Chitwan National Park is one of Nepal’s eight national parks. Established in 1973, the park covers an area of 577 square kilometers (359 square miles) and is home to seven different types of forest and jungle. The park was granted World Heritage Status in 1984.
Located in the Terai Lowland of Nepal, 150 kilometers (93 miles) from capital city Kathmandu, it is possible to reach the park by flight from Kathmandu or by road. Buses run daily from Kathmandu to Bharatpur, with the most popular tourist hotspot being Sauraha, 20 minutes away. Flights go three times daily from Kathmandu Domestic Airport to Bharatpur Airport with Buddha Air and Yeti Airlines. Chitwan National Park is home to a myriad of wildlife and breathtaking scenery. To make the most of it, here are a few top tips for visiting Chitwan National Park, Nepal.
1. Join a jeep safari trip!
Your experience in Nepal’s deep forests is best enjoyed by taking a ride across this vast property. This safari expedition across Chitwan National Park sees you and other passengers traverse along the lush landscapes. You’ll be joined by a wildlife expert, who will spot the many different types of animals that roam around these gorgeous wonders.
Want to get your Instagram-worthy shots? You’ll get several stops along the way to fulfill your photo opportunities. There are two options to choose from: if you have other obligations set in the morning, spend the remainder of the day with the half-day package. Otherwise, if you’re free the entire day, take the full-day option.
As you prepare for the trip, it’s best to wear monochromatic colors - these include white, black, and even darker hues. The sight of bright colors might be off-putting to some, if not most, animals in the forest.
Jeep Safari in Chitwan National Park
Address: Sauraha, Main Road, Chitwan National Park
2. Observe the Tharu culture
If you’re seeking unique things to do around Chitwan National Park apart from spotting wild animals and reeling in the lush forest scenery, consider observing the inhabitants who live in the area.
The Tharu are an indigenous group who generally settle in the foothills of the Himalayas. Considering the location, you’ll be able to spot these folks in the southern part of Nepal, in which Chitwan is a part of. This cultural tour gives you a deeper insight of the Tharu and their unique culture.
Pay a visit to the Tharu Village Museum in Sauraha, where you’ll learn about their past and present, as well as their traditions that are interlinked with nature. Then, discover how they get along in their everyday life in an authentic Tharu village. You can either observe their simple lifestyles, or go for a more hands-on approach to get a feel of their culture.
Tharu/Cultural Village Tour at Chitwan
Website: Chitwan Tourism
3. Listen up! (from USD 386.0)
The safari guides of Chitwan National Park are highly experienced. More than just guides, many of them are qualified naturalists and their passion and dedication to the preservation and conservation of the park is clear to see. Be sure to maximize your time with them and don’t be afraid to ask questions. They take great pride in their work and take it personally if they do not sight Nepal’s big five on every safari.
It is imperative that you listen to your guide. Not only do they have a wealth of knowledge and experience to impart but they are there to keep you safe. Ultimately you are a visitor in these wild animal’s habitat. You must be respectful of their environment. If a rhino doesn’t want you around, they’ll let you know!
Particularly during walking safaris when you are away from the relative protection of the jeep you need to keep an ear our for your guide’s instruction and an eye out for wildlife. With wild rhino, tigers and elephants all inhabiting the park you must be on the ball. That’s not to say you can’t relax and enjoy yourself, far from it. A jungle walk is one of the most memorable experiences a traveler can have in Chitwan. Standing a mere 50 meters (164 feet) away from a wild rhino is awe-inspiring to say the least!
Tharu Community Home-stay Tour in Kathmandu
Duration: 5 days
4. Get snap happy!
Living in the Instagram age, you will kick yourself if you don’t have a good camera when you visit Chitwan National Park. Aside from the wildlife, Chitwan boasts impressive landscapes and spectacular sunsets. The bigger the zoom the better! With monkeys high in the trees and tigers hiding in the grassland sometimes you just won’t get close enough for the perfect shot! That said, remember to live in the moment, not just through the lens. Take a moment to put the camera down and take it all in with your eyes!
Remember, turn off the flash! Bright and sudden camera flash scares wildlife of all varieties, particularly monkeys and rhinos. You wouldn’t want to be the person to scare off your sighting for the rest of the group. Camera flash can spook wildlife causing them to charge. Being chased by a rhino may seem like an adrenaline junkie’s dream but these endangered animals deserve space and respect.
Special Tour of Kathmandu, Chitwan and Pokhara
Address: Chitwan National Park
Royal Chitwan National Park Tour Guide
Tours by Gyanendra
5. Whatever the weather!
Whatever the weather, Chitwan National Park has something to offer. However, during the main monsoon months (July to September) the national park is closed to tourists. The community managed Buffer Zone is accessible all year round and is home to the same wildlife as the National Park itself, with no strict boarder wildlife is free to roam between the two areas.
The dry season during April and May is the best time for sighting Bengal Tigers. Be sure to head to the grasslands and river banks and sit patiently…they will come! During October to December, the Greater One Horned Rhino can be sighted daily, make your way to the watering holes deep in the jungle to watch them splash around and wallow in the thick mud. For the keen bird watchers among you, Chitwan is a sight to behold all year round. With spring, summer, autumn and winter migratory birds to spot as well as the year round residents your binoculars will certainly earn their keep during your visit!
3-night Wildlife Adventure Tour from Kathmandu
Address: Chitwan National Park
https://www.instagram.com/p/BSs5O7XlIs2/?taken-by=tiger_tops
6. Walk, don't ride. (from USD 330)
There has been increasing media attention around wildlife in tourism and for good reason. Elephant riding is a popular choice for many who visit Chitwan National Park. It is offered by every hotel and guesthouse but that is not to say that it is the best way to experience the jungle.
The saddle worn by elephants when giving rides causes discomfort and sores and in some cases catastrophic injury. Elephants that are forced to walk for long periods of the day in the heat and across unnatural surfaces experience foot problems as well as exhaustion. Overnight they are kept in small stables and are chained up, unable to move freely. Many mahouts and owners do care for their elephants and ultimately these animals must earn their keep. There is an alternative and by consciously choosing a more ethical, welfare focused experience you can help lead by example and create a better life for mahouts and elephants alike.
Tiger Tops Elephant Camp is the only truly ethical elephant experience in Nepal. In spring 2016, they created five chain-free enclosures for their eleven elephants and ceased elephant rides for tourists. Guests now walk alongside the elephants through the jungle making for a much more authentic and memorable experience. By walking side by side with the elephants you can truly appreciate their presence as they saunter through the jungle at their own pace. Guests are also invited to watch the elephants bath at their leisure and help their mahouts make ‘kuchi,’ elephant sandwiches.
Tiger Tops Tharu Lodge
Address: Chitwan National Park
16.18 km (10.1 mi) from सीजी शाश्वतधाम
7. Dress for comfort not for fashion! (from USD 1.0)
All safari guides will advise guests to wear dark or neutral colored clothing and for good reason too. The aim of the game is to blend into your surroundings as much as possible in order to avoid bringing attention to yourself. In the winter months (November to February) the icy mist hangs in the air long into the day. A warm jacket and a good set of thermals is recommended especially for the night time.
Particularly during and after monsoon (July to September), be sure to wear long loose trousers. This is the perfect time of year for leeches! Although harmless, they are an inconvenience. If you do get ‘leeched’ you’ll feel a slight scratch on your skin and that is it, most people do not even notice them! Leeches will take their fill and remove themselves in their own time. However if you are squeamish ask your guide to remove it for you. They all have ninja-like skills when it comes to removing leeches!
Kathmandu 8-Night Luxury All-Inclusive Nepal Adventure Tour
Duration: 9 days
8. Ditch the plastic! Stay hydrated! (from USD 1.0)
We all want to be more environmentally friendly, right? The first place to start is bringing your own water bottle. Although most hotels bring bottled water out with them on safari, there are very few recycling options in Nepal, particularly in Chitwan. By bringing your own water bottle, you are helping to cut costs for your safari provider and doing your bit to protect the environment. Most hotels and guesthouses will have drinking water available for you to refill your bottle with.
10-Night Trekking Tour Including Chitwan National Park from Kathmandu
Duration: 11 days
9. Don't expect tigers! (from USD 680.0)
Chitwan National Park is home to Nepal’s Big Five; Greater One Horned Rhino, Asian Elephant, Bengal Tiger, Spotted Leopard and Gharial Crocodile. All are registered as endangered. Rhino and Ghairal Crocodile are sighted daily, as well as Rhesus Macquaces, Grey Languar Monkeys and deer. There are four species of deer native to Chitwan National Park; Barking Deer, Hog Deer, Samba Deer and Spotted Deer.
Particularly in the Sauraha area of Chitwan National Park, wild elephants can be seen on a regular basis. Two male tuskers locally known as Ronaldo and Jungle Hathi (Hathi is the Nepali word for Elephant, a good word to learn before you visit)! In the evening you may see semi-wild Mel Kali saunter back into her chain-free enclosure and trumpet for her dinner having spent the day grazing in the grasslands of the park.
Chitwan is home to approximately 600 rhinos and 120 tigers. Tigers are elusive, as are leopards, although you are unlikely to spot tigers on every safari you will certainly see evidence of they existence. There have been weeks on end that tigers have not been sighted in the flesh, but don’t be disheartened! Chitwan National Park has so much to see!
The best time of the year for spotting tigers is April and May, the dry season when the Tigers come out to reap the benefits of the watering holes and rivers. Small mammals such as deer, wild boar, monkeys and mongoose are sighted on an hourly basis and it is uncommon to return from safari having not caught a glimpse of a rhino.
3-Night Chitwan National Park Safari from Kathmandu
Duration: 4 days
So now you're ready!
Whatever the weather and whatever the season, Chitwan National Park has something for everyone. With your recyclable water bottle, loose and natural colored clothes, and camera in your bag, you will be in for the adventure of a lifetime! Make charming Chitwan a must-add to your growing itinerary for your Nepal trip.
Frequently asked questions about the top tips for visiting Chitwan National Park, Nepal
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