Top wildlife safari in Nepal / Protected area of Nepal

Safari is an adventure that leads you to explore the unexplored trails on natural horizon or forest. It is a kind of forest trail where you don’t have to walk; you can explore the jungle area on jeep, elephant, or on the horse. Jungle safari can be done only in conservation or protected areas under the guidance of an expert. Nepal has about 14 national parks and wildlife reserves. Nepal is the rich home of flora and fauna. You will get to see lots of endangered birds and animals as well as the customs and traditions of Nepal. There are 12 national parks in Nepal. Similarly, there is 1 wildlife reserve and 1 hunting reserve in Nepal. Next, not only that, Nepal also has 6 conservation areas.

Nepal has different protected areas which are located in lowland Terai to the high Himalayas, including the Everest region. Altitudes range from 67 m (220 feet) in the lowland Terai to 8848 m (29029 feet) at Mount Everest. Nepal's extreme altitudes offer different types of wild animals, flora, fauna, and amazing landscapes.

National Parks

• Chitwan National Park – 932 km² (360 sq mi)
• Sagarmatha National Park – 1,148 km² (443 sq mi)
• Langtang National Park – 1,710 km² (660 sq mi)
• Rara National Park – 106 km² (41 sq mi)
• Khaptad National Park – 225 km² (87 sq mi)
• Shey Phoksundo National Park – 3,555 km² (1,373 sq mi)
• Bardiya National Park – 968 km² (374 sq mi)
• Makalu Barun National Park – 1,500 km² (580 sq mi)
• Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park – 159 km² (61 sq mi)
• Banke National Park – 550 km² (210 sq mi)
• Shuklaphanta National Park – 305 km² (118 sq mi)
• Parsa National Park – 637 km² (246 sq mi)

Wildlife Reserves

• Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve – 175 km² (68 sq mi)

Conservation Areas

• Annapurna Conservation Area – 7,629 km² (2,946 sq mi)
• Kanchenjunga Conservation Area – 2,035 km² (786 sq mi)
• Manaslu Conservation Area – 1,663 km² (642 sq mi)
• Blackbuck Conservation Area – 15.95 km² (6.16 sq mi)
• Api Nampa Conservation Area – 1,903 km² (735 sq mi)
• Gaurishankar Conservation Area – 2,179 km² (841 sq mi)

Hunting Reserve

• Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve – 1,325 km² (512 sq mi)

Ramsar Sites

The following Ramsar sites were declared between 1988 and 2008:

• Bishazari Tal – 3,200 ha (12 sq mi)
• Ghodaghodi Tal – 2,563 ha (9.90 sq mi)
• Gokyo Lake Complex – 7,770 ha (30.0 sq mi)
• Gosaikunda – 13.8 ha (34 acres)
• Jagdishpur Reservoir – 225 ha (0.87 sq mi)
• Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve – 17,500 ha (68 sq mi)
• Mai Pokhari – 90 ha (220 acres)
• Phoksundo Lake – 494 ha (1.91 sq mi)
• Rara Lake – 1,583 ha (6.11 sq mi)
• Lake Cluster of Pokhara Valley – 178.5 km² (68.9 sq mi)

1. Chitwan National Park Safari

Chitwan National Park is the first national park of Nepal. It has covered an area of 932 sq km and was established in 1773. Chitwan National Park lies in the central lowland of Nepal and helps conserve the ecosystem all around. As this is the most popular national park, it was declared a UNESCO Natural Heritage site in 1979. The park is the most visited area of Nepal. The protected area is rich in flora and fauna and is home to different endangered animals.

Those who dream of observing wild animals, green forests, and the flat landscape of the Terai region of Nepal will find the Chitwan National Park Safari Tour to be the best choice. Inside the park, elephant safari is the most popular way to spot wildlife. You will be in a group with a guide, and you can come within 1 meter of other animals. You can also explore wildlife by jeep safari. This trip helps you capture awesome pictures of animals and nature. Jeep safari can be either full-day or half-day, depending on your choice.

Another way of exploring wildlife is a canoe ride. From this, you will slowly pass the shores and can view bathing crocodiles and birds. You will be accompanied by a guide who will tell you about the animals. Similarly, a jungle walk or village walk offers you the chance to watch birds and view the lifestyle of indigenous local people. During the whole trip, you will be guided by experts in the area.

2. Bardia National Park Safari

Situated in the mid-far western region, Bardia Jungle Safari is the 2nd most popular jungle safari in Nepal. It is the largest and unspoiled area in the Terai, covering 968 sq km. The protected area was established in 1988 under the name of Royal Bardia National Park. Being very popular, thousands of people come to visit this place. If you want to explore the adventure and natural beauty of Nepal, then Bardia National Park is the perfect choice for you.

A safari trip to the most wilderness area, Bardia National Park, provides you with distinctive flora, fauna, and scenery. The National Park is home to lots of endangered animals like the Royal Bengal Tiger, wild elephant, one-horned rhinoceros, and Swamp deer. Furthermore, the natural beauty of the lush green forest makes your trip more exciting.

On this trip, you will visit the exciting crocodile breeding center. Elephant Safari is another exciting and safest way to explore wildlife up close. You can also take a Tharu Village Tour; Tharu people are the ancient inhabitants of the Bardia Jungle. You can see their lifestyle. During the trip, you will enjoy a jungle walk or nature walk, and you can get a chance to experience the hidden life of wildlife.

3. Parsa Wildlife Safari

This off-beaten track, Parsa Wildlife Reserve, lies east of Chitwan National Park. It has covered an area of 499 sq km. The headquarters of the park are situated in Adhabar, and the area has spread across various districts like Chitwan, Parsa, Bara, and Makwanpur. The area allows you to experience the pristine beauty of Parsa Wildlife Reserve. Parsa Wildlife Reserve is culturally and naturally beautiful.

The conservation area is the homeland of various endangered animals such as wild elephant, leopard, tiger, sloth bear, and wild dog. The forest offers views of many common animals like sambar, chital, hog deer, barking deer, hyena, rattle, jungle cat, and many more. Many kinds of beautiful birds like hornbill, peafowl, flycatcher, and woodpecker can be found here. You will also get to see different snakes like king cobra, common cobra, krait, and rat snake in the area due to the hot tropical climate.

4. Koshi Tappu Wildlife Safari

Koshi Tappu Wildlife lies between Sunsari and Saptari in the eastern Terai region. It covers an area of 175 sq km and is one of the smallest conservation areas. It was established in 1976. The protected area was mainly established for the conservation of wild buffaloes, but these days you can find endangered animals and birds.

The forest of Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is very rich in flora and fauna. It is home to many endangered animals like Hog deer, wild boar, spotted deer, Blue bull, Bengal Tiger, and Himalayan Thar, while protecting wild buffaloes. The vegetation here consists of deciduous forest, grassland, and marshy fields.

This trip is a paradise for bird watchers. It is an exciting opportunity to watch some 400 species of birds inside the forest. Similarly, Jeep Safari is also another part of the trip to explore the conservation area. You will get to see many wild animals from the jeep. Rafting in Koshi River is also another way of exploring the jungle. While rafting, you can view water birds, kingfishers diving into the water for food, crocodiles sunbathing, rare wild buffaloes, and river dolphins.

Likewise, the village and jungle walk is another interesting part of the trip. The trip offers you the chance to view the lifestyle of the ancient inhabitants of the area. Tharus have a unique lifestyle, untouched by western culture. They decorate their houses beautifully, and their cultures are delightful. The village is plastic-free and environmentally aware.