Choosing a Nepal jungle safari: how the lowland parks compare

What a safari in Nepal is like

A safari in Nepal isn’t quite what you might picture if you’ve seen footage of an African savanna safari. The parks here are a mix of sal forest, tall grassland and rivers, so animals tend to appear at close range and then melt back into cover. And it’s not all jeep drives: you can usually canoe, walk with guides and spend time in nearby villages too.

The headline animals are the greater one-horned rhino and the Bengal tiger, along with deer, crocodiles, sloth bears, wild elephants and hundreds of bird species. Which of them you’re most likely to see depends a lot on which park you choose and how long you stay.

Nepal’s lowland parks side by side

Chitwan: the most accessible and varied

Chitwan National Park is Nepal’s first national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s also the closest major park to Kathmandu and Pokhara, which is why it slots so easily into a wider Nepal itinerary.

Chitwan held 694 of Nepal’s 752 rhinos in the 2021 count, so most visitors do see one. You can mix and match different safari types, including jeep drives, canoe rides, guided walks and birding, and add a Tharu village visit too. Tigers live here as well (128 in the 2022 count), but sightings are uncommon. The catch? Easy access means Sauraha and the areas near it can feel busy in peak season.

Bardia: bigger, quieter and further away

Bardia, in the far west, is Nepal’s largest lowland national park at about 968 km². The 2022 count found about 125 tigers there, and its forests, grasslands and the Karnali River feel wilder and far less visited than Chitwan.

Getting there is the main hurdle. By road, it’s a long haul of 12 hours or more from Kathmandu. Flying to Nepalgunj and then driving about 2–2.5 hours is quicker, but it adds to the cost. So travelers who make it to Bardia usually stay several nights, both to make the journey worthwhile and to give long walks and drives time to work. Even then, tiger sightings are never guaranteed.

Shuklaphanta, Parsa and Koshi Tappu

Shuklaphanta sits in the far southwestern corner of Nepal. Its wide, open grasslands are known for large herds of swamp deer, and that sense of space is unusual for Nepal. It’s remote and has few facilities, so most visitors combine it with Bardia.

Parsa lies directly east of Chitwan and forms part of the same forest landscape. It’s mostly sal forest and hills, with very limited tourist infrastructure, which is why it rarely turns up on standard safari trips.

Koshi Tappu is a wetland reserve on the Koshi River in eastern Nepal. It’s mainly a birding destination, especially for water birds in winter, and it’s also known for wild water buffalo. It suits keen birders far better than travelers looking for rhinos and big cats. If you’d like your birding a little closer to Kathmandu, have a look at bird watching in Chitwan.

Chitwan or Bardia: who each suits

There’s no single best national park in Nepal for wildlife, whatever anyone tells you. The right choice comes down to your time, your budget and what you most want to see.

Why most first-time visitors choose Chitwan

Planning a Nepal safari package

Most travelers spend two or three nights on a Nepal wildlife tour in Chitwan, which is enough for a good mix of activities without rushing. A Nepal safari package usually includes transport, lodging, park permits, licensed guides and meals.

Browse our Chitwan tour packages for options from one to several nights, or take a look at the wildlife you may see on a typical stay. Not sure which park or trip length is right for you? Don’t worry: send us your dates and we’ll help you weigh it all up.