The Best Places to see Wildlife in Nepal

Nepal’s protected areas are some of the most biodiverse and ecologically significant landscapes in Asia. Offering refuge to a whole variety of animal species, many rare and endangered, the country’s national parks and protected areas are set amidst breathtaking natural scenery that includes high altitude ecosystems and thickly forested valleys, impenetrable grassland, wetlands, marshland and riverine environments. Key animals include one-horned rhinoceros, Bengal tiger, leopard, elephant, sloth bear, mugger and gharial crocodile and Ganges river dolphin. Nepal is also a birdwatcher’s paradise with over 800 migratory and resident bird species recorded which, remarkably, is more than any other region of comparable size on the Asian continent. From the world-famous national parks of Chitwan and Bardia and the beautiful Annapurna ranges which tower over Pokhara, to the wetlands of Koshi Tappu, the cloud forests of eastern Nepal and Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park on Kathmandu’s doorstep, here are the best places to see wildlife in Nepal.

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Established in 1973 and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, Chitwan is Nepal’s most celebrated national park and started life as a royal hunting ground. Located in southern Nepal close to the Indian border, Chitwan lies in the heart of the lowland Terai where dense sal forest, riverine grassland and marshy wetland converge to create a diverse patchwork of habitats. Chitwan supports an extraordinary array of wildlife: Bengal tiger roam stealthily through the undergrowth, greater one-horned rhinoceros, once on the brink of extinction, thrive in the flooded grasslands and elephant, leopard and sloth bear inhabit forested areas. Two main rivers border the park and support mugger crocodiles and the endangered Ganges river dolphin whilst 500 species of bird including the Bengal florican and crested serpent eagle have been recorded.

How to reach Chitwan National Park: Regular flights from Kathmandu and Pokhara to Bharatpur, the nearest airport to the park

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Bardia National Park, located in the remote Terai plains of western Nepal, is the country’s largest and most pristine protected area. Framed in the north by towering hills and the south by the meandering Karnali River, Bardia’s historic inaccessibility has preserved its wild character making it a place of ecological significance and a vital wildlife corridor. The park’s diverse habitats range from sal forest and thick grassland to rivers wetlands and marshes which flood seasonally. These, in turn, sustain a vast array of flora and fauna including many of Nepal’s iconic species such as Bengal tiger, greater one-horned rhinoceros reintroduced to Bardia after decades of absence, Asian elephant, endangered Ganges dolphin, gharial crocodile, leopard, sambar, striped hyena and jackal, 400 species of bird and a wide variety of reptiles.

How to reach Bardia National Park: Fly to Nepalgunj airport which is around a two-hour drive from the national park

For more information see The Nature and Wildlife of Nepal

Very few travellers make it to remote eastern Nepal and it is this inaccessibility that has provided sanctuary to some of the subcontinent’s rarest animals. Bordering India, this isolated mountainous region is the setting for Habre’s Nest, a research hub and wildlife guesthouse that was established to conserve and study the rare red panda. The main highlight here is seeing the endangered and reclusive red panda, an arboreal mammal whose russet fur and bushy tail provide perfect camouflage in the moss-draped temperate forest that surround Habre’s Nest. Beyond the red panda, clouded leopard and panther prowl the undergrowth, Himalayan black bear forage among the rocky outcrops and flying squirrel glide silently between forest canopies. Over 300 bird species have also been recorded including the iridescent Himalayan monal and melodious spiny babbler.

How to reach Habre’s Nest: Located in the far east of Nepal, fly to Bhadrapur airport or cross the international border from India

For more information see Pandas, Rhinos and Gibbons of Nepal and India

Lying the shadow of three of the world's 8,000 metre peaks, Pokhara is the gateway to the Annapurna Conservation Area – a region renowned both for its dramatic scenery and diverse bird and animal life. Located in the heart of Nepal, Pokhara and its surroundings are breathtakingly beautiful with lush valleys, shimmering lakes, charming villages and terraced hills all framed by snowcapped mountains. This landscape, whilst ideal for hiking and other outdoor pursuits, is also harbours great diversity in bird and animal life. The rhododendron forests, farmland and alpine meadows support over 450 different bird species including the Himalayan monal, Nepal’s national bird, the elusive chestnut-headed tesia, ruddy shelduck, Himalayan cuckoo and striking fire-tailed myzornis. The area is also known for its butterfly population with more than 250 species recorded.

How to reach Pokhara: Regular flights link Pokhara with Kathmandu. Alternatively travel overland from the capital via Bandipur

For more information see Journey through Nepal

Located within the low-lying plains of southeastern Nepal, Koshi Tappu is a wetland reserve and UNESCO Ramsar site that was originally established in 1976 to protect Nepal’s last wild population of Asiatic buffalo. The reserve’s marshes, pools and grasslands, where the Himalayan foothills meet the terai’s lush floodplains, remain a vital wetland reserve and sustain an extraordinary array of animal and bird life. These riverine landscapes provide refuge for over 500 species of birds, resident and migratory, including Bengal florican, swamp francolin, Indian courser, waterfowl and waterbirds such as storks, egrets, and herons and raptors like the Indian spotted eagle and pied harrier. Mudflats, sandbanks and river channels are also home to mugger crocodile and rare Gangetic dolphin.

How to reach Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve: Fly to Biratnagar airport from Kathmandu from where it is a three-hour drive to the reserve

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Set on the northern fringe of the Kathmandu Valley, Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park is the nearest reserve to capital Kathmandu. With habitats ranging from subtropical sal forest and temperate oak to rhododendron woodland, mountains rising to an elevation of 2500 metres, mountain streams and rivers, Shivapuri supports a wide variety of fauna and flora. Key species include Himalayan black bear, elusive leopard, barking deer and Assamese macaque whilst hundreds of different species of bird, such as the Himalayan vulture, blood pheasant, great hornbill, bar-headed goose and Himalayan cuckoo have been recorded. The park also shelters more than 100 species of butterfly, including the rare and endangered Kaisar-i-Hind, and multiple varieties of rare orchid.

How to reach Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park: Shivapuri is located in the Kathmandu Valley to the north of Kathmandu and is easily reached by road from the capital

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