Chitwan Jungle Safari

Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour: Exploring the Wild Heart of Nepal

Chitwan National Park is one of the most well known and the oldest of the Nepalese national parks and established in 1973. It is a site inscribed for World Heritage on UNESCO’s behalf because of its biodiversity and fauna. 

The population in the park comprises, among others, cricitially endangered Bengal tiger, rhinoceros (single-decked) and wildlife elephant. It also contains colours, water and wood and therefore is the best option for nature enthusiasts, environmentalists and animalists.

Conservation is mainly carried out in the park and in that way it serves as a tourist attraction in Nepal. It provides the opportunity to observe the natural beauty of Nepal without any restrictions and to observe it as such, for example, by vehicle safaris or jungle walks and bird watching.

Location and Accessibility to Chitwan National Park

Chitwan National Park is in Nepal Terai Lowlands, in the centre of the country. It is located roughly 150 km away from Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal and can be reached by road, by bus or by air with a small domestic light flight (to Bharatpur Airport).

Chitwan is also accessible from Pokhara (5-6 h drive). At the park gates, there is a range of complexes and tour operators offering safaris and other recreational activities however suitable for visitor interest.

Jungle Safari Experience in Chitwan National Park

A Jungle safari in Chitwan is an unforgettable experience. Visitors are able to watch the park in a jeep, on the back of an elephant, and by canoe. Even endangered animals like tiger, rhino and crocodile, as well as a rich avifauna and other animal forms can be watched.

Guided safaris offer a high level of floristic and faunistic knowledge accompanied by the highest level of safe and pleasurable experience on behalf of everyone involved. It is also possible for visitors to stroll through the park on foot, and be given information about the park’s ecosystem.

Wildlife and Biodiversity in Chitwan Jungle Safari

Chitwan National Park is an excellent base for jungle safari operations because of the wide diversity of animal and plant life it offers. The park is famous for the tiger, rhino (one-horned) and elephant populations. 

Amazing wild animals and other residents, e.g., leopards, sloth bears, and numerous deer species, roam freely within the park’s diverse landscapes.

The large variety of plant communities (sal trees and tall grass) that are part of the park’s forest, grasslands, and wetlands offer food and shelter habitat for diverse plants (sal trees, tall grass) serving as food for the ruminant species.

Chitwan National Park gives remarkable opportunities both to birders that can be observed in the presence of some avifauna including Greater Adjutant Stork, kingfishers, and eagles. Biodiversity in Chitwan, of flora and fauna, is an extraordinary and unforgettable spectacle for nature lovers and animal lovers.

Types of Safaris in Chitwan

Chitwan National Park provides a range of safari opportunities, each boasting a different ability to access the range of wildlife and natural areas found in the park. The following are the major safari experience options available in the park.

1. Jeep Safari in Chitwan

Jeep safari is one of the most common means of transport in Chitwan National Park. It allows the visitor to visit a significant part of the park, such as riparian forests and grasslands. With an informative guide and a driver, crews can go driving 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 elephant and deer can be seen. The jeep safari is comfortable and suitable for those who want short tours in the park, thereby offering opportunities to encounter a variety of animals in a natural open-air park environment for the car’s safety.

2. Elephant Safari in Chitwan National Park

Elephant safari is a wilder and more traditional wild animal experience of Chitwan. Passengers can experience being on the back of an elephant travelling to park areas which are not accessible on foot or by jeep. 

This kind of safari gives one a peculiar viewpoint, as the elephants can walk in the jungle and therefore it is possible to view, at the same time, the other animals, such as rhino and tigers. It is an exciting activity and the sensation is that you have the feeling that you are completely immersed into nature and witnessing nature views from above.

3. Canoe Ride

Canoeing on the Rapti or Narayani River offers a very peaceful means to enjoy the wetlands and riverine scenery of the park. Canoeing going downstream in this ancient wooden canoe, it is possible for the paddler to 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 lay-back sightseers who would like to take in the park’s waters in a slower, more relaxed way. 

4. Nature Walks

Many nature walks is an excellent means for taking an active step toward 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 as possible of all plants, insects and animals present in the forest that make the park its biodiversity. 

Through nature walks, the visitors are able to see a wider array of finer features of the park’s flora and fauna, including tracks, decorative bird nests, medicinal plants, and so on. Nature walks and safety must always be the top priority, and so it may be a given 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.

1. Autumn (September to November)

Autumn is one of the most travelled reasons to be at Chitwan Jungle Safari. Weather is good, i.e., blue sky, low level comfortable temperature and low level comfortable humidity. 

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

2. Winter (December to February)

Winter season is a good time to stay Chitwan National Park as well. And most importantly, with the cooling down temperatures, and in particular in the evenings, when out natural environment is cool comfortably suitable for safaris. 

Even in this waterless dry period of winter the wildlife watching is helped, as some of the animals have gone to rivers to drink up their thirst. However, mornings are always cold, and clothes are therefore required in hot/warm condition. 

Winter is the most ideal time for bird watching, as it is the period when there are significant numbers of migrating birds inhabiting the park.

3. Spring (March to May)

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

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

4. Monsoon (June to August)

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

Rivers also in the park are capable of flooding up and inundating some parts of the park quite inaccessibly. Additionally, most animals reside under in the forest during the rainy season. But flower displays provide colour to the park in spring and the magnificent greenspace is pleasing to nature folk.

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 have a range of basic (hotels, guesthouses, homestays) accommodations just outside the park. Facilities of this type are reasonably priced and provide clean rooms and a simple set of facilities and services of high quality. 

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

Luxury Accommodations

For those who wish to have a more comfortable stay, upmarket resorts and boutique hotels are located nearby Chitwan National Park. Five-star hotels offer luxury accommodation with large guest rooms, top-of-the-line fittings and fixtures, personal terraces, high-end dining and the special occasion safari. 

Certain of the luxury lodges have pools and spas and even private safari guides. Resorts featuring the aforementioned facilities cater to those individuals seeking to spend a holiday with more richer and refined nature experience in close proximity to the nature and the wild creature of the park.

Dining Options During Chitwan Jungle Safari

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

The most basic local cuisine, as well as Nepali food, is obtainable. Hence, dal bhat (lentils and rice) and momo (dumplings), etc., are food prepared at home invariably of that type, and they give the characteristic taste of typical Nepali cuisine.

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

Most hotels and resorts offer guests their dietary choices or needs, such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and halal food at an individual request.

Cost of Jungle Safari in Chitwan National Park

The cost of jungle safari in Chitwan National Park is associated with the type of safari, period of stay, and level of lodges. Following are the general costs of the visit to the park.

1. Jungle Safari Prices and Entry Fees

Park Entry Fee: 

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

Chitwan Jungle Safari Prices: 

Chitwan Jeep Safari: 

The Jeep safari is an average $40-60 per person for about 3-4 hours of Jeep Riding. In general, group tours are more affordable, while private tours are more expensive.

Elephant Safari: 

Elephant safari ride prices vary from USD 30-50 for 1 hour ride, etc. The cost may be higher than average for private or special rides.

Canoe Ride: 

Canoe trips through the rivers in the park typically charge $15-25 for an individual 1-2 hours on the water. It is a fine device for wildlife observation, e.g., crocodilians or birds.

Nature Walks: 

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

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.

1. Jungle Safaris

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

2. 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 rather in particular during the winter) constitutes a special focus of the community.

3. Village Tours

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

4. Cultural Experiences

Chitwan National Park is not just about animals; it is also cultural. Under this plan, visitors will be able to attend cultural performances like Tharu dances and engage in learning about the customs and ways of life of the community groups residing in the area and around the park.

Safety Tips and Guidelines for Chitwan Jungle Safari

There are some critical safety points that must be taken into account in the plan of a jungle safari in Chitwan National Park in order for it to be both safe and interesting.

Essential Safety Measures During the Safari

• Listen to your guide and follow their instructions. They are well familiar with the park and with the animals, and can also assist at keeping you safe.
• Please do not lean out of the vehicle for jeep safaris or elephant safaris. Wildlife is unexpected and remaining in the car is the safest way in which this unpredictability can play out and this will not cease until the problem is identified.
• Keep silent as much as possible in order to not disconcert the animals and thus maintain the best potential of observation.
• And be it a safari or a simple nature excursion, unexpected movement can startle the animals. 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

Besides earning the reputation of a wildlife paradise, Chitwan National Park has immense richness of local cultures and attractions.

Tharu Cultural Performances

The local indigenous population, the Tharu people, carry a rich cultural heritage in the region. There are also facilities which enable visitors to see traditional Tharu dance performances being presented at 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 in allowing an insight into the life conditions of the surrounding local communities in relation to the park. 

There is a chance for visitors to wander through the village, to live in a mock traditional dwelling and experience the world from 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 with the opportunity to get involved in local crafts, e.g., pottery and weaving crafts.

How to Reach Chitwan National Park?

There are various transportation options to reach Chitwan National Park, ensuring access to tourists of Nepali origin across different destinations across Nepal.

Transport Options

From Kathmandu to Chitwan: The journey by road from Kathmandu takes 5-6 hours. Buses, tourist vans, and private vehicles are available. The distance is approximately 150 kilometres.

From Pokhara to Chitwan: The travel time from Pokhara to Chitwan will be approximately 4-5 hours by bus or by private car. The distance between Pokhara and Chitwan is approximately 120 km.

By Air: For those who have a passion for flight, there are flights occurring each day from Kathmandu to Bharatpur. By air, flights will be nonstop and offer an alternative with the advantage of a faster travel time to Chitwan.