Nepal’s lowland forests dry out between March and May annually, providing the opportunity to see and photograph the jungle’s most charismatic inhabitants. This trip focuses on seeing the royal Bengal tiger in its natural habitat, and we are one of the first tour operators to offer you the chance to connect with the largest cat in the world on foot. Walking safaris will be organized daily around dawn and dusk (easy terrain but hikes are frequently up to 15 km long), so some physical fitness is required. It is possible for guests who don’t like to walk to join normal vehicle safaris, but this will have to be communicated before the tour. A combination of vehicle safaris and walking safaris is also possible. Apart from tigers, we focus on Indian one-horned rhinos, gharials, Ganges River dolphins, elephants, mugger crocodiles, two species of otter, and there are chances to see oriental pied hornbills, leopards, jungle cats, and many more species. If you are ready for the adventure of a lifetime, want to learn about one of the world’s most charismatic species, support local conservation efforts, and encounter tigers and many more species on their terms, then this trip might be perfect for you! The unique approach and us being on foot most of the time allow photographers to get unique angles and take truly spectacular photos.

Bardia National Park was gazetted in 1976 (and later extended in size, to its current shape in 1984) and is one of the larger protected areas in Nepal. The park is almost 1000 km2 and is home to a growing population of 125 adult tigers. Nepal has been a conservation success story with low poaching rates and a dramatic increase in both one-horned rhino and Bengal tiger populations. The tiger population nearly tripled in Nepal in recent years, and this has caused significant human-wildlife conflict. Locals living near the protected areas have suffered losses because of wildlife, and since no conservation project ever succeeds without the support of local people, we are dedicated to contributing to a future in which locals and wildlife can share the land. We therefore use highly skilled local guides and stay with their family to make sure that the real monetary benefits mostly stay in Nepal. In addition to this, we support conservation initiatives in the buffer zones around Bardia. This will offer our clients, in addition to contributing to conservation efforts, a real taste of the cultural richness and hospitality of the Nepalese locals who are living with tigers and other wildlife on a daily basis. You will be served delicious traditional meals that are homemade and freshly prepared by the wife of one of our local guides.

A nice extra included in this trip is that we take one or two afternoons off to explore the mighty Girwa River by boat. During these trips, you have the chance to see Ganges River dolphins, otters, mugger crocodiles, and if we are lucky, gharials.

About Chitwan National Park

Chitwan National Park was established in 1973 and is arguably Nepal’s most famous national park. Jungles and grasslands are intertwined with mighty rivers, and exploring this park by jeep is one of the best ways to see the area’s impressive wildlife. In addition to tigers and rhinos, Chitwan hosts a large population of Gaur (the world’s largest bovid), healthy populations of sloth bear, and a better chance to see Indian leopard than Bardia. We can organize an extension to Chitwan where you can be accompanied by a private guide and get to discover the beautiful jungles of this natural treasure.