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 Nepal
is the home to variety of rare mammals, birds and reptiles. A thrilling
excursion into the deep forest to view such wildlife and feral atmosphere will
be a remarkable experience forever.
The extreme geographical diversity
of Nepal combined with its location in the transition zone between the
Palearctic region to the north and the Oriental realm to the south has endowed
Nepal with one of its biggest treasures: a diverse wealth of flora and fauna
quite inconceivable for a country of its size.
The National Parks of Nepal's
lowland Terai are among the best in Asia. Comprising grasslands, sal-,and
riverine-forests, they are home to an abundance of wildlife. The Royal Bengal
Tiger, the most difficult of the big cats to observe in the wild, roams these
dense jungles stalking the sambar, chital (spotted deer), and the
blackbuck. Leopards and other lesser cats compete for prey. The great Indian
one-horned rhinoceros wallows in the swamps; water buffalo and gaur – the
largest of the world's wild cattle – ruminate here. Other mammal species include
the sloth bear, the langur and rhesus monkeys, wild dog and hyenas.
The rivers flowing through these
reserves are the playing grounds of the Gangetic Dolphin, and two species of
crocodiles: the marsh mugger and the thin-snouted, fish-eating gharial. Over 800
species of birds have been identified in Nepal -- that is over half the total of
the Indian subcontinent and approximately a tenth of the world total, in a
country that covers a fraction of one percent of the earth's landmass!
Naturally, bird-watching here is some of the finest in the world. The Giant
Hornbill, the Paradise Flycatcher, the Large Pied Kingfisher and the
Racquet-tailed Drongo are some of the more exotic birds that can be spotted in
these forests.
The wildlife lodges in Chitwan,
Bardiya, or Kosi Tappu offer comprehensive 3-/ 4-day all-inclusive tours,
available round-the-year except during the Monsoon (June-September). Most of the
lodges are built with local materials in traditional style, blending perfectly
with the surroundings. All lodges have resident naturalists who accompany you on
your excursions. A wildlife safari in any of Nepal's national parks and wildlife
reserves is a memorable, educational, and relaxing extension to an exhilarating
adventure holiday.
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