Bardia National Park Safari – 4 Days in Nepal's Wilderness

Your wilderness adventure begins with a morning flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj, a gateway city to Nepal's western Terai region. After a 45-minute flight, our representative will meet you at the airport and transfer you to Bardia National Park by private vehicle, a journey of approximately 2-3 hours on rural roads that offer glimpses of traditional village life and agricultural landscapes. Upon arrival at your jungle lodge, you'll be welcomed with refreshments and a comprehensive briefing about the upcoming activities and safety guidelines for the park. After settling into your accommodation and enjoying lunch, we'll take you on an orientation walk around the lodge grounds and buffer zone, where you might spot deer, monkeys, and numerous bird species. In the evening, you'll enjoy a traditional Tharu welcome dinner accompanied by cultural performances that introduce you to the indigenous people of the region and their rich heritage.

Rise early for a pre-dawn wake-up call and light refreshments before embarking on a full-day jeep safari into the core area of Bardia National Park. This extended exploration allows us to venture deep into the park's most remote sections where wildlife encounters are most likely. Our expert naturalist guides will track animal movements and interpret signs as we navigate through varied habitats of sal forests, grasslands, and riverine areas. The park is home to approximately 50 Bengal tigers, wild elephants, one-horned rhinoceros, leopards, and numerous other mammals. We'll stop at strategic locations including waterholes and grasslands where animals frequently gather. A packed lunch will be served in a designated area within the park, allowing us to continue our safari without returning to the lodge. In the late afternoon, we'll return to our accommodation for some rest before gathering for dinner and an informative presentation about the park's conservation efforts and the challenges facing its wildlife populations.

Begin your day with an early morning guided jungle walk, offering an intimate perspective of the forest ecosystem that's impossible to appreciate from a vehicle. Walking silently along established trails with our armed naturalist guides, you'll learn to identify animal tracks, understand territorial markings, and discover the rich plant life that supports the park's biodiversity. This activity provides excellent opportunities for birdwatching and encountering smaller mammals and reptiles. After returning to the lodge for a late breakfast and some relaxation time, we'll embark on an afternoon boat trip down the magnificent Karnali River, one of Nepal's major waterways that forms the western boundary of the park. This peaceful float journey offers opportunities to spot marsh mugger and gharial crocodiles, various waterfowl, and animals that come to the riverbanks to drink. The evening concludes with dinner at the lodge followed by a presentation about the indigenous wildlife of Bardia and efforts to mitigate human-wildlife conflict in the buffer zone communities.

For your final morning in Bardia, early risers can participate in a specialized bird watching excursion in the lodge's surroundings and buffer zone. Bardia hosts more than 400 species of birds, including several endangered species like the Bengal florican, making it a paradise for bird enthusiasts. Your guide will help spot and identify various species while explaining their ecological roles and conservation status. After returning for breakfast and check-out procedures, we'll transfer you back to Nepalgunj for your afternoon flight to Kathmandu. Depending on the flight schedule, you might have time to visit Nepalgunj's local market for souvenirs or traditional crafts. Your Bardia adventure concludes with your arrival in Kathmandu, where our representative will transfer you to your hotel or assist with connections for your onward journey.