Chitwan Jungle Safari

Trip Essential Information

Types of Safaris in Chitwan

Chitwan National Park offers a variety of safari opportunities, each offering a different way to access the park’s wildlife and natural areas. The following are the major safari experience options available in the park.

Jeep Safari in Chitwan

Jeep safari is one of the most common means of transport in Chitwan National Park. Visitors can visit a significant part of the park, such as riparian forests and grasslands. With an informative guide and a driver, crews can drive along the wayside trails and at several locations where wildlife is frequently sighted for viewing the environment. 

During the Jeep safari in Nepal, tigers, a one-horned rhinoceros, wild elephants, and deer can be seen. The jeep safari is comfortable and suitable for those who want short tours in the park, offering opportunities to encounter a variety of animals in a natural open-air park environment for the car’s safety.

Elephant Safari in Chitwan National Park

Elephant safari is a wilder and more traditional wild animal experience for Chitwans. Passengers can experience being on the back of an elephant travelling to park areas inaccessible on foot or by jeep. 

This kind of safari offers a peculiar viewpoint. The elephants can walk in the jungle, so it is possible to view other animals, such as rhinos and tigers, simultaneously. It is an exciting activity, and the sensation is that you feel entirely immersed in nature and witness nature’s views from above.

Canoe Ride

Canoeing on the Rapti or Narayani River offers a peaceful way to enjoy the park’s wetlands and riverine scenery. Canoeing going downstream in this ancient wooden canoe, the paddler can stay seated and observe the stillness of nature, searching for reptiles (e.g., gharial crocodiles, marsh mugger crocodiles) and birds (e.g., duck and crane).

Canoe rides are ideal for birders and laid-back sightseers who want to experience the park’s waters in a slower, more relaxed way.

Nature Walks

Many nature walks are an excellent means for actively understanding the park’s ecosystem in Chitwan National Park. Gain a participatory experience as a naturalist/guide in the jungle and gain knowledge, learning as many plants, insects and animals in the forest that make the park its biodiversity. 

Through nature walks, visitors can see a wider array of finer features of the park’s flora and fauna, including tracks, decorative bird nests, medicinal plants, and so on. However, nature walks, and safety must always be the top priority so that a large mammal may come into contact with the group.

Best Season to visit Chitwan National Park for Jungle safari

Chitwan National Park can be visited throughout the year, but the best time to experience a jungle safari depends on the season and the type of experience you’re looking for.

Autumn (September to November)

Autumn is one of the most popular times to visit Chitwan Jungle Safari. The weather is good, with a blue sky, comfortable temperatures, and comfortable humidity. 

Without dense vegetation, it is arguably the most beautiful time of the year to see wildlife, such as rhinos, tigers, and elephants.

Winter (December to February)

Winter is also a good time to visit Chitwan National Park. Most importantly, the temperatures will cool down, particularly in the evenings, when the natural environment is calm and comfortably suitable for safaris. 

Wildlife watching is helpful even in this waterless dry winter, as some animals have gone to rivers to drink up their thirst. However, mornings are always cold, so clothes are required in hot/warm conditions. 

Winter is the ideal bird-watching time, as many migrating birds inhabit the park.

Spring (March to May)

Spring is a transitional period when the weather gets warmer, and the park begins to go hard. Animal vision can be highlighted since grassland densities are decreased. This season is ideal for a more relaxed approach as there are fewer people than in autumn and winter (peak views of the year’s season). 

Yet temperatures can become intense by the afternoon, so morning or afternoon safaris are more bearable.

Monsoon (June to August)

It is the most disastrous time to visit Chitwan in the rainy season. Because of heavy rainfall, the trails’ surfaces become wet and oiled, and wildlife observation is difficult in the case of dense vegetation. 

Rivers in the park can also flood and inundate some parts, making them inaccessible. Additionally, most animals reside in the forest during the rainy season. However, flower displays in spring provide colour to the park, and the magnificent green space is pleasing to nature lovers.

Accommodation in Chitwan National Park

Various types of visitor accommodation are available at Chitwan National Park for different visitors at different prices. Whether you’re looking for a simple place to stay or a luxurious experience, there is something for everyone.

Budget Accommodations

Budget travellers can find a range of basic accommodations (hotels, guesthouses, homestays) just outside the park. These facilities are reasonably priced and provide clean rooms, simple facilities, and high-quality services. 

Budget accommodation rates usually include lodgings and small guesthouses in the nearby town of Sauraha because participation in safaris in the park is not too far away. Each place typically has a small set of standard amenities (ceiling fans, private showers, and even Internet access).

Luxury Accommodations

Upmarket resorts and boutique hotels are located near Chitwan National Park for those who wish for a more comfortable stay. Five-star hotels offer luxury accommodations with large guest rooms, top-of-the-line fittings and fixtures, personal terraces, high-end dining, and unique occasion safaris. 

Certain luxury lodges have pools, spas, and even private safari guides. Resorts featuring these facilities cater to individuals seeking a more prosperous and refined holiday experience close to nature and the park’s wild creatures.

Dining Options During Chitwan Jungle Safari

Chitwan National Park, in turn, offers a variety of restaurants and dining establishments on different premises.

Nepali food, including the most essential local cuisine, is readily available. Dal bhat (lentils and rice) and momo (dumplings), for example, are invariably prepared at home and have the characteristic taste of Nepali cuisine.

For example, all multi-cuisine restaurants feature buffets, a la carte and occasionally themed dinners. Restaurants like this generally have garden spaces, park areas, or river views.

Most hotels and resorts accommodate guests’ dietary choices or needs, such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and halal food, upon request.

Cost of Jungle Safari in Chitwan National Park

The cost of a jungle safari in Chitwan National Park depends on the type of safari, the period of stay, and the level of lodges. The following are the general costs of the visit to the park.

The entrance fee is around USD 25 per person (primarily foreigners) at Chitwan National Park. The fees paid now are for being inside the park.

Chitwan Jungle Safari Prices: 

Chitwan Jeep Safari: 

The average Jeep safari costs $40-60 per person for about 3-4 hours of Riding. Group tours are generally more affordable, while private tours are more expensive.

Elephant Safari: 

Elephant safari ride prices range from USD 30 to USD 50 for a one-hour ride, and the cost may be higher than average for private or unique rides.

Canoe Ride: 

Canoe trips through the park’s rivers typically cost $15-25 for an individual’s 1-2 hours on the water. Canoes are fine for observing wildlife, such as crocodiles or birds.

Nature Walks: 

Natural walks generally cost USD 15-20 per person for a conducted walk over 2-3 hours. It is a chance to walk on foot in a park and receive a conducted walk with a local authority expert who will be interested and inform us about the plants and animals.

Things to Do in Chitwan National Park

There are many adventures that visitors to Chitwan National Park can have. Whether you’re a nature lover, wildlife enthusiast, or cultural explorer, there’s something for everyone.

Jungle Safaris

Jungle safaris in Chitwan are the main attraction when touring Chitwan. Dense forest and grassland habitats in the park are accessible by jeep safari or by elephant, which provides opportunities for viewing tigers or elephants.

Bird Watching

Chitwan has more than 500 species of birds and constitutes a bird’s paradise for an ornithology visitor. Visitors can come and participate in bird‐watching led walks provided by local hosts, e.g. The importance of rare and migratory birds instead in particular during the winter) constitutes a special focus of the community.

Village Tours

It’s a cultural journey if one travels to the closest Tharu village. Knowledge of the indigenous Tharu people, their culture, lifestyle, and way of life can be gained. Specific tour options are being allowed to experience the traditional Tharu dance show and the area’s food.

Cultural Experiences

Chitwan National Park is about more than animals; it is also about culture. Under this plan, visitors can attend cultural performances, such as Tharu dances, and learn about the community groups’ customs and ways of life in and around the park.

Safety Tips and Guidelines for Chitwan Jungle Safari

Some critical safety points must be considered for a jungle safari in Chitwan National Park to be safe and enjoyable.

Essential Safety Measures During the Safari

• Listen to your guide and follow their instructions. They are familiar with the park and its animals and can also help keep you safe.
• Please do not lean out of the vehicle during jeep or elephant safaris. Wildlife is unexpected; remaining in the car is the safest way to experience this unpredictability. This will not cease until the problem is identified.
• Keep silent as much as possible so as not to disconcert the animals and thus maintain the best observation potential.
• Unexpected movements can startle the animals on a safari or a simple nature excursion. Move calmly and slowly.

Recommended Gear and Preparation for Jungle Safari in Chitwan

• Wear comfortable clothing
• Bring sturdy footwear
• Bring a hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses for sun protection.
• Mosquitoes and other insects abound, so carry an effective insect repellant to prevent being bitten.
• If you’re a wildlife photographer, come equipped with a camera, a zoom lens, and binoculars for birdwatching.

Local Culture and Attractions

In addition to earning the reputation of a wildlife paradise, Chitwan National Park has an immense richness of local cultures and attractions.

Tharu Cultural Performances

The region’s indigenous population, Tharu, has a rich cultural heritage. Some facilities allow visitors to see traditional Tharu dance performances in nearby villages. 

Dancing is in its highest degree a manifestation of everyday situations, nature and of local events of social and/or high significance. Those performances provide visitors with a personal experience of the customs and traditions of the Tharu people.

Visiting Local Villages

Participation in local Tharu villages offers unique perspectives and insight into the life conditions of the surrounding local communities about the park. 

There is a chance for visitors to wander through the village, live in a mock traditional dwelling and experience the world from a local perspective and to travel through the eyes of people there to understand what they eat, their culture, their life and their way of living. Tours are also offered, and you can get involved in local crafts, e.g., pottery and weaving.