A Jeep Safari Through Chitwan National Park is one of the best ways to explore the Park. Established in 1973, it is Nepal’s first national park. It is located at the foothills of the southern central part of Nepal and spreads over four districts: Chitwan, Parsa, Makwanpur, and Nawalparasi. In total, it covers 93,200 hectares of land.
One of the most critical aspects of this national park is that it is home to some nearly endangered Nepalese flora and fauna species. The jungle, with its alluvial flood plains and riverine forest, is an ideal environment for the Great One-horned Rhinoceros, with the world’s second-largest population of this species residing here.
Another endangered species, The Bengal Tiger, also thrives here, and the area provides a sustainable source population for this endangered species. The park is highly diverse in species, containing a significant percentage of Nepal’s mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and fish.
Chitwan National Park has recently become one of the biggest tourist attractions. Activities like Elephant riding, Jeep Safari, and bird watching will indulge you for a few days in the park.
Today, we will examine one of the most enjoyable ways of exploring Chitwan National Park: a full-day safari tour by Jeep.
Table of Contents
Introduction to Jeep Safari Through Chitwan National Park
Jeep Safari is, without a doubt, the best and most efficient way to explore the national park’s wildlife. Not only is it an incredibly enjoyable experience, but it is also the fastest means to tour the jungle and witness its breathtaking beauty.
Hence, when you are touring the jungle in your jeep, you can get as close to the wildlife and explore them from as close as possible.
Geographical feature and Location
Chitwan National Park is in the south-central part of Nepal, sharing the boundary of the four districts. Its geographical features are 27.5193° N and 84.3135° E.
The national park covers 952.63 km2 or 367.81 sq mi. and is spread over many land masses. The geographical features of the National Park include various kinds of:
Grasslands: The park has many barren grasslands. Over 20% of the area is covered by grasslands. Many wildlife like gazelles, giraffes, elephants, and rhinoceros.
Forests: Hence, exploring all these land parts via jeep is much easier than using any other mode of transport. Most national parks are covered in forests. Over 70% of the park is forested. Trees also grow along the Rapti River.
Floodplains: Floodplains are part of the jungle, covered mainly by floods. During the dry season, the area is entirely barren. Still, during the monsoon, several animals, such as tigers, lions, rhinos, and hippopotamuses, use the land as a water source or for cooling.
Hills: Some portions of the national park are surrounded by Sivalik Hills. The southern area of the park is filled with low hills and mountains. Many wild animals, like monkeys, leopards, bears, etc., enjoy soaking up sunlight in the Sivalik Hills.
Biodiversity and Significance
Chitwan National Park is renowned for its biodiversity in terms of flora and fauna. The national park is divided into several parts: barren grasslands, subtropical forests, riverine forests, and several flowers, trees, and vegetation.
Just like plants, there is also a diversity of animals. The park has several categories of animals. There are mammals like tigers, lions, rhinoceros, sloths, bears, dolphins, monkeys, and deer, as reptiles, and amphibians like snakes, crocodiles, lizards, gharial, frogs, and toads. Similarly, there are several species of fish and birds.
The jeep safari in Chitwan National Park is significant for several reasons. First, it benefits the local people economically, and second, it helps protect endangered animal species.
Lastly, it helps maintain ecological balance in the region, keeping the wildlife alive. Protecting endangered animal species benefits the environment and improves the economic conditions of the local people.
Conservation efforts and UNESCO World Heritage status
Around 1950, the settlement started moving around the jungle, spreading rampant wildlife poaching. It took seven years to establish the conservation law in Nepal. In 1957, the country shifted its conservation efforts to protect one-horned rhinos and their habitat.
Two years later, wildlife expert Edward Pritchard Gee recommended a wildlife sanctuary south of the Rapti River and a conservation area in the northern area of the river. Ten years after the sanctuary was established in the southern region, it was recommended that the northern section be expanded as well.
After the national park was listed as a conservation area, the number of endangered species of flora and fauna started to increase. After almost 20 years of establishment, the place became one of the essential conservation sites in Nepal. It also started to attract tourists from all over the world. In 1984, Chitwan National Park was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Importance of Jeep Safari
These are the important aspects of the Jeep Safari inside Chitwan National Park.
Off Beaten Path
One of the best ways to travel on the off-beaten path, like in Chitwan National Park, is via Jeep. Even those areas that are not accessible by foot can be explored if you are on a Jeep Safari. You’ll also have an extremely good chance of seeing wildlife in their natural habitat performing their daily activities.
Amazing Wildlife Experience
Chitwan National Park is home to over 600 wildlife species, including many endangered species. A Jeep Safari in Chitwan National Park is the best way to experience wildlife in its close habitat. You can go deep in the forests and see endangered species during your Chitwan Jeep Safari.
Informative Adventure
During your fantastic safari ride to the National Park, you will be accompanied by an expert guide. They’ll share jungle history and info on protected wildlife, plants, and birds. If you have any questions, they can also answer them about ecology, wildlife, and the history of the parks.
Planning Your Jeep Safari
The Chitwan National Park Jeep safari is one of the best tour destinations in Nepal. It can be planned in the itinerary as an option or be part of several other options.
You can go on a Chitwan safari Jeep Safari alone or a tour of Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Chitwan, which includes a day activity in a Chitwan National Park. Usually, this tour can be divided into short safari options or a long 2-3 day itinerary.
Day 1: Kathmandu to Chitwan Drive
The first day of your tour involves a bus ride from Kathmandu to Chitwan, which takes about 4 hours. Once you arrive in Chitwan, you will check into your hotel inside the national park. The next day, you can plan your jeep Safari and visit the elephant breeding center.
Day 2: Full Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour
The second tour day takes you to the full jungle safari tour. The tour starts immediately after breakfast, and you’ll first start boating or canoe riding on the Rapti River. After the end of the boating session, you will start walking through the jungle.
After a few walks, you’ll return to the resort for lunch. Now, the time of the jeep tour starts when you start traveling to different sections of the jungle. Other than the jeep tour, there are other options for elephant safari, but you can easily access the off-road path via jeep safari.
Day 3: Explore Tharu Village and return to Kathmandu
On the last day of your trek, you will explore the Tharu village. You can indulge in their local communities and eat local delicacies. After a few hours of the trek in the Tharu village, you’ll drive back to Kathmandu.
Viewing Wildlife
Wildlife safaris are a significant part of Chitwan National Park’s attractions. Over 700 species of wildlife are kept in conservation in the national park. Furthermore, various indigenous species of butterflies, moths, and insects yet to be surveyed are also protected in a separate part of the national park.
Chitwan Jeep Safari is the best way to spot animals and birds on the verge of extinction. Over 68 species of mammals are kept for protection and conservation. Some highly endangered species, like the one-horned rhinoceros, Boar, Bengal Tiger, and Red Panda, are kept for the protection and breeding of these animals.
Other types of mammals can also be spotted in the Chitwan national safari. Small animals like honeybadgers, spotted lings, foxes, hyenas, mongooses, clouded leopards, Mertens, and pandas are all visible during your jeep jungle safari.
Furthermore, an open Jeep Safari is also the best way to spot wildlife in the national park. Since Jeep can travel on dedicated roads along with off-road tracks, it can cover more distances. Some areas of the national park are not accessible by foot, so sighting animals becomes hard unless you are in a jeep.
To see wildlife in a national park, you can take a Jeep Safari with experienced drivers who know the park well. These drivers have been trained and have years of experience touring the park. They know the park’s history, every corner, and the animals seen in each area.
Another reason for the national park jeep safari is to encourage responsible wildlife viewing practices. While other methods, like walking or riding an elephant, might bring more adventure, they are equally dangerous. There is a lot of wildlife in the national park, and most are extremely dangerous.
Hence, a jeep safari at Chitwan National Park is the safest way to spot wildlife and experience a once-in-a-lifetime memory. The one-day jeep ride is enough to experience the fantastic job they have done conserving endangered animals, birds, and fish.
So, if you plan to visit Chitwan and explore Chitwan National Park, we recommend you take a full-day safari tour of the Sauraha area.
Cultural Immersion Opportunities
Chitwan National Park is a famous tourist spot in Nepal. It is known for its stunning surroundings and the opportunity to engage in new cultures and traditions. Visitors can interact with the Tharu community, which consists of the area’s residents.
The unique Tharu culture is notable for the people living there, and you can also learn about it. They are very friendly people who welcome people from different cultures, traditions, and nations but have done well in protecting their own.
When we travel, learning about different cultures and supporting local communities is important. One way to do this is to buy handicrafts and other local products made by the Tharu people. This helps visitors to understand the local community and supports the local economy.
The best way to immerse yourself in the Tharu culture in the region is by staying in a homestay. These lodges, built within private homes, offer an authentic experience you won’t want to miss.
They will give guests a few rooms and kitchens to cook food and sleep. In some homestays, you don’t have to cook food.
You can take the Tharu village tour on the third day of your tour. It is the best way to see old houses, meet the local people, and learn about new cultures.
Environmental Impact
Chitwan National Park Jeep Safari can be enjoyable but can cause specific environmental impacts that must be discussed.
- Nighttime jeep safari can cause disturbances as the wild animals are mostly active at that time.
- Sometimes, jeep safari can damage the habitat of wild animals.
- Noise and air pollution can increase due to the frequent Jeep safari in the National Park.
Conclusion
Hence, the Chitwan Jeep Safari ride is an extremely fun and adventure-filled activity that both local and foreign tourists can enjoy. A full-day Safari takes about 7-8 hours and takes you to every corner of the national park.
The adventure is also relatively cheap as it only costs about Rs 2500 for Nepali, Rs 4000 for members of SAARC countries, and up to $30 per person for other foreign people.
These activities in Chitwan National Park allow people from all around the world to enjoy Nepal’s wildlife. Through proactive promotion, Nepal’s tourism and its crucial role in conserving endangered animal species can be effectively showcased to the world.
We hope you will find our little list helpful. If you want to hike or trek in Nepal, Himalayan Leaders is here to help. For booking or any inquiries, you can contact us anytime!
