Chitwan National Park Jungle Safari

Spotting wildlife is the highlight of Chitwan National Park. What you can see varies on different ways for safari. When you walk into the jungle, you can see lots of mammal animals, such as one horned rhinocero and royal Bengal tiger, as well as many other endangered animals, like elephant, leopard, deer, monkey, sloth bear, wild boar, etc. If you go on canoe safari or walk along the rivers, you can spot several amphibians, including golden monitor lizard, crocodile, python, etc. No matter you are in the jungle or on the water, various birds can be observed, like parakeet, bulbul, kingfisher, oriole, mynah, egret, jungle fowl, peacock, and different drongos. The most high-profile species that regarded as Chitwan's superstars are one-horned rhino, royal Bengal tiger, Asian elephant, gharial and sloth bear.

If you have interest in flora, Chitwan is also a perfect place to provide wide range of vegetation types. About 70% of the park is covered in sal forest and there are also large swathes of grassland. In the jungle forest, you can see shisham, towering kapok, strangler figs, the pungent curry leaf tree, etc.

Check the most popular 6 Days Chitwan Jungle Safri Tour or search for your most favored experience in all Chitwan Tours>

One-horned Rhino

One Deer in Chitwan

Safari Time: Half Day or Whole Day

Jeep safari, riding an open top jeep through the dense forest, is the most comfortable and efficient way to enjoy Chitwan National Park. The experienced drive will drive you into the deep jungle and stop in the best place to observe the animals, so you get better chance to bump into more animals. There is no need to worry about scarring them away, because these animals always get used to jeeps and won't walk away. It is available to choose short jeep safari or full day jeep safari. The short jeep safari takes about 4 hours usually. Just keep your camera and binoculars ready and handy so you are able to catch and record every precious moment of these rare animals.

Encounter with Bengal Tiger

Safari Time: around 2 Hours

Elephant safari, namely on the back of lumbering elephant, is a popular way to observe wildlife from up close. There is wooden platform set on the back of elephant, which can carry 3 ~ 4 people in one time. Having a seat on the back of tall elephant offers you a safe and splendid vantage point high above the towering bushes. The elephants will take you cross through lush subtropical forest and wade into the streams. It is also an enjoyable and exciting experience to bathe with elephants. Remember to bring a bathing suit and flip-flops or you will get totally wet.

If you are fond elephants, don't miss Elephant Breeding Sanctuary. At the dusk (around 6 pm usually), the famous wild male elephant will come nightly to visit his wives and kids. You can buy extra bananas to feed the elephants before or after your safari.

Interesting Elephant Safari

The experience of canoe safari in Chitwan National Park is quite leisurely but thrilling. Sitting in a traditional narrow dugout canoe, you will admire the beautiful riverside scenery of Chitwan National Park as well as the great wildlife. It is especially recommended for birds lovers because you can view different species of birds, like egrets, storks, kingfishers, etc. It is also available to see eagle come to breed and crocodiles enjoy the sunshine along the banks. You may be lucky to have a close sight of a rhino when they often wade down the riverbanks to wallow in the water.

The most popular canoeing sites are Rapti River which flowing through northern Chitwan National Park and Narayani River - one major river of Nepal. Some travelers prefer a one-hour canoe trip downriver from Sauraha followed by a guided walk back.

Canoe Safari in Chitwan

Safari Time: Depends on You

For some travelers, the most adventurous and entraining experience is on safari without any transportation at all. Chitwan National Park is the only national park in the world that allows tourists to enter into the core area of the park. Therefore, it is easier to encounter with the dangerous animals (like one horn rhinos, wild elephants, tigers, etc.) during your jungle walk, so it's not recommended to the faint-hearted. The walk route is not fixed, so you can choose to step into the thick forest around the natural habitat of awe-inspiring wild animals or just stroll along the rivers.

If you choose jungle walk, you have to travel with a professional guide who will be helpful to make you stay in safety and deliver extensive information of these vegetation and animals. In general, the bigger the group you are in, the safer the walk will be.

ake an adventure to have a jungle walk

Till now, it is not permitted to accommodate inside the park. There are several options for you to have a great accommodating experience.

Sauraha - Sauraha is a village located on the north bank by the Rapti River and Chitwan National Park. It is the eastern gateway to Chitwan National Park. There is a wide range of hotels, lodges, restaurants, cafes and souvenir shops, including some western style ones. Recommended loges in Sauraha include Green Park Chitwan, Chitwan Village Resort, Tiger Residency Resort, etc.

Jungle Wildlife Camp - For those who want to be close to nature, jungle wildlife camp near the park is accessible. The rooms are basic but clean in the camp. Hot water and free Wi-Fi are offered. In the morning, you may see the crocodile in the river.

Others - There are many other lodges located around the park offering good accommodation as well, like Tiger Tops Tharu Lodge, Kasara Resot, Temple Tiger Green Jungle Resort, etc.

Beautiful Peacocks in Chitwan

No matter what the weather is, there are something to see in Chitwan National Park. In different seasons, you get different opportunities to see different animals, like Bengal tiger in April and May and one horned rhino in October ~ December. Chitwan is an ideal destination for bird-watching all the year around. Generally, the most comfortable time to visit Chitwan National Park is from October to February of the next year when the average temperature is about 25 °C and the sky is most clear.

However, the best time for Chitwan jungle safari is from late January to March of the next year, when the locals cut down the towering bushes and you can see the animals much clearer. You are not suggested visiting Chitwan National Park in raining season (June ~ September) when the national park is closed to tourists and jungle safari is impossible. Read more about Chitwan Weather and Climate>

Winter is best time for bird-watching

Tharu culture discovery: There are lots of Tharu villages near Chitwan national park. In Bachhauli, you will find informative Tharu Cultural Museum where you can get a good deal of knowledge of Tharu people. Tharu Cultural Show with featured Tharu songs and dances is a must.

Cycling: It is not permitted to cycle in Chitwan National Park, but you can travel around the park by riding. The rural scenery of mustard fields of crops and flowers entice many tourists.

Wildlife learning: Before you go on jungle safari, you can visit Wildlife Display & Information Center to get a better understanding of the wildlife in Chitwan National Park.

Tharu Culturl Program in Chitwan