CHITWAN NATIONAL PARK

Bardia National Park or Chitwan National Park?

If you want to see the Asian one-horned rhinoceros, Chitwan National Park is the place to be. Chitwan National Park is just a 6-hour bus ride from Kathmandu, also making it much easier to get to than Bardia National Park (a 16-hour bus from Pokhara).

But if you want to go on a walking safari and see wild tigers, go to Bardia National Park. Even though Chitwan National Park has a higher density of tigers than Bardia National Park, it’s much more rare to see a tiger in Chitwan than it is to see one in Bardia. This is because Chitwan is over 70% sal forests and the remaining land is covered in tall elephant grass, making sightings scarce.

Compared to Chitwan, Bardia only has 37 rhinos and almost no sloth bears, making it a safer option for walking safaris in Nepal.

Walking Safari or Jeep Safari?

Chitwan National Park boasts an amazing population of close to 700 rhinos, but that also makes embarking on a walking safari in Chitwan National Park more dangerous.

One 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 and locals, we decided a walking safari in Chitwan National Park just wasn’t worth the risk.

Is a Walking Safari in Chitwan safe?

No. Before we visited Chitwan, we read Google reviews by guests who had either been attacked witnessed their guides be attacked, sometimes even fatally. In the few weeks leading up before our trip, one guide had been attacked by a sloth bear on his face, and another guide had been trampled to death by a rhino. Incidents like these are just too common for walking safaris in Chitwan to be considered safe.

Unlike walking safaris in southern Africa, guides in Chitwan National Park only carry sticks to protect themselves and guests. When paired with Chitwan’s high forest density and tall elephant grass reaching over 2 meters, it’s a deadly combination.

Guides in Chitwan National Park risk their lives to earn money for themselves and their families on walking safaris. Think about this. If the primary earner for a family gets killed leading tourists on walking safaris, who will support the family? Guides will stop taking tourists on walking safaris in Chitwan only when tourists stop asking to go on walking safaris.

How to Plan Your Trip to Chitwan National Park

How to Book Safaris in Chitwan National Park

Unlike safaris in India, there is no online booking system for safaris in Chitwan National Park. Contact a safari company with accommodation like Hotel Rhino Land, and they will arrange everything for you, even on last-minute notice or on arrival.

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 Chitwan National Park

February and March is the best time to go on safaris in Chitwan National Park. This is after burning season, so Chitwan’s usually tall elephant grass is gone, making it easy to spot many, many animals like rhinos, sloth bears, elephants, and even tigers if you’re lucky.

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 Chitwan National Park

By Bus

The cheapest way to get to Chitwan National Park is by bus to Sauraha. From Kathmandu, the journey will take 5 to 6 hours and cost 1,000 NPR per person for a non-local bus with AC. From Pokhara, the same bus costs 1,000 NPR per person and also takes 5 to 6 hours. Book from 12Go or directly from the bus station.

By Plane

The fastest way to get to Chitwan National Park is by plane to Bharatpur Airport, 17kms from Chitwan, but this is also the most expensive option. Roundtrip flights from Kathmandu cost around $100 per person.

Where to Stay in Bardia National Park

Hotel Rhino Land is local-owned, and is just 1km from the Chitwan National Park entrance. They have AC rooms for $15 for two people and non-AC rooms with fans for $8 for two people. They also have a beautiful garden, shared outdoor areas, and a restaurant with delicious Nepali food.

Tips for Making the Most of Your Safari

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.

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.

What to Bring for Your Jeep Safari in Chitwan National Park

· Bring cash incase you’d like to buy drinks or snacks at the rest point, and bring 100 NPR if you’d like to visit the gharial breeding center during the safari.

· Wear a sunhat.

· Wear comfortable, airy clothing in non-bright colors, and long pants to protect from the sun and brush.

· 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!