BARDIA NATIONAL PARK

Tucked away in Nepal’s Terai region is Bardia National Park, a wild and wonderful nature sanctuary home to over 125 tigers. Bardia National Park is still relatively unknown, a hidden gem with few visitors, making it a sanctuary of peace and natural beauty. Because Chitwan National Park is 6 hours by bus from Kathmandu and Bardia is 16 to 18 hours, almost all travelers visit Chitwan and skip Bardia.

We went on two walking safaris and two jeep safaris in Bardia National Park. We stalked rhinos on foot from our jeep, peering down on a mother and baby just 15 meters away. We had a near-close encounter with a bull elephant, and we lived and experienced more in those four days than in an entire month! It was exhilarating.

Before visiting Bardia National Park, we had visited Ranthambore, Jim Corbett, and Pilibit in India, frustrated by the crowds and the hurried experience of canter safaris. We longed to feel close to the bush in a way we hadn’t experienced in Asia. That’s what makes Bardia National Park so special.

If you’re traveling in Asia, wanting to feel closer to nature and have a true wild experience, come to Bardia.

Bardia National Park or Chitwan National Park?

If you want to go on a walking safari and see tigers in the wild, go to Bardia National Park. If you’re less focused on seeing tigers and you just want to experience a safari close to Kathmandu, go to Chitwan National Park. Although Chitwan has a higher density of tigers than Bardia, it’s much more rare to see a tiger in Chitwan than it is to see one in Bardia. Chitwan’s jungle is very dense compared to the open sal forests and wide grasslands of Bardia, making it very difficult to spot a tiger.

Chitwan National Park boasts an amazing population of over 700 rhinos, but that also makes embarking on a walking safari in Chitwan National Park more dangerous. When Google reviewer claimed they’d seen their guide “trampled to death by a rhino” in Chitwan. Another said her sister was attacked by a sloth bear, and almost didn’t survive the 1.5-hour-ride to the hospital.

From reading reviews like this and talking to guides at Bardia National Park, we decided a walking safari in Chitwan just wasn’t worth the risk.

Compared to Chitwan, Bardia only has 37 rhinos and almost no sloth bears, making it a safer option for walking safaris in Nepal. Despite Bardiya National Park only having 37 rhinos, we still managed to see four rhinos on two days of our safari!

Walking Safari or Jeep Safari?

On walking safaris, small groups of two to three people trek with two guides into the wild of Bardia National Park. Guides will walk with you to watering holes and rivers where there’s the best chance of spotting tigers, rhinos, and elephants. How much you want to walk is up to you.

On one of our safaris, we trekked over 16kms and on the next we trekked 10kms. Much of the day is spent waiting at these watering holes and rivers for wildlife to appear. The advantage of a walking safari is getting to be close to nature and to be quieter than a jeep, so you’re able to have closer encounters with wildlife.

On jeep safaris, you can still track wildlife on foot or wait by watering holes, but you also have the option to laze in your jeep if you want to. You can sit all day in the jeep or return to it if you feel unsafe. So jeep safaris are the best option if you’re not able to walk long distances or are afraid of doing a walking safari.

Is a Walking Safari safe?

Before visiting Bardia National Park, we’d already been on many safaris in southern Africa where guides always carry a gun, so when we heard the guides in Bardia only carry sticks, we were more than a little unsure.

On our first day, as we walked through jungles and high grasslands in search of tigers, sometimes walking in their paw prints, I was absolutely terrified. But after two full-day walking safaris and two full-day jeep safaris, I’m happy to say it’s really not that bad.

You take a risk every time you enter the wild, but compared to walking safaris at Chitwan National Park, Bardia National Park is much safer. Our guide, Loken, has single-handedly scared off tigers not once, not twice, but more than four times (thankfully not on our safari). When the reward is being close to nature and seeing truly wild tigers in their natural habitat, we think it’s worth the risk.

How to Plan Your Trip to Bardia National Park

How to Book Safaris in Bardia National Park

Unlike safaris in India, booking in Bardia National Park is simple! Contact a safari company with accommodation like Mr. B’s Place and they will arrange everything for you, even on last minute notice or on arrival.

They’re also the least expensive safaris we’ve ever been on. A private, full-day jeep safari costs just $150 for two people including park entry tickets, lunch, snacks, and two guides. A walking safari is even more cost-friendly at just $80 for two people, making it perfect for budget travelers.

During high season, October to November, is the only time it may be necessary to book ahead of time.

Best Time to Go on Safari in Bardia National Park

March to May is the best time to go on safaris in Bardia National Park, when the weather is very hot and animals like tigers, rhinos, and elephants frequent the watering holes. October to November is the most popular time to visit because of its cool weather, but it is not the best time of year for big game sightings. Avoid visiting during monsoon season, June to July.

How to Get to Bardia National Park

By Bus

The cheapest way to get to Bardia National Park is by bus to Ambasa. From Kathmandu, the journey will take 16 to 18 hours and cost 2,500 NPR per person for a non-local bus with AC.

From Pokhara, the same bus costs 2,400 NPR per person and takes 16 hours.

From the western border of Nepal with India, a local bus to Ambasa can take 4 hours and cost 1,000 NPR per person.

Book from 12Go or directly from the bus station.

From Ambasa, it’s just a short twenty-minute tuk-tuk ride to Mr. B’s Place. Make sure to tell them your arrival time, so they can have a tuk-tuk waiting to pick you up at the bus stop. The bus stops on the highway in Bardia National Park, so it’s dangerous to wait there, especially at night.

By Plane

The fastest way to get to Bardia National Park is by plane to Nepalgunj Airport, a 2-hour drive from Bardia, but this is also the most expensive option. Roundtrip flights from Kathmandu cost around $150 per person.

Where to Stay in Bardia National Park

We had planned to stay 3 nights at Mr. B’s Place, but ended up staying 7 nights because it’s just that great! Mr. B’s Place is local-owned, run by Mr. B’s family with his sons and son-in-law as guides, and is just 200m from the Bardia National Park entrance.

They have AC rooms for $20 for two people and non-AC rooms with fans for $12 for two people. They also have a beautiful garden, shared outdoor areas, and a restaurant with delicious Western and Nepali food. We love their Nepali Special Chicken and Spinach, Garlic, Onion Omelettes served with fresh chapati!

Tips for Making the Most of Your Safari

Be prepared to practice patience. You might wait at a popular watering hole or river for two to three hours in order to see a tiger or a rhino, or you might spend a full day waiting and not see big game at all.

Remember to be thankful for whatever experience you have. Even if it’s enjoying the natural beauty, without sighting any tiger, rhino, or elephant, remember you’re in a special part of the world few people get to visit.

Stay calm and trust your guides. Guides have years of experience with wildlife, and while it goes against every natural instinct, remember to follow their instructions, listen carefully, and whatever you do don’t run unless they tell you to. They are the only people who can keep you safe, so you need to trust in them.

Remember this is a wild park, not a zoo. Guides cannot make magically make wild animals appear on-demand. Whatever you see is entirely based on luck on that day.

Appreciate the small things. When you can’t spot a tiger, look out for small animals and birds you might not get a chance to see anywhere else.

What to Bring for Your Safari in Bardia National Park

· Wear a sunhat.

· Wear comfortable, airy clothing, and long pants to protect from the sun and brush.

· Wear comfortable shoes you can walk long distances in.

· Bring toilet paper and hand sanitizer.

· Bring bug spray.

· Wear sunscreen.

· Bring binoculars.

· Bring a camera with at least a 200mm zoom lens. 400mm or 600mm is even better! (I didn’t bring my 600mm for this trip since we were backpacking for six months, and I regretted it so much I bought one in Delhi before our safari!)

Travel Insurance for Nepal

Whatever you do, don’t travel without travel insurance. Whether it’s sickness, theft, or lost luggage, something WILL go wrong, and travel insurance is your only way of lessening costs!