Birds in Chitwan National Park

3 Day(s)

Overview The Chitwan National Park in Nepal is a paradise for bird enthusiasts, offering a captivating and immersive bird watching experience. Spanning over 932 square kilometers of dense forests, marshlands, and grasslands, the park is home to a remarkable diversity of avian species, making it a must-visit destination for nature lovers. The journey begins with an early morning expedition, as the first rays of sunlight illuminate the park, creating an enchanting atmosphere. Accompanied by experienced guides, visitors venture deep into the park's lush habitats, armed with binoculars, field guides, and an insatiable curiosity. Chitwan National Park: A Symphony of Birds…

Overview

The Chitwan National Park in Nepal is a paradise for bird enthusiasts, offering a captivating and immersive bird watching experience. Spanning over 932 square kilometers of dense forests, marshlands, and grasslands, the park is home to a remarkable diversity of avian species, making it a must-visit destination for nature lovers.

The journey begins with an early morning expedition, as the first rays of sunlight illuminate the park, creating an enchanting atmosphere. Accompanied by experienced guides, visitors venture deep into the park’s lush habitats, armed with binoculars, field guides, and an insatiable curiosity.

Chitwan National Park: A Symphony of Birds and Wildlife

The air is filled with a symphony of melodious chirping and trilling as a myriad of colorful birds flutter among the trees. The endemic Spiny Babbler, Nepal’s only endemic bird species, often greets visitors with its distinctive call, while the magnificent Bengal Florican, an endangered species, performs its mesmerizing courtship dance in the grasslands.

The park’s wetlands provide a haven for waterfowl and wading birds. The elegant Asian Openbill, with its uniquely curved bill, forages in the shallow waters, while the graceful Pallas’s Fish Eagle soars high above, scanning the rivers for prey. Among the dense foliage, one can spot the elusive and vibrant Green Magpie, with its emerald plumage, and the colorful Yellow-rumped Honeyguide, known for its remarkable mimicry skills.

As the day progresses, the guides lead visitors to various bird hides strategically positioned to observe nesting sites and bird feeding behavior. These hides offer an up-close encounter with species such as the White-throated Kingfisher, Red-headed Trogon, and the rare Lesser Adjutant, one of the world’s largest storks.

The Chitwan National Park is not only a sanctuary for birds but also harbors an impressive array of wildlife. In between bird sightings, lucky observers may catch glimpses of the majestic Bengal Tiger, the one-horned Rhinoceros, and the playful Asiatic Elephants.

In the evening, after an exhilarating day of bird watching, visitors can unwind in cozy lodges, sharing stories and experiences with fellow enthusiasts. The local cuisine tantalizes taste buds, while the rhythmic beats of traditional Tharu dances provide a cultural interlude.

Conclusion and Summary

In summary, a bird watching trip to Chitwan National Park is an immersive journey into the heart of Nepal’s avian wonders. With its breathtaking landscapes, diverse bird species, and rich biodiversity, it offers an unforgettable experience for nature lovers and birding enthusiasts alike.

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Trip Highlights

						Scenic drive from Kathmandu-Chitwan-Kathmandu.
Visit to local Tharu village and learn some Tharu culture while attending a Tharu Cultural Program.
Amazing activities like canoe ride, Elephant back safari and Jeep safari.
Bird watching. Chitwan National Park offers a great site of many bird species. Chitwan is the home of about 65% of total bird species in Nepal.
Visit to one of the only two Elephant Breeding Centers in the world.

					

Itinerary

We’ll be waiting to pick you up at the Sauraha Bus Station and bring you to the Jungle Safari Lodge in Chitwan. Relax with refreshments and take in a briefing on the next few days’ plans, along with a tour of the resort. After lunch, we’ll board a bus and be treated to a tour of a local Tharu village, where we’ll get a hands-on education in the culture and lifestyle of this ethnic group. Then it’s off to the National Park visitors’ center. Explore the history of Chitwan and an overview of the many wildlife species that call it home. As afternoon fades into evening, we’ll pause for a fantastically gorgeous sunset over the Rapti River. We’ll whet our appetites with a little Tharu cultural dance – both watching and participating! – and then take in dinner and prepare for a long and exciting day ahead!

We’ll rise early and take breakfast before hitting the Rapti River for a canoe ride! We’ll skim along the river, hot on the lookout for two rare species of crocodile: the marsh mugger and the fish-eating Gharial. Extraordinary bird watching is a bonus! Afterwards, we’ll take a steamy jungle walk and get the chance to help bathe an elephant! The elephants will be waiting for us again after lunch, when we climb aboard their broad backs for a once-in-a-lifetime safari. The extraordinary diversity of life in the Chitwan is on full display here, as we keep an eye out for spotted deer, rhinoceros, wild boar, monkey, leopard, sloth bear, and, if we are very luck, the royal Bengal Tiger. Another presentation and instruction on Tharu cultural dance awaits back at the lodge, and then we’ll savor a delicious dinner and enjoy a slide presentation on the park’s storied history.

We’ll be up early again today! After a delicious breakfast, we’ll visit the Nepali Elephant Breeding Center for one last interaction with these majestic, gentle giants before you depart back to Kathmandu.