Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve can claim its distinct identity for one good reason – the vast expanse of the Koshi River. Today, with the wild buffalo preserved, the reserve has also won its niche as bird watcher's paradise in its true sense. The reserve is to preserve the habitat of the remaining population of wild buffalo (locally known as Arna in Nepali).
The Reserve can be reached overland or by air. By air the flight takes one hour (Kathmandu to Biratnagar) plus a one hour drive to the camp. Alternatively, you can follow the main East-West Highway eastwards from Kathmandu and divert from Jamuwa to the camp site (which is 2.5 km)
Day 1: Arrival in the morning and brief introduction to the program. Lunch. Ornithological walk to see storks, ibises, snipes, water fowl, birds of prey etc. Evening slide show presentation on the Reserve's natural history followed by a Nepali dinner.
Day 2: Early breakfast. Full day's excursion by boat and 4 wheel drive (with packed lunch) to see waders, water fowl, birds of prey, marsh crocodiles, otters, wild water buffalo and Gangetic dolphins (includes a visit to the Pink Tower). Evening program of traditional dance followed by BBQ meal.
Day 3: Bird watching around the camp area or free time. Breakfast. Farewells and departure.
Standard Bird Watching and Safari Program (4 days, 3 nights)
Day 1: Arrival in the morning and brief introduction to the program. Lunch. Ornithological Walk to see storks, ibises, snipes, water fowl, birds of prey etc. Evening slide show presentation on the Reserve's natural history followed by a Nepali dinner.
Day 2: Early breakfast. Full day's excursion by boat and 4 wheel drive (with packed lunch) to see waders, water fowl, birds of prey, marsh crocodiles, otters, wild water buffalo and Gangetic dolphins (includes a visit to the Pink Tower). Evening program of traditional dance followed by BBQ meal.
Day 3: Bird watching in scrub forest, grasslands and wetlands habitats with packed lunch to see swamp partridges, black-necked storks, buntings, bulbuls, etc. Afternoon (either) continue bird watching (or) take an optional elephant ride to see Arna the wild water buffalo, blue bulls, hog deer, species of fish etc. Evening: stargazing followed by Chinese dinner.
Day 4: Bird watching around the camp or leisure time. Breakfast. Farewells and departure.
Standard Bird Watching and Safari Program (5 days, 4 nights)
Day 1: Arrival in the morning and brief introduction to the program. Lunch. Ornithological Walk to see storks, ibises, snipes, water fowl, birds of prey etc. Evening slide show presentation on the Reserve's natural history followed by a Nepali dinner.
Day 2: Early breakfast. Full day's excursion by boat and 4 wheel drive (with packed lunch) to see waders, water fowl, birds of prey, marsh crocodiles, otters, wild water buffalo and Gangetic dolphins. (Includes a visit to the Pink Tower.) Evening program of traditional dance followed by BBQ meal.
Day 3: Breakfast. Bird watching in scrub forest, grasslands and wetlands habitats with packed lunch to see swamp partridges, black-necked storks, buntings, bulbuls, etc. Afternoon (either) continue bird watching (or) take an optional elephant ride to see Arna the wild water buffalo, blue bulls, hog deer, species of fish etc. Evening: stargazing followed by Chinese dinner.
Day 4: Breakfast. Full day's trip by four wheel drive to Chatara to see racket-tailed drongos, golden-backed woodpeckers, pied hornbills, leaf birds, red-thighed falconers etc. (packed lunch). Continental dinner.
Day 5: Bird watching around the camp or leisure time. Breakfast. Farewells and departure.