Zoë Sheng

2.50 Chinese-Canadian - 14-Mar-23 -

It's been a while since the review and also since my visit which must have been 2019 or so. Your main gateway is Bharatpur Airport although some people do take a "7h bus ride" from Kathmandu. I say that in quotes because usually these journeys take longer and high chance you get sick on the way. Do yourself a favor and fly in and out, I even had a flight connection from Lumbini to save so much time and hassle.

The village outside the park has enough guesthouses/hotels for the guests and dining is also easy. It's all planned for a safari. The safari, unfortunately, is very mediocre. Yay you are almost guaranteed to see the Asian rhinos which in this part of the world isn't that rare and you see plenty in northeast India but all right you are already in Nepal and for some coming here is more favorably than India so you want to experience the safari here, don't blame ya.

The safari jeeps go out every morning in a group of 12 or so. You will spot rhinos somewhere and maaaaybe a few other highlights but both days it was so boring and not enjoyable. I almost feel sorry for the guide not being able to show us anything. I definitely don't want to recommend this place if you have the chance for better safari areas, then again it is inscribed on the WH list so for some of us it's a must see then. Having said that, I think Asians (no racisms intended) will often rate this highly because they don't have chances to see others and this is a "normal safari tour". I don't find this part special and I suspect it's on the list for part us tourists don't see from one of these jeep tours.

No biggie because it was very affordable and "on route" if you add the Lumbini areas so it's easy to fit in and 2-3 days spent here are still quite enjoyable - just don't have high expectations.

Clyde

3.50 Malta - 08-Apr-13 -

This is no African Safari and flora and fauna are varied but few in comparison. The main treat is seeing the Bengal tiger even if for a split second (while much more easy to spot in India). Next is the one-horned rhino and you're almost guaranteed to spot at least one grazing or by the river. There are different types of deer, boars, mongoose, monkeys and also the gharial crocodile to spot. I stayed in the only hotel that is actually inside the national park (as of 2013) to enjoy the experience to the full. Several activities to do such as the elephant safari (to mask human scent and have a better chance of spotting fauna), river safari (best for birdwatching), jungle walks (the most thrilling especially when wandering through the phanta grass). There are several types of birds but not in large quantities such as in Keoladeo in India. It is a very good national park but it did not impress me much as a WHS.

Abhishek

Nepal - 16-Jan-11 -

I too went to Chitwan this new year and amazingly it was fantastic. Due to lack of time, I unfortunately could not enjoy the jeep safari, but anyways i enjoyed my elephant safari and the boat riding. I saw many animals and birds that include Rhinos, Deers, Wild Boars and birds like kingfisher and others whose name i actually do not know. I saw many alligators and crocodiles and had alot of fun. One thing that didnt suite my mind was the overexploitation of the elephants and beating them which also left alot of wounds and scars on them. Hope something could be made out !! :)

Rajanesh Kumar Singh

Nepal - 20-Jan-10 -

Nepal is my country, My birth place and live in Kathmandu. My village home is in Chitwan near Sauraha. When I was young we (with friends) used to go to Sauraha, nearby jungle and watch Rhino, Gharial, Jackle, Peacock and other birds. Couple of times I went deep inside the jungle with Tharu villagers to collect KHAR, KHADAI and BABIYO. Exciting moment and photograph gained by that time. Since long time I work in UAE, but when I go holiday I must go Chitwan for atleast 3-4 days. Last month I was in Nepal, I visit my village home and went to Sauraha too. Next year I will continue my routine.

Patrick Mcconnell

U.S.A. - 05-Dec-09 -

I enjoyed three very wet days in chitwan national park this past summer. The wildlife was most fascinating. While riding on an elephant through the 5 meter tall grass in search of the local rhino with an expert mahout, I offered my palm to a beautiful little butterfly that had followed us for some little way. To my delight it landed in my palm and remained there, quite calmly, for at least a minute. We saw kingfishers and gharials as well, but as it was monsoon season not much else was apparent. I shall never forget the blessing bestowed upon me by a small blue butterfly...Enjoy!

Mary Lavigne

USA - 28-Jun-08 -

The Royal Chitwan National Park is one of the national parks of Nepal. It lies at the southern part of Nepal,Terai.

Really, Royal Chitwan National Park is so beautiful! I saw many tigers, elephants, cheetahs and different kinds of birds as well as big bird,Ostrich. I had gone there since 2 years ago,at that time i saw many natural places of Nepal, and evergreen forests. Right Now, I am in Newyork, but our family is planning to go there, and celeberate our holidays..

Mary Lavigne.

Newyork, USA.

Stephen Brooker

UK - 24-Apr-08 -

I thoroughly enjoyed Chitwan, and I guess like the vast marority of visitors I too did not see a Tiger.

The highlight for me was a canoe safari, during which we found ouselves with a couple of metres of a Gahrial, a very rare fish eating crocodile with a peculiar long and slender snout/mouth full of evil looking teeth!

But what really made this trip for me was the half dozen Nepalese ten year olds in the canoe with us - their enthusiasm, sharp eyes and knowledge adding incredibly to the experience.

When I talked to our guide about this later, he told me it was part of their education, aimed at making sure the next generation both apreciated and understood the park, because one day they would be responsible for its care. How many other WHSs have this much forsight?

Marie Turke

Wales (UK) - 02-Apr-06 -

I was in Chitwan National Safari Park in March 2006 and had a great time, stayed at the Island Jungle Resort, the accomodation was great (the food was basic but edible), they could easily improve the food but the friendliness of staff was excellent. Tourism has been hit dramatically we were between 6 and 14 people only on the island. The guide we had first did not give a briefing about jungle safety!!! (I think his enlish was poor) and it was by chance that an ex guide visiting with good english was able to give us an excellent briefing on day 2. All in all we had a fantastic time, the early morning elephant rides were fantastic and the elephant bathing was awesome, being in the water with these great creatures is just something else. We saw plenty of rhino, both on Jeep safari and on elephant (and my friend from Sweden had to dash up a tree on a walk to ensure safety from a mother and baby rhino..... can't get a closer shave than that!!!), but no sloth bears or tigers seen, although we did see some reasonably fresh tiger prints which were unnervingly close to our accommodation. We went to see the elephants sleeping at night which was great. We did a boat ride, saw 1 croc. We saw some monkeys and lots of birds, too many to remember them all but kingfisher, parakeet, woodpecker, heron (oh and many more). Quite a few butterflies too and some interesting bugs. The grass had been burned and I was told that March/April is a good time to visit as the grass has been cut and burnt (which scares the animals) but once it settles down it is easier to see animals as the grass gets very long. Monsoon (July/August apparently there are lots of ticks and leeches.....yuck) but again in October is a nice time to visit. All in all I had a wonderful experience and would definately return, however I have never been on Safari anywhere else so maybe I'm easily impressed!!!

Els Slots

4.00 The Netherlands - 12-Mar-01 -

It certainly is not Africa: the big 5 is not to be seen here, but it is possible to go on a safari in Chitwan. In the early morning, I did a jungle walk. My two guides and I encountered a rhino and climbed up a tree to observe the magnificent animal.

Later that day I did a jeep safari, probably the best thing to do. Among others, we saw several sloth bears, recognizable for their white noses. No tigers, though ...

Solivagant

3.50 UK -

The Royal Chitwan Park is situated in the “Terai” - the lowlands south of the Himalaya shared between India, Nepal and Bhutan. Its main up-market hotel/lodge sports the name “Tiger Tops” and one may be tempted to go to Chitwan in order to see Tiger.

When I visited in 1977 I did not stay at Tiger Tops but instead at the rather more down-market Gaida tented camp site a few miles away!! I cannot say whether the additional wild life expertise which might be available from Tiger Tops makes it a good place to see tiger or not but I did not see one and indeed had to try several Indian wildlife parks before eventually being successful at Kanha.

From what I know however I would suggest that you should not go to Chitwan with the prime objective of seeing tiger. What makes this park a special place to visit is the far greater likelihood of seeing the Greater One-Horned Indian Rhinoceros – and in excellent viewing circumstance too.

I was able to take several elephant rides. The park was only created in 1974 and, possibly for that reason, the elephants did not come equipped with the “tourist friendly” sitting platforms with safety rails which I have come across elsewhere – rather a simple platform with a rope which one had to hang onto like grim death! The grass in Chitwan really is “as high as an elephant’s eye” and it was a wonderful experience to be transported through the grasses in the morning mist looking for rhino. We had some great views - though you might not guess so from one of the photos I was able to take with 1 hand whilst hoping not to slither off into the charging rhino! Such charges didn’t seem to worry the elephant 1 iota and the rhino too seemed to recognise which of the 2 animals was really “boss”!

PS 6 June 2005. I have just read of the deaths of at least 38 bus passengers at Chitwan in a bomb blast perpetrated by the Maoist rebels. Nepal unfortunately appears to be sinking into chaos - hopefully its incompetent and corrupt rulers and its ordinary citizens can escape but the future looks bleak. Not the least of the worries will be another drop in tourism revenues.