesser florican, Bengal florican, black stork, giant hornbill, white stork, black stork etc. At the park, you can experience different activities like jungle safari, boating, birdwatching, jungle walk, breeding center visit, jeep safari etc.

How to reach:
Drive: Kathmandu to Sauraha – approx. 96 km/ 5 hours
Fly: Kathmandu to Bharatpur – 20 mins, & then drive to Sauraha – approx. 14 km/25 mins

Opening Hours: 8am-6pm
Best Time to Visit: September- February

2. Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve

Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve lies on the river plains of Sapta Koshi in the southeastern Terai. It was established in 1976, covering 176 sq. km. In 1987, Koshi Tappu was declared a Ramsar site, a wetland of international significance. In Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve the vegetation is mainly composed of tall grasslands. It is a home to 20 animals species including Hog deer, Wild boar, Spotted deer, Blue bull and Rock Python & around 441 species of birds that comprise of 20 duck species, 2 Ibis species,114 water birds, white tailed stonechat,30 shore birds, Striated marsh warbler, swamp partridge and Bengal florican.

How to reach:
Drive: Kathmandu to Koshi Bridge – approx. 341km / 8 hrs, then drive to the Reserve – 15 mins
Fly: Kathmandu to Biratnagar – 45 mins, & then drive to Koshi Tappu – approx. 42 km/90 mins

Opening Hours: 9am – 6pm
Best Time to Visit: October – May

3. Bardia National Park

Bardia National Park is the largest national park in the lowland Terai. It is situated in Nepal’s Western Terai covering an area of 968 sq.km. 70% of the forest is covered by sal tree with the mixture of grassland and riverine forests. The Park houses endangered land animals like Royal Bengal tiger, one-horned rhinoceros, wild elephant, black buck and swamp deer, and endangered water species like gangetic dolphin, gharial, marsh mugger crocodiles etc. Some of the endangered birds species include Bengal florican, sarus crane, lesser florican etc. Besides, several species of snakes, fishes, lizards are also found here.

How to reach:
Drive: Kathmandu to Mahendranagar – approx. 376 km / 15 hrs
Fly: Kathmandu to Nepalgunj – 50 mins, & then drive to Bardia National Park – approx. 39 km/2 hrs

Opening Hours: 9am – 8 pm
Best Time to Visit: Mid – September to Mid – December

4. Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve

Dhortpatan Hunting Reserve is the only hunting reserve in Nepal. It was established in1983 with an objective to allow sports hunting and preserve a representative high-altitude ecosystem in Western Nepal. This reserve is characterized by alpine, sub-alpine and high temperate vegetation. 50% of the total area of the reserve is occupied by pasturelands at higher elevation. The reserve is a home to blue sheep, and other common species like ghoral, leopard, serow, Himalayan black bear, barking deer, Himlayan tahr, wild boar, langur, rhesus macazue and mouse & 137 species of birds where partridge and pheasants are common. The endangered animals and birds of this Reserve are musk deer, red panda, wolf, danphe and cheer pheasant.

How to reach:
Drive: Kathmandu to Baglung – approx. 245km/ 8 hrs, & then drive to the Reserve – approx. 118 km/5 hrs
Fly: Kathmandu to Pokhara – 30 mins, & then drive to the Reserve – approx. 188 km/7 hrs

Opening Hours: 9am – 6pm
Best Time to Visit: March – April

5. Khaptad National Park

Khaptad National Park is located in Far-western region of Nepal covering an area of 225 sq.km. and its buffer zone area is 216 sq.km. It is the only mid-mountain national park in western Nepal. Khaptad National Park was established in 1984. Khaptad National Park forests are divided into three temperate types – lower temperate mixed broad-leaved species (Lindera nacusua, Cmnamomum tamca. etc), temperate mixed evergreen species (Spruce, fir, hemlock, oak. etc), and upper temperate broad-leaved species (Aesculus indica, maple, etc.) Fir oak, birch, and rhododendron are the major species found there. 266 bird species including both migratory and residential birds can be seen. Some of the commons birds are Impeyan Dhanphe, partridge, flycatchers, bulbuls, cuckoos, and eagles. Common mammals found are barking deer, wild boar, leopard, wild dogs, ghoral, Himalayan black bear, jackal, musk deer, yellow-throated Marten, Rhesus and langur monkey.

How to reach:
Drive: Kathmandu to Dhangadhi, & drive to Khaptad National Park – approx. 480km/ 13 hrs
Fly: Kathmandu to Dhangadhi – 1 hr, & then drive to Khaptad National Park – approx. 92km/2hrs

Opening Hours: 9am- 7pm
Best Time to Visit: March-May& October-November

6. Parsa Wildlife Reserve

Parsa Wildlife Reserve is situated in the south-central lowland Terai covering area 637.37 sq.km. and buffer zone of 285.30 sq.km. Parsa Wildlife Reserve was established in 1984. The forests are composed of tropical and subtropical species. 90% of the reserve is sal forests. Endangered species like Asian elephant, Royal Bengal tiger, Rhesus macaques, striped hyena, sloth bear, and leopard are found in the Reserve. Other common species are blue bull, sambar, chital, hog deer, barking deer, langur, jungle cat, and palm civet. Parsa Wildlife Reserve is also famous for reptiles and different kinds of snakes like common cobra, King cobra, common and banded krait, python etc.

How to reach:
Drive: Kathmandu to Hetauda, & then drive to Parsa Wildlife Reserve – approx. 101km / 2 hrs
Opening Hours: 9am- 7pm
Best Time to Visit: May – September

7. Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve

Shuklapanta is another less popular wildlife tours in Nepal. Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve was established in 1976 with an area of 305 sq.km. & buffer zone of 243.50 sq.km. It is the youngest national park of Nepal and also famous for swamp deer. 52% of forest is covered by sal trees, 10% area is wetland and 30% area is grassland. Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve has 53 species of mammals including swamp deer, Bengal tiger, hispid hare, one-horned rhinoceros, elephant, Indian leopard, sloth bear etc. It also comprises of 28 species of fish, 12 reptiles & amphibians and 424 bird species including chestnut-capped babbler, sarus crane, rusty-tailed, Bengal florican, dusky eagle owl, great slaty woodpecker, flycatcher etc.

How to reach:
Drive: Kathmandu to Dhangadhi, then & drive to Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve – approx. 714 km/ 17 hrs
Fly: Kathmandu to Dhangadhi – 1 hr, & then drive to Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve – approx 66 km/2 hrs

Opening Hours: 6am – 6pm
Best Time to Visit: October – March

Popular Tour: A Complete Wildlife Tour in Nepal