Koshi Tappu wildlife Reserve

10+

Age

Nepal

Country

Round The Year

Dates

6 Days

Duration

Wildlife Safari

Activities

Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve first Gazettes back in1976 was mainly established to protect the rare wild water buffaloes. The area of the reserve extends 175 sq. km. to the north of one kilometer long barrage that spans the Koshi river. The vast expanse of water created by the barrage, marshes, lagoons, mudflats and arable land that lie around it offers an outstanding wetland which has about to created one of the best and finest bird watching sanctuaries in Asia.

One of the most rewarding and greatest assets of Koshi Tappu Wildlife Park is that it offers ample scope for nature walks. For those with curiosity and perseverance, walking within the reserve on foot is the most profitable way of exploring the grassland, river lagoons and woodlands and vicinity of the barrage, just a short drive away.

The best time to visit this fabulous wildlife reserve is between October to March when much of the migratory and local birds can be sighted by the barrage and many of the river channels. Numerous Himalayan peaks including the Makalu I (8,463 m), the fifth highest mountain in the world can be seen during the clear time of the year.

The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is accessible by air, surface and river. The journey by air is just 45 minutes flight to Biratnagar from Kathmandu and then a mere one and half hours drive to the camp. Also rafting down for 8-10 days on the wild stretches of the Sun Koshi River is another exciting way to reach the destination. The third option would be the scenic drive through the meandering countryside road of about 500 km. That takes almost 10 hours from Kathmandu.

Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve also makes an exciting alternative destination of visitors who have already visited Royal Chitwan National Park and Bardia National Park. Also for mountaineers and trekkers heading of returning from Arun / Makalu and Kanchenjunga region. It also serves as ideal location to break journey while en-route to Sikkim & Darjeeling and Bhutan and have a brief relaxing stay. We recommend minimum 2 nights or longer stay to appreciate and observe what park has to offer at its maximum.

Outline Itinerary:

Day 1. Arrival in Kathmandu. Overnight in the hotel in Kathmandu.
Day 2. Fly to Biratnagar (45 minutes flight). And drive to Koshi Tappu. (1 and half hour drive)
Day 3. Full day wildlife Activities.
Day 4. Fullday wildlife Activities.
Day 5. Fly back to Kathmandu. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Day 6. Final Departure

Arrival in Kathmandu. Overnight in the hotel in Kathmandu.

Upon arrival, Welcome pickup and drop to the hotel and overnight in the hotel in Kathmandu.

Fly to Biratnagar. (45 minutes flight). And drive to Koshi Tappu. (1 and half hour drive)

After breakfast, Pickup from the hotel, drive towards the domestic airport for the flight to the Birathnagar airport. Arrival at Biratnagar airport. Pick from the airport by the private vehicle and drive is about one and half hour drive you and ask the driver to stop if you encounter any interesting thing on the way. The naturalist at Koshi Camp will brief on the facilities of the camp and the activities.

Full day wildlife Activities.

The day start with an early morning wake up call, which is the best time to see Birds. Birdwatching, on first light for the early walkers, in the camp premises and marshlands can be very rewarding to see the shy species like Crakes and Bitterns. The highly noctornal Fishing cat which can sometimes be seen at dawn and dusk and one has to be very silent to approach the ponds. Breakfast will be followed by a full day birdwatching walk inside the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve with packed lunch. The area between the Camp and Kusaha (Park Headquater) is the best area for birds and wildlife. The thin Indian Rosewood forest provide excellent habitat for Warblers, Flycatchers, Oriole, Bush Warblers, Raptors and a large variety of Waders. Returning to the camp by late afternoon for a cup of tea/ coffee or a bottle of chilled beer! Dinner followed by briefing for the next day’s program.

Full day wildlife Activities.

Today, early morning start after breakfast. We spend the good few hours floating down the Koshi river on a rubber boat. We shall spend the day looking for waders and raptors and some Wild Water Buffaloes on the sand banks. We will find a good spot to nibble our packed lunches. We will come to end of our trip by early afternoon with a good few hours to explore the ponds and lagoons on our way back to camp. Driving back to camp will give us a very good chance to see the rare and endangered Swamp Francolin, a speciality for Koshi.

Fly back to Kathmandu. Overnight in Kathmandu.

We spend the morning of today birdwatching around the camp premises before breakfast. We take time off for packing and depending on the flight time we departure for Biratnagar airport, 2 hours before the airport check in time.

Final Departure.

Today is the departure day, looking at your time frame we drive towards the International airport for the final departure.

This wildlife reserve is the protected area in the eastern terai region of Nepal can be very interesting place for the visitor who are more focused on Birding Tour, thus the activities are mostly focus in the birding activities. Koshi tappu camp is also known as the birdwatcher’s paradise. You can also locate the wild water buffalo and wild elephant, wild boar, spotted dear, Golden jackal and 485 varieties of birds including water cock, indian nightjar, dusky eagle owl, black headed cuckoshrike, whitetailed, stomechat, striated grass bird, Large adjutant stork, Pallas’s fisheagle, common golden eye, Swamp francolin etc.

Koshi camp is inhabited for the wide variety of the animals like Gharials, crocodile, snakes and 200 species of fish and 31 species of mammals are recorded here. this trip can really be the memorable trip for the wildlife seekers. Large number of animals are being found grazing here in the reserve due to the lake of awareness to the local people, people are using the protected reserve illegally like grazing their animals and poaching the fishing. Which may risk their life.

More info:

How to Get there?

-There is a regular flight from Kathmandu to Biratnagar by twin otter or Avero aircraft every day. From Biratnagar a comfortable one and half an hours drive to the Camp.
-An exciting 8-10 days raft trip on Sun Koshi river reaches directly at Koshi Tappu Reserve.
-The scenic drive of 9-10 hrs. through Nepali country side by surface.

Activities in the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve
(Bird Watching & Safari): Program could be tailor made according to the interest of the guest. Special sport fishing activities are available upon request

Activities by the time:

01* brief introduction of the facility and program.
* 1:00 p.m.: Arrival and welcome.
* 1.00 p.m. Lunch
* 2.00 p.m. Bird walk in he marshland outside the reserve to see the storks, ibises, snipes, waterfowl, birds of prey etc.
* 6.30 p.m. Slide show on the natural history of the reserve followed by Nepali dinner.
* Overnight at KOSHI TAPPU National Park.

02* 6.30 a.m. Breakfast
* 7.30 a.m. Full day excursion on boat and four wheels drive with pack lunch to see waders, waterfowl, birds of prey, marsh crocodile, otters, wild water buffalo and Gangetic Dolphins including a visit to Pink Tower (full day)
* 6.30 p.m. Cultural dance followed by barbecue dinner.
* Overnight at National Park

03* 6.30 a.m. Breakfast
* 7.30 a.m Bird walk inside the reserve in the scrub forest, grasslands and wetland habitat with pack lunch to see swamp partridge, black-necked stork, buntings, bulbuls etc.
* 12.00 noon Pack lunch
* 2.00 p.m. Continue bird watching or optional elephant ride to watch Arna the wild water buffalo, blue bull, hog deer, fishing eats etc.
* 6.30 p.m. Stargazing
* 7.00 p.m. Chinese Dinner, overnight at National Park

04* Early morning: Bird watching around the camp area or leisure.
* 8.00 a.m. Breakfast
* 0900 …….. Departure from the lodge for Kathmandu
* Continue your other schedules in Nepal