Guided bird watching tours of Nepal, exploring the country’s abundant bird species, are sure to thrill even the most seasoned nature lover.

Guided bird watching tours are not always the preference for nature enthusiasts who relish the quiet and solitude of their interest. However, to ensure a focused experience in unfamiliar terrain such as Nepal, a guided tour is invaluable. To guarantee both the most optimal sighting opportunities, as well as personal safety, a guided tour through Nepal’s Chitwan National Park and other world famous nature preserves can prove a memorable experience. In some areas, this kind of eco-tourism is essential for the preservation of the habitats.

Navigating the Terrain

Nepal’s terrain should not be underestimated, even for the most seasoned traveller. Altitudes rise from Chitwan’s sea level to over 2700 meters in the Kathmandu Valley. The avian sighting opportunities are not restricted by the higher elevations, but for the more focused and dedicated bird watching tours to the area, a guide is recommended to enable visitors to sight particular species in this sometimes physically demanding environment. Many of the guides found in Nepal are experts on the local wildlife as well as the terrain and the climate.

A Unique Environment

Chitwan National Park, a World Heritage site, is a vast 932 square kilometres in size and is home to over 400 different species of birds, due to is diverse habitats and geographical situation. Bird watching tours of the park are typically guided on foot, jeep, canoe or even elephant. With such a vast array of avian sighting potential, it is important to prioritise the species you wish to see the most, as opposed to trying to see them all. Expert guides offer invaluable insight into the best sighting locations and times to optimise the chances of seeing specific species. The park is also home to a large mammal population, including the Indian Rhinoceros, Tigers, Langur Monkeys, Sloth Bears and fish-eating Gharial Crocodiles.

Different Seasons, Different Sightings

Bird watching tours in Chitwan offer visitors a wide variety of seasonal sightings. Along with the resident bird population comes over 160 migratory species in the autumn and winter. In the winter months, Greater Spotted Eagles, Pallas’s Fish-eagles, Brahminy ducks and Bar-headed Geese are frequently seen on their way south. Come spring and summer, the population’s landscape changes to colourful sunbirds and Bengal Pittas and the forest comes alive with the calls of cuckoos. One particularly thrilling sight for avian enthusiasts is the opportunity to see the magnificent Paradise Flycatcher in all its glory during the monsoon season.

The experience of visiting Chitwan National Park is further enhanced by following a knowledgeable guide through the dense forest and lowlands. There is such an abundance of opportunity to see a wide array of species that it is easy to become overwhelmed by the beauty of it all and miss things. A guided tour will help focus your journey and will far exceed any expectations you may have already had for a visit to Nepal.

Article Tags: Bird Watching Tours, Chitwan National Park, Bird Watching, Watching Tours, Chitwan National, National Park, Guided Tour