On the second day of my stay at the Barauli Community Homestay, one of the local boys took us on a safari through Chitwan National Park. We traveled through marshy grassland, all the while keeping our eyes peeled for rhinos. You are never guaranteed a rhino sighting while on safari, so we got extremely lucky when we eventually came across a few.
What to expect:
Unlike the safari I joined at Udawalawe in Sri Lanka, we were the only jeep in the national park at the time. This made for a very peaceful experience, and more likelihood to see these creatures in their natural habitat.
Our guide was also a naturalist, and had an excellent eye for spotting birds, alligators, deer, and rhinos. He also had the slightest crush on me {which he made apparent when he invited me to his cousins wedding, but that’s a story for another time}. This meant he was even more eager to find a rhino for our group. And find {more than} one he did.
I think it can be hard not to get your expectations up during a safari. Even so, my best advice is to simply enjoy your surroundings. One of my friends only saw one rhino on her safari, and he never even lifted his head above the grass.
You will inevitably see a shit ton of birds on your safari, but unfortunately I’m not a big bird fanatic. That being said, if you are interested in bird watching, this safari will fulfill that interest.
You won’t see a tiger, however.
They always tease you with the thought of it though, since technically tigers roam the national park. Tigers are always on the brochures and online blogs, but it’s highly unlikely. My G Adventures leader had been on numerous safaris at Chitwan and the closest she ever came to seeing a tiger was a paw print in the dirt.
Getting to Chitwan National Park:
Traveling via bus/van is the easiest way to reach Chitwan National Park. From both Kathmandu or Pokhara, expect a 5 – 7 hour journey depending on road conditions. Most vans have AC and are relatively comfortable. You can also hire a private car for under $100 USD or fly to a nearby airport. Find out more about getting to Chitwan here.
Trip Advisor offers multiple excursions from Kathmandu and Pokhara {which you can check out here}. These 1 – 3 night excursions include accommodation in addition to your safari. Prices start around $120.00 USD.
What to bring:
The tour I went on did not include lunch, so you might want to bring snacks. It should go without saying, but bring enough water to last you the full two hours. A good portion of the safari takes place under direct sunlight. Therefore, it’s a good idea to bring a hat and sunglasses.
That being said, another portion of the safari took place under the shady forest. Towards the end of the safari I actually put on my sweater as it got a bit chilly. Sunscreen and bug spray are musts. And obviously don’t forget your camera!
I felt very lucky to have spotted multiple rhinos on the safari through Chitwan National Park. That being said, it’s never guaranteed. While my expectations were relatively high, I had to remember it wasn’t an African safari. Only one of “the big five” reside in Nepal. Therefore, I was satisfied with the overall experience. Have you been on a safari? Where was it and what did you see?
