Archives: Trips

Jungle Safari Tour: Chitwan National Park which was established in 1973 and granted the status of a World Heritage Site in 1984 which is the the first national park in Nepal. It covers an area of 932 sq km (360 sq mi) and is located in the subtropical Inner Tarai , the lowlands of south-central Nepal in the Chitwan District. In altitude it ranges from about 100 m (330 ft) in the river valleys to 815 m (2,674 ft) in the Churia Hills.

In the north and west of the protected area the Narayani-Rapti river system forms a natural boundary to human settlements. Adjacent to the east of Chitwan National Park is Parsa Wildlife Reserve, contiguous in the south is the Indian Tiger Reserve Valmiki National Park.

The wide range of vegetation types in the Chitwan National Park, there are more than 700 species of wildlife and a not yet fully surveyed number of butterfly, moth and insect species. Apart from King Cobra and Rock python, 17 other species of snakes, starred tortoise and monitor lizards occur. The Narayani-Rapti river system, their small tributaries and myriads of oxbow lakes is habitat for 113 recorded species of fish and mugger crocodiles.

In the early 1950 s, about 235 Gharials occurred in the Narayani River. The population has dramatically declined to only 38 wild Gharials in 2003. Every year Gharial eggs are collected along the rivers to be hatched in the breeding center of the Gharial Conservation Project, where animals are reared to an age of 8–11 years. Every year young Gharials are reintroduced into the Narayani-Rapti river system, of which sadly only very few surviv.

The Chitwan National Park is home to at least 43 species of mammals as the “King of the Jungle” is the Bengal tiger , Leopards sloth bears with an estimated 200 to 250 individuals, Bengal foxes, spotted linsangs and honey badgers striped hyenas prevail on the southern slopes of the Churia Hills, wild dogs , golden jackals, fishing cats, jungle cats, leopard cats, large and small Indian civets, Asian palm civets, crab-eating mongooses and Yellow-Throated martens, Wild elephants wild boars, Sambar deer, Red Muntjac, hog deer , herds of Chital, rhesus monkeys, Hanuman Langurs, Indian Penguins, Indian porcupines, several species of flying squirrels, black-naped hares and endangered Hispid hares .

Rhinoceros: since 1973 the population has recovered well and increased to 544 animals around the turn of the century. To ensure the survival of the endangered species in case of epidemics animals are trans located annually from Chitwan to the Bardia National Park and the Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve since 1986. However, the population has repeatedly been jeopardized by poaching: in 2002 alone, poachers killed 37 individuals in order to saw off and sell their valuable horns.

Every year dedicated bird watchers and conservationists survey bird species occurring all over the country. According to the 2006 record 543 species in the Chitwan National Park, much more than in any other protected area in Nepal and about two-thirds of Nepal’s globally threatened species. Additionally, 20 black-chinned yuhina, a pair of Gould’s sun bird, a pair of blossom-headed parakeet and one slaty-breasted rail, an uncommon winter visitor, were sighted in spring .

The national park is important habitats for the critically endangered Bengal Florican, the vulnerable lesser adjutant, grey-crowned Prinia, swamp Francolin and several species of grass warblers. The near threatened Oriental darter is a resident breeder around the many lakes, where also egrets, bitterns, storks and kingfisher abound.

The park is one of the few known breeding sites of the globally threatened spotted eagle.Peafowl and jungle fowl scratch their living on the forest floor.

Apart from the resident birds about 160 migrating and vagrant species arrive in Chitwan in autumn from northern latitudes to spend the winter here, among them the Greater Spotted Eagle, Eastern Imperial Eagle and Pallas’s Fish-eagle. Common sightings include Brahminy ducks and goo-sanders. Large flocks of bar-headed geese just rest for a few days in February on their way north.

The calls of cuckoos herald the start of spring. The colorful Bengal Pittas and several sun bird species are common breeding visitors during monsoon. Among the many flycatcher species the Paradise flycatcher with his long undulating tail in flight is a spectacular sight.