Taking a jungle safari in Nepal is a most amazing experience, particularly since the country has such exceptional biodiversity and a beautiful natural environment. The tropical jungles of the Terai preserve some of the best wildlife habitat on the subcontinent. Nepal has 16 national parks, wildlife reserves and conservation areas, occupying 16 percent of its total geographical area. Nepal offers views of some of the rarest and most endangered wildlife on earth.
The southern lowlands of the country are known as the Terai; this area is covered with dense tropical jungles and fertile rice fields. It is home to thousands of birds and animal species, including some of the world’s most exotic and endangered. Due to increases in human population, deforestation and illegal poaching, the natural habitats of animals like the One-Horned Rhino, Royal Bengal Tiger, Red Panda, Blue Bull and the Gharial Crocodile are being destroyed, leading these creatures towards extinction.
To experience the natural environment at its best, there is no better place on the Indian subcontinent to visit than Nepal. Taking a jungle safari in Nepal is a great way to relax and to soak up a completely different environment of green jungles after a demanding trek. Families always love this place, as do locals and overseas visitors. Yatra Himalaya has been organising trips into the jungle regions for many years, whether to Chitwan, the most popular, or to isolated parks like Bardia or Kosi Tappu. Venturing into these exotic wilderness areas to see wild animals, birds and natural beauty is a stark contrast to trekking.
You can ride on an elephant or take a four-wheeler jeep into the forests, accompanied by a fully trained naturalist. In Nepal, Chitwan and Bardia are the two hottest dishes on the menu for wildlife. Pick Chitwan, as this is Nepal’s most popular national park, offering excellent opportunities to see Royal Bengal tigers, one-horned rhino, crocodile as well as sambar deer, sloth bear and fleet-of-foot gazelles. Choose Bardia National Park for its quiet, remote ambience, where the chance of encountering the more elusive animals is high. Here too you can ride on an elephant or a take a four-wheel-drive to discover some of Nepal’s unspoiled natural habitats. Most jungle safaris also include canoe rides along the jungle creeks, nature walks, bird-watching excursions and tours around the Tharu villages to discover their unique culture and traditions. Normally an evening of cultural dance and song is included, performed by the villagers.