Shuklaphanta Wildlife Tour

Program Itinerary:

Day 01.Kathmandu Arrival
Arrive at international airport in Kathmandu and transfer to Hotel. Refresh and relax in the rest day. Stroll around city market in the evening. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 02. Kathmandu Sightseeing Tour
Breakfast in the hotel. Guided sightseeing tour of Kathmandu Valley including Pashupatinath Temple, Bouddhanath Stupa, Kathmandu Durbar Square & The Monkey Temple. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 03 -07. Kathmandu – Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve
Early morning after breakfast, we precede our trip towards Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve flying to Dhangadi, a small town situated in the far west of Nepal, in the lowlands close to the Inidan border. Suklaphanta is just a 30 minute drive away from the airport.
Area covering 305 sq. kms protects some of the richest and most extensive grasslands in Asia, as well as both Sal and riverine forest, providing a mixed habitat that supports an estimated 27 Tigers, perhaps the highest density left anywhere in the world today. Between the reserves in Nepal (Shuklaphnata) & in India (Luggabugga Florican Reserve), Sal and riverine forests span the largest phantasm (grasslands) in Nepal and these are of international importance on account of the unique selection of threatened birds and other wildlife that they hold. The reserve offers a density of all mammals that is hard to match anywhere else in Nepal and amongst a wealth of species it supports the world’s largest population of the nominate race of Swamp Deer. Other mammal species recorded here include Tiber, which we have an excellent chance of seeing on this tour, plus Leopard, Asian Elephant, Indian Rhinoceros, Nilgai, Smooth-coated Otter and the little-known Hispid Hare. This reserve also has a healthy population of Marsh Mugger Crocodiles and Indian Rock Pythons. Additionally, nearly 400 species of birds have been recorded in the reserve, including 50% of Nepal’s globally threatened species, over half of which are true grassland specialists.
                       
It is the this unrivalled selection of rare grassland birds that will most excite the birders amongst us and it is best seen on bird watching walks along the forest trails and through the grasslands. We will also wait in and watch silently from some of the watchtowers built around the reserve. Resident specialities include Swamp Francolin, Great Slaty Woodpecker, White-naped Woodpecker, Rufous-rumped Grassbird and Finn’s Waever, whilst Hodgson’s Bushchat occur in winter and in summer Bengal Florican and Bristled Grassbird may be found. The park also supports a particularly wide range of woodpeckers, warblers and bush warblers, whilst such rarities as Jerdon’s Babbler and Jerdon’s Bushchat may also be seen.
                                   
Many of the parks mammals will also be seen on walks through the reserve, though our best mammal-viewing will be afforded by jeep safaris, which will allow us to explore he full extent of the reserve. Indeed, we will take full day and half day safaris in the reserve using jeeps and we will also explore by means of elephant-back safaris during our visit, as these allow us the best chance of seeing the rhinos.
During our 5 nights stay at Shuklaphant Reserve, we will be staying in our own tented camp situated on the edge of the reserve. Shuklaphanta is one of the best reserves in Nepal for Tiger sightings and we shall be going at one of the best times of year. Our aim during our stay in the reserve will be to observe, enjoy and photograph the reserve’s many species of mammals and birds.
                       
Day 08. Kathmandu
Early morning we drive or walk in the reserve for the final observation then we leave Shuklaphant driving short back to the airport in Dhangadi taking flight back to Kathmandu. Transfer to the hotel and rest day at leisure. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 09.Departure
Free until your departure time to the airport for your onward destination.