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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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