Bardiya National Park Jungle Safari

Weather and Best Season for the Tour

The climate of the Bardiya National Park is the lowland tropical climate, with hot summer, wet monsoon and mild winters. This tour can be done in anytime of the year, but each season has different highlights.

Summer (April to June) may be very hot, and may reach high temperatures of over 40 degrees Celsius and high humidity.

The monsoon season (July -September) is characterised by excessive rainfall, sloppy roads, and thick bushes, thus making the wildlife viewing a bit farther, but the park is open throughout the year.

A Bardiya Jungle Safari is better during the dry and cooler months between October and the early months of April. The climate at this time is good, and it is warm during the day and colder by night, and the wild animals are easier to see as they congregate around the rivers and water bodies.

The mornings of winter (December-February) can be foggy and chilly; however, the rest of the day is favourable. All in all, autumn and spring are the best seasons in regard to weather and viewing wildlife.

Altitude Sickness

The advantage of the Bardiya National Park Jungle Safari is that there is no worry about altitude sickness. Bardiya is in the lowland Terai region of Nepal, with a height of about 150-400 meters above sea level. Hence, the altitude-related problems do not start at this stage, as they normally start above 2.500 meters.

The atmosphere of Bardiya is hot, oxygenated and comfortable, and the travellers can do whatever they please without any acclimatisation.

Just keep hydrated and follow normal precautions of a hot climate, and you can have a wonderful time on Bardiya without even worrying about the altitude.

Visa and Permits

Every foreign visitor, except Indian nationals, needs to have a Nepal tourist visa to participate in the Bardiya National Park tour. It is a visa that can be easily acquired when one arrives at Kathmandu international airport or even at the entry points of Nepal’s land borders.

You will require a passport that has at least 6 months’validity, a passport-sized photograph, and a visa fee (apparently USD 30 in 15 days or USD 50 in 30 days). It is not very complicated and fast, but visas may also be obtained before the trip at a Nepalese embassy.

Along with a tourist visa, one will need a Bardiya National Park entry permit. Our team at Himalayan Adventure Trek makes this permit, and it is part of your tour package. It pays the park entry charges and helps in conservation, so that you will be able to have fun in the safari without worrying about administration.

Transportation

There are two major ways of transport to Bardiya National Park from Kathmandu: by air and on land. It is at a distance of about 560 km (8-10 hours by road). It is possible to select a tourist bus, local bus or personal vehicle to gain additional comfort. Road travels tend to start at an early hour in the morning or at night and traverse through the diverse geographies of Nepal, and culminate towards Ambassa, the nearest bus station to the park.

To have a quicker and more comfortable alternative, it only takes an hour to fly from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj and then make a 2-hour scenic trip (approximately 90 km) to Bardiya National Park.

Transportation does not come as a part of the normal tour package, although Himalayan Adventure Treks will be glad to help with arrangements at your request. We can make arrangements for both by road and by air, for a comfortable and safe ride to your Bardiya Jungle Safari.

Your Extra Expenses on the Trip

In Bardiya, you will be staying, enjoying guided activities, entry fees to the park and your main meals are also included in your tour package. Nonetheless, certain extra costs are to be budgeted.

Getting to and out of Bardiya (flight or overland) is not included, as well as the Nepal visa fee (paid on arrival) and travel insurance, which we highly suggest that you purchase beforehand.

Personal costs for additional snacks, soft drinks, or alcohol are notincluded in the package. Also excluded are meals consumed in transit, whether in the airports or on the road. Good service by tipping guides, safari staff, drivers, and hotel personnel is normal, and this is a good thing to carry a bit of cash.

Moreover, any additional services or activities not listed on the itinerary will be charged on a case-by-case basis, as well as souvenirs. The extras arrangements allow the smooth and hassle-free safari to be successful.

Language & Communication

The Bardiya region has local people, especially the Tharu community, who speak their own language along with Nepali. The English language is not commonly spoken in the villages, but we have all the guides and the staff at the resorts who are well versed in English and will help in translation where local communication is required.

An informative guide will also assist in the explanation of cultural traditions, so that there will be no communication difficulties during the tour.

There is coverage of mobile phones within and near Bardiya National Park, with most of the major Nepali networks operating successfully. You are able to make calls and to send messages when you are staying.

Other resorts in the jungle have Wi-Fi, but the quality of the internet might be poor because of the remote location. In general, it is convenient to communicate during your Bardiya Jungle Safari, which is supported by our team.

Don’ts on This Trip

In order to have a safe, responsible and enjoyable safari in the Bardiya National Park, the following safety precautions are worth bearing in mind. Avoid loud calls and abrupt movements around wildlife, as this may scare away wildlife, and always listen to your guide in any encounter.

Do not ever feed or seek to touch wild animals; this is unsafe and interferes with their natural behaviour. Do not stray on your own and keep up with your guide and company because the jungle may be thick and may get you lost.

Do not use bright colours and strong perfumes. Your neutral attire will help you fit in the surroundings, whereas perfumes will disrupt the animal life and draw insects.

Always clean up after yourself, do not leave rubbish in the park, take it home and leave it clean. It is highly prohibited to smoke or light fires within the park as it is a matter of fire hazard.

Never swim in rivers or ponds which can have crocodiles and might have a very strong current. Lastly, be polite and considerate to the local culture by dressing decently and seeking consent before taking pictures of individuals in the local villages.

Trip Extensions

With more time cut off, you can easily continue with your Bardiya adventure and further enrich your Nepal experience in several rewarding ways. A lot of the travellers prefer to go to Bardiya Jungle Safari together with some other destination.

One of the most common and popular is Chitwan National Park, as it provides a different jungle experience and other adventure activities like canoeing and elephant safaris. The two parks will give a wider and more varied experience of wildlife.

One more superb extension is to visit Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha. There are the quiet monasteries and holy gardens of Lumbini nearby, which can be used as a spiritual rest at the end of the jungle excitement.

Alternatively, you can just compensate by adding more jeep safaris, nature walks or Karnali River rafting experience to your stay in Bardiya.

Himalayan Adventure Treks is willing to tailor your itinerary (including adding your safari to brief Himalayan treks in areas like Annapurna or Everest) so that you can have a smooth and personalised extension of your trip.

Photography & Drone Guidelines

Bardiya National Park is an excellent place to take pictures of wildlife, and tourists are invited to bring cameras and binoculars to record the outstanding views of the park. When taking photographs in the wilderness, one is supposed to adhere to responsible photography. Never get too close to animals; use zoom lenses instead of getting too close.

One should never use flash photography, as this will agitate and stress the wildlife. Your seasoned guide will help you locate the best photo opportunities with minimal disturbance to animals and their natural habitat.

When taking pictures of the locals, particularly in the Tharu villages, first seek permission and also respect their choice in case they do not want to be photographed.

The use of drones is highly controlled in the Bardiya National Park. In Nepal,the civil aviation authority and the park administration usually do not allow drones without special permits. The unauthorised usage can attract fines or confiscation.

To leave the park as peaceful as possible, the visitors are recommended to leave the drones at home and concentrate on ethical and responsible photography.

Major Attractions

Bardiya National Park and other environs provide a gratifying combination of nature and cultural diversity. The park is also known to be a home to a wide variety of wildlife, which includes royal Bengal tigers, one-horned rhinoceros, wild Asian elephants, and more than 30 other types of mammals, such as leopards, sloth bears, deer, and monkeys.

Birdwatching is also a major tourist attraction in Bardiya, where more than 400 bird species have been recorded. Tourists can see colourful peacocks, kingfishers, hornbills, eagles, storks and even the endangered Bengal florican.

The ecosystem of the park is further enhanced by the Karnali and Babai Rivers. These are rivers which nourish crocodiles, including gharials, marsh muggers and sometimes the mysterious Gangetic River dolphin.

In addition to the nature, Bardiya provides some meaningful cultural experiences with the native Tharu people. The experience is enhanced by traditional village visits, local museums and cultural dance performances. Together with its unspoilt and uncrowded wilderness, Bardiya provides a personalised and memorable safari experience.

Cultural Festivals during the trip

The Bardiya region has a rich culture, and if you visit it during one of its local colourful festivals, it is bound to be an enjoyable experience. The most significant entertainment of the Tharu community is Maghi, the Tharu New Year, which is celebrated in the middle of January. Traditional dances, music, and feasts in the villages are experienced during this period as families join together to celebrate a new year.

This also represents major festivals in Nepal by Bardiya. During spring (in February or March), the festival of colours is called Holi, and it brings joy to the region when the locals engage in a game of tossing-colored powders and water.

During autumn (around October), the largest festival in Nepal, called Dashain, comes and then Tihar (Diwali), where the homes are lit up with oil lamps and flower garlands.

We have guides who will tell you whether there is a festival related to the tour you plan to visit, and at any chance available, we will provide the guests with a chance to view or be part of the festival in a respectful manner. You will have a memorable cultural experience in the Bardiya jungle through experiencing these celebrations.