Jingle Safari is one of the main attractions of Nepal. It has several national parks and wildlife reserves most of which have dense tropical Jungle teeming with diverse wildlife and birds. Jungle safari is the fourth most popular tourism activities in Nepal after trekking, climbing and tour.
Jungle safari is an outdoor activity in to the wilderness to see the wild animals, birds and natural diversity. We have more than 800 species of birds which is more than the combined number of USA and Canada. Our national parks are home to the some of famous and endangered animals such as Royal Bengal tiger, One horned rhinoceros, wild elephant, wild boars, deers, crocodiles and many more. It is also an opportunity to pay your respect to the nature by indulging with them.
Chitwan National Park is vary popular among the visitors while Bardia and Koshi Tappu wildlife reserve are widely regarded as best place for nature observation.
Royal Chitwan National Park
Chitwan National Park is the most popular destination for tourists wanting to have a good experience of the region’s wildlife. It was declared a National Park in 1973. In 1984, UNESCO designated Royal Chitwan National Park a Natural World Heritage Site. The Park offers protection to 56 species of mammals including the one-horned rhinoceros, Bengal tiger, leopard, sloth bear, wild elephant, striped hyena, Genetic dolphin and wild bison. There are estimated to be 470 species of mammals, over 500 species of birds, 126 species of fish, 150 species of butterflies and 47 species of reptiles in the park! A recent study also points out that over a third of Nepal’s tigers are in Chitwan.The Park is spread over an area of 932 sq kms and located in the lowlands of the kingdom. The forest cover is predominantly sal forest, interspersed with tall grasslands, small hills, ox-bow lakes and flood plains.
The best time to visit Chitwan is from October through February, when the temperature averages 25 degrees Celsius. The months of March, April and June can be extremely hot, while July-September is the monsoon season when rivers swell and parts of the park are inaccessible.
Animals that can be seen during Chitwan Jungle Safari are :
Some of the animal species that can be seen roaming around the park are Royal Bengal tiger, Gangetic dolphin, One-horned rhinos, Golden Monitor lizard, Wild Asian elephant, Gaur, elephant and Gharial crocodile. Though all through the year this park is frequented by a huge number of travelers, in monsoon season usually people avoid to go to this place. At that time, roads become inaccessible.
This park of Chitwan has a long history. In the past, this park used to satisfy the kings' quest for hunting. On the other hand, during the late 19th century it becomes a highly preferred destination for safari hunters. However, with the course of time as the number of rhino and tiger started to decrease, in the year 1963 its southern part was announced to be a Rhino Sanctuary. Later in 1984 Chitwan National Park was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO.
This park also acts as the home ground for various types of birds and reptiles. Sal forests and Grasslands cover the most part of this park. Almost 50 types of grasses can be seen here. Elephant grass is one among them. The hills and the lakes have made the landscape of Chitwan National Park a unique one. The total area of this park is around 932 square kilometers.
Royal Bardia National Park
The Royal Bardia National Park is spread over 968 sq km and located in the Western Nepal Terai. It is easily the largest and least disturbed wilderness spread in the Terai, and is predominantly Sal forest interspersed with tall grasslands. It is bound on the north by the Chure hills and is skirted on the West by the Geruwa river, a branch of the Karnali which is a major tributary of the Ganges.It is generally known as the best place where your chances of spotting a tiger in Nepal are the highest (even Chitwan comes a second!). Other animals include the rhinoceros, swamp deer, leopards, jungle cats, blue bulls (nilgai), sloth bears, barking deer and langurs. There are a few wild elephants here and one of the males is considered the largest in Asia!
The Geruwa river that rushes in through a break in the hill range, silt laden and full with snowmelt, is home to the famous Mahseer game fish, gharial, mugger crocodile and the freshwater Genetic dolphin. The park also has cobras, kraits and pythons.
The park boasts more than 250 species of birds, including the endangered Bengal florican, Sarus crane and many species of geese, ducks and parakeets.
The activities here include jungle safari on elephant back, jungle walks, boat rides and jeep drives. The best time to visit the park is from October through March. The months of April-June are unbearably hot while July-September is monsoon time.
Suklaphanta is a smaller (305 sq km) version of Bardia in many ways. Located at the southwestern extreme of the kingdom, its topography is primarily riverine floodplains and open grassland and sal forest. It also has a large lake and the Bahini river flows through the park.
The park is home to tiger, leopard, a good number of swamp deer (prime habitat, often sighted), otters, hispid hare, blue bull (nilgai), leopard, hog deer and wild boar.
The park also has over 300 species of birds and most of the tourists who make the trip here are keen bird watchers. Reptiles include gharial and mugger crocodiles, Indian python, cobras, kraits, rat snakes and monitor lizards.
Activities here include wildlife watching on elephant back and jungle walks. The best time to visit the park is Feb-March. December and January are cold and visibility is poor due to foggy conditions, while April to June is hot.
Parsa Wildlife Reserve
Parsa Wildlife Reserve is located to the east of the Royal Chitwan National Park. It is spread over 499 sq. km of hills and flatlands, and has a sub-tropical monsoon climate. The forests are predominantly sal (Shorea robusta), with other tree species like chir pine, sissoo and khair, and grasslands making up the rest. This reserve has tigers, leopards, sloth bears, wild dogs (dhole), deer, blue bull (nilgai), hog deer and barking deer. The reserve also records over 300 species of birds, including the endangered giant hornbill and the Bengal florican. Snakes found here are cobras, kraits and pythons.
The best time to visit the reserve is during October to March, when conditions are best. The summer months April-June can be oppressively hot, while July-September is the rainy season. Activities here include safaris on elephant back and jeep, and jungle walks.
What to bring along
Although the Terai can be cool during the winter, it can be stiflingly hot during the summer months. If you are headed here in winter bring a sweater or jacket along. Summer months require cool clothes. Good walking shoes, a good shady hat and sunscreen may be considered essential. Make sure your clothes are in neutral colours that help you blend into the background. Red, yellow and white are conspicuous.Carry along some mosquito repellant, anti-diarrhea tablets and anti-histamines. Lastly, along with photo equipment, a pair of binoculars will prove invaluable. If you are closer to the monsoon months carry some waterproof jackets. Just in case.
The Terai jungles are also famous for leeches that appear in the monsoon and are around for a few months after. Salt or a lighted cigarette will make them fall off; do not pull them off as the wound may get infected. Try an insect repellant to keep them away.
1 night 2 days
1st day:
- Pick up from bus park
- Welcome drinks.
- Introduction to your room
- Lunch
- Briefing session
- Ethnic village tour to Tharu museum
- Sunset viewing
- Tharu stick dance
- Dinner
- Wakeup call
- Breakfast
- Elephant back safari
- Departure
2 nights 3 days
1st day:
- Pick up from bus park
- Welcome drinks
- Introduction to your room
- Lunch
- Briefing session
- Ethnic village tour to Tharu museum
- Sunset viewing
- Tharu stick dance
- Dinner
- Wake up call
- Breakfast
- Canoeing + bird watching + nature walk or Elephant breeding center visit
- Elephant bath
- Lunch
- Elephant back safari
- Dinner
- Wake up call
- Breakfast
- Free morning
- Departure
3 nights 4 days:
1st day:
- Pick up from bus park
- Welcome drinks.
- Introduction to your room
- Lunch
- Briefing session
- Ethnic village tour to Tharu museum
- Sunset viewing
- Tharu stick dance
- Dinner
- Wake up call
- Breakfast
- Canoeing + bird watching + nature walk or
- Elephant breeding center visit
- Lunch
- Jeep safari (seasonal) or
Over night stay at tower or
20 thousand lake visit - Dinner
- Wake up call
- Breakfast
- Elephant breeding center visit
- Elephant bath
- Lunch
- Elephant back safari
- Dinner
- Wake up call
- Breakfast
- Free morning
- Departure
No comments:
Post a Comment