Wildlife Safari in Nepal
Chitwan National Park is Nepal’s oldest national park. It is situated in the subtropical inner Terai lowlands of South-Central Nepal and was designated a World Heritage Site in 1984.
The Chitwan National Park covers a pristine area with a unique ecosystem of significant value to the world. It contains the Churiya hills, ox-bow lakes, and Rapti, Reu, and Narayani Rivers flood plains. So, approximately 70% of the park’s vegetation is salted forest. The remaining vegetation types include grassland (20%), riverine forest (7%), and sal with Chirpine (3%). The latter occurs at the top of the Churiya range. The riverine forests consist mainly of Khair, sissoo, and Simal.
The grasslands form a diverse and complex community with over 50 species. The Saccharum species, often called elephant grass, can reach 8 m. in height. Shorter grasses, such as Imperata, are useful for thatch roofs.
In Chitwan National Park, there are more than 43 species of mammals and over 450 species of birds, as well as more than 45 species of amphibians and reptiles. Also within the park lie the Churia hills, ox-bow lakes, and the flood plains of Rapti, Reu, and Narayani Rivers. The Churia hills rise gradually towards the east from 150m to over 800m elevation. The lower but more rugged Someshwor hills occupy most of the western portion of the park.
The floodplains of Chitwan contain rich alluvial soils. The park boundaries are delineated by the Narayani and Rapti Rivers in the north and west and the Reu River and Someshwor hills in the south and southwest. It shares its eastern border with the Parsa Wildlife Reserve.