Established in 1998, Bardia National Park serves as a great emblem of touring to the wilderness of a National Park. Within the boundaries of a Tour in Bardia National Park, you dramatically increase your chances to view the tiger and one-horned rhinoceros. The possibilities of enjoying a sundowner or visiting organic farms and river safaris are bound to take your breath away.
Bardia National Park Tour
The Bardia National park tour takes you through the rich ecosystem of the Bardina National Park. It is home to 61 mammalian species, 513 varieties of birds, 120 species of fish, and 42 herpetofauna. During the Bardia Jungle Safari Tour, which is the most riveting activity, you can see many of these animals and birds in their natural habitat.
Alongside the Chitwan National Park, the Bardia National Park has been the go-to palace for a jungle safari tour in Nepal. The tour here can be done in less than a week. Furthermore, the fact that it is home to a unique community in Nepal i.e. The Tharu community makes this tour much more than just sightseeing.
All in all, this best tiger-spotting tour is an experience unlike any other. This is because it combines the thrill of the wilderness and the calm of getting to know the culture of a remote place. Without a shadow of a doubt, it is the best tiger-spotting tour in Nepal.
Bardia National Park
Bardia National Park is located in the Terai region of western Nepal and was established in 1988. It covers an area of 968 square kilometers and is the largest and most undisturbed wilderness area in the Terai region. The park is home to a variety of wildlife, including the Bengal tiger, Asian elephant, one-horned rhinoceros, and Gangetic dolphin.
The Tharu people, an indigenous group, live in and around the park and have a rich cultural heritage. Bardia is known for its diverse ecosystem, which includes savanna, forest, and wetland habitats. The park is a popular destination for ecotourism and offers activities such as wildlife safaris, canoe rides, and cultural tours.
The park is also a critical habitat for the Bengal tiger, and several conservation efforts are underway to protect this species and other wildlife like one-horned rhinos, vultures, and alligators in the park. Bardia National Park was declared a Ramsar site, a wetland of international importance, in 1987.
Highlights of Bardia National Park Tour
- The best place for spotting endangered animals such as the tiger
- Numerous species of other animals and birds
- The largest river in Nepal i.e. Karnali, runs across it
- Home to, and one of the most culturally significant places for, the Tharu community
- A forefront for wildlife safaris
Activities in Bardia National park tour packages
Jeep Safari - into the wild national park
The perks of a Jeep Safari into the wilderness of the Bardia National Park is something that you can enjoy all year round apart from the monsoon season. Safari in a land rover not only provides you with safety, it also gives you the thrill of watching an animal like a one-horned rhino or a tiger, or an alligator up close.
You are likely to encounter the thrills of spotting wild animals of Bardia National Park such as the one-horned rhinoceros and the tiger from the comfort of your jeep.
River and Jungle Safari
A river safari as a boat travels with the ripples of the Karnali river is an experience of a lifetime- especially when coupled with the sights of alligators, fishes and birds swerving over the river. The jungle safari as you leave the comforts of the land rover and walk through the jungle is also a thrilling ride.
Organic farm visit
Organic farms or natural farms which allow vegetation to flourish on their own- without the intervention of human-made chemical fertilizers- are a thing of beauty. The fruits and vegetables thus grown are found to be much more nutritious. The gardening and vegetation techniques used are something that you can learn from.
Walking Safari
Walking inside the jungle is a chance to get some astonishing shots of the flora and fauna of Bardia. In addition, sometimes animals are driven away by the noise of jeeps. So walking on foot is a chance to get closer to the animals that have been driven further away from you.
Village and Cultural visit
You can stroll around the Tharu villages and have a feel of the way of life of these people. They live in extended families of close to 20-30 people and all of them contribute to the economy. Generally, a 3 kilometer walk around the auspices of these communities will give you a feel of their architecture, way of settlement etc. In addition, you can also experience them farming, catering to the needs of their livestock etc.
Sundowners
You can enjoy the pleasures of rustic village life with sights of birds, fishermen who’ve caught fish and are returning to their homes, and flocks of birds cutting across the sky beautifully. And that too as you sip cold drinks.
Itinerary for Bardia national park tour packages
Day1. Arrival at Bardia National Park
After a 40-min flight from Kathmandu Airport, you will get to Nepalgunj. Upon arrival, you will be met by a representative from Tiger Tops Lodge, provided refreshments and transferred to Tiger Tops Karnali Lodge. The lodge is approximately a two-hour drive away. As you travel en route passing through towns, fields and forests, you will experience what life is really like in Terai. Close to the Lodge you will cross the Babai River, where crocodiles are most likely basking in the warmth of the midday sun.
Once at Tiger Tops Karnali Lodge, you will be treated with a hot Nepali lunch. The afternoon marks the beginning of the search for tigers and leopards of Bardia. Tigers mostly hunt during the cool of the day. Therefore, observing the giant cats patrolling their domains at dusk is an opportunity that will provide you an adrenaline rush. The safari is two and a half hours long. A knowledgeable naturalist who is well-versed in the regional flora and animals of Bardia National Park will be with you at all times. Cocktails will be served in front of an outside fireplace before dinner is served in a Nepalese Dining Room.
Day 2. River and Jeep Safari and a side trip
Fresh fruit, yogurt, eggs, and bacon are provided for breakfast outside under our shady mango trees to start the day off well. You should prepare for a river safari in the Karnali river after breakfast. Pockets of rapids help the boats move forward as they cruise down the broad river, lapping at the sides with soft waves. As you sit aboard a hand-carved boat, keep an eye out for various bird species and other wildlife.
Back at the Lodge, a Nepali-style lunch will be provided. Afterward, you might wish to rest in the hammock. A book at hand whilst you are there might be even more relaxing. You can join our naturalist for a jeep safari in the national park in the late afternoon as it marks a time which is a lot cooler and the animals are more active. An added luxury is the exploration of the outdoors in the convenience and comfort of a vintage Land Rover. You will see several types of animals, birds, monkeys, and the critically endangered ones — the horned rhinoceros and the tiger.
Day 3. Full Jungle activities and side trips
Get up early and have a healthy breakfast to get you ready for the day's activities. Then you can put on your exploration boots! A prepared lunch and beverages will be available to keep you energized as well as hydrated during the day. You will be driven by a Land Rover to the park's entrance as you will try to spot the tigers from the jeep itself while traveling by Land Rover.
As you walk down the wooded path surrounded by Sal trees, you will get to listen to the sounds of swans and hornbills. We'll take you to one of the many 'hiddens' where patience is key. You can settle down with a cup of tea and wait for any movement, be it a rhinoceros, maybe a wildcat or another animal! After hiding, jump back to the Land Rover and let the guide show you around parts of the jungle. See a diverse range of not only different types of habitats, but also wildlife.
Day 4. Morning side trip, Breakfast or lunch as per your flight time and departure
Your bags will be loaded onto one of our vehicles this morning after a leisurely breakfast, and you'll be driven for two hours to Nepalgunj airport in plenty of time for your planned light aircraft trip back to Kathmandu. This is a pre-planned suggested itinerary, however you are welcome to contact us for a quote on your own program. Season and weather have an impact on activities.
Accommodation: Tiger Tops Karnali Lodge
One of the pioneers in sustainable tourism in the Karnali Region, Tiger Tops is the perfect place for accommodation in Bardia National Park. This is a lode which has the mantra of regenerative travel, whilst allowing many nature lovers to witness the flourishing tigers of Bardia National Park. Established in 1964 as a small hunting lodge, Tiger Tops later ceased all hunting activities and worked on the conservation of vulture and alligator population in Bardia.
Best Time for Bardia National Park Safari Tour:
If we have to specify the months which are most suited for a Safari Tour, these would be the months from October to May. October marks the start of the autumn season which can run through to November and even the first weeks of December. The weather in March, April, and May are also similar to the autumn season. June, July, and August are the months of monsoon where you see heavy rain which makes it rather impossible for spotting animals such as tigers in their wilderness.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Why is Bardia National Park famous?
Nepal is one of the most animal conservation driven countries in the world. This is why there is a rise in the number of animals such as one-horned rhinoceros and tigers. This makes Nepal a beacon of hope for environmentalists and people alike. Barsi National Park in nepal is such place which acts as a fertile breeding grounds for tigers and the growth of its population
2. Where is Bardia national park located?
Bardia National Park is located in the Western Part of Nepal. It lies in a part of Nepal which was previously known as the Mid-Western Development Region. After the administrative borders changed as Nepal transitioned into a republic with various provinces, it is a part of the Karnali Province which is often looked as one of the most vulnerable provinces in terms of economy and development.
3. How far is Bardia national park from Kathmandu?
Bardia National Park is a flight and more away from Kathmandu. There are various airports in areas surrounding Bardia- the most notable of the popular ones being the Nepalgunj airport, the Dhangadhi airport or Surkhet airport. From these airports, you will have to drive to Bardia for a few tens of kilometers. You can also take an overnight bus to Bardia or take a day-long bus/ jeep to this wonderful harbor for tigers.
4. Can I see tigers in Bardia national park?
This is not a straightforward Yes or No Question. You can only talk about it in terms of probabilities. There are people who have taken a hiking tour (with an experienced guide) within the National Park in the summers and been ridiculously close to seeing one. Others have had encounters with it. But there have also been instances where people have not spotted them as they went in the winter season, which isn’t the best of times for spotting a tiger there. But, it is often needless to say that the ones who go there in the summer/ spring season have significantly greater chances of seeing one.
5. Is it safe to visit Bardia national park?
Safety is always a great concern, especially when you are chartering the wilder territories of a national park. Oftentimes, the people who are traveling further west of Nepal have to go through the highway that cuts across the National Park. People who’ve traversed the path in a motor bike during the night times have been attacked as well. This is why you can see army officials skirting bike riders, especially during the night time. However, there have been no instances where people on a jeep were attacked by wild animals. So your safety hinges on the mode of travel.
