Bardia National Park

Although much less accessible than Chitwan and without the same choice of lodges, Bardia National Park attracts fewer visitors and offers excellent wildlife viewing opportunities and the best chance of seeing a tiger in Nepal. Bardia has a diverse range of habitats that include pockets of savannah, dry upland slopes and riverine woodlands and dense sal forest. A high density of wildlife and birds congregate at the Geruwa River, which provides a watering hole on the western edge of the park. In 2010 the Banke National Park was established adjacent to Bardia, and the combined area totalling over 1500 km² forms Asia's largest area of protected tiger habitat with a healthy and growing population. In addition to the Royal Bengal Tiger, Bardia also has healthy numbers of wild elephant, one-horned rhino, Gharial and marsh mugger crocodiles and Gangetic dolphins. Birdwatchers can seek out over 250 species including the endangered Bengal florican lesser florican, silver eared mesia and sarus crane. Popular activities include jungle walks, jeep and elephant safaris, bird watching walks, rafting and canoeing along the calm tributaries of the Karnali River.