National Parks and Wildlife Reserves – Part III – Bird-eye view series of Nepal (This will be presented in 4 parts in this series)

There are 16 national parks, wildlife reserves and conservation areas in Nepal, occupying over 16% of its total area. Trekking permits are necessary to trek in the national parks located in the mountains

9. PARSA WILDLIFE RESERVE (499 sq km) encompasses hills and Terai flatlands and has a sub-tropical monsoon climate. About 90% of the area is sal forests, with chir pine, khair, sisoo, and silk cotton trees, and tall grasslands making up the rest. The reserve supports wild elephant, tiger, leopard, sloth bear, gaur, blue bull, wild dog, sambar, chital, hog deer, barking deer, langur, and striped hyena. Cobras, kraits, and pythons are also found here. There are nearly 300 species of birds, including the giant hornbill.
Activities: Jungle safari on elephant-back, jungle walk, jeep drive
Access: Fly to Simara from Kathmandu (15 minutes) and then by road to the reserve headquarters (7 km), or overland all the way from Kathmandu
(150 km via Heatuda)
Best season: Oct-Mar; Apr-Jun (hot, 30-35 degrees Celsius), Jul-Sep (monsoon)
Reserve headquarters: Adhabar

10. RARA NATIONAL PARK (106 sq km) has its gem in Rara, Nepal’s biggest lake (10.8 sq km) at 2,990 m! The park is situated in the high mountain region, of it at an elevation of about 3,000 m. There are coniferous forests of blue pine, black juniper, West Himalayan spruce, oak, and Himalayan cypress, as well as Indian horse-chestnut, walnut, and Himalaya poplar. It is an ideal habitat for the musk deer, Himalayan black bear, leopard, ghoral, Himalayan tahr, and the wild boar.
Activities: Trekking
Access: Fly to Jumla from Kathmandu via Nepalgunj and then a three-day walk, or by bus from Nepalgunj to Surkhet (114 km) and then a week’s walk
Best season: Feb-Apr and Oct-Nov
Park headquarters: Hutu

11. ROYAL BARDIA NATIONAL PARK (968 sq km) is the largest and most undisputed wilderness area in the Terai lowlands. It is a regenerated habitat for endangered species like the rhinoceros, wild elephant, tiger, swamp deer, black buck, gharial crocodile, and Gangatic dolphin. Cobras, kraits, and pythons are also found here. Endangered birds include the Bengal floricans, silver-eared mesia, and Sarus crane. The local people are mainly Tharus.
Activities: Jungle safari on elephant-back, jungle walk, boat ride, jeep drive
Access: Three hours by jeep (95 km) from Nepalgunj which is 1 hour 10 minutes by air or 531 km by road from Kathmandu
Best season: Oct-Mar, Apr-Jun (hot, up to 45 degrees Celsius), Jul-Sep (rainy)
Park headquarters: Thakurdwar; Tel: 084-429719

12. ROYAL CHITWAN NATIONAL PARK (932 sq km) is located in the subtropical lowlands and consists of sal trees, tall grasslands, hills, or-bow lakes, and flood plains. Over 50 species of mammals, 55 species amphibians and reptiles, and 525 species of birds are found here. Animals include the one-horned rhino, Bengal tiger, gaur, wild elephant, antelope, stripped hyena, pangolin, gharial crocodile, and the Gangatic dolphin. Cobra, kraits, pythons are also found here. There are many Tharu villages adjoining the park.
Activities: Jungle safari on elephant-back, jungle walk, canoe ride, jeep drive
Accommodation: Resort hotels and lodges
Access: The park headquarters at Kasara is a 21-km drive from Bharatpur which is 20 minutes by air or 146 km by road from Kathmandu
Best season: Oct-Feb (average temperature 25 degrees Celsius); Mar-Jun (hot, up to 43 degrees), Jul-Sep (rainy)
Park headquarters: Kasara; Tel: 056-521932