Chitwan National Park
Getting there and away
From Pokhara, we ordered a ticket for a tourist bus in an agency near Laxman Restaurant. It cost 400Nrs/person. The bus departs around 7:30am (Mustang Bus Station).
From Chitwan to Kathmandu, the bus departs at 9:30am and will arrive at 3 in the afternoon.
Accommodation
Jungle Wildlife Camp is in the river side of Chitwan. The room ranges from 600-800Nrs. Our stay in this hotel was in package (7,500/person). It includes the hotel room; food (breakfast, lunch & dinner --- the cook delicious and mouth-watering dishes); activities such as elephant breeding center, jungle walk, jeep safari, elephant safari, and tower night; and a bus ticket to Kathmandu.
The room is worth the price with big, clean and nice powder room; balcony; and bed with mosquito net. The staffs are friendly and polite. The ambiance of the hotel is good!
Activities
Elephant Breeding Center (3:00-4:30pm)
You will ride a jeep to reach the area where you can find wild elephants. You can take photos but you’re not allowed to get closer to the elephant (they are aggressive). After that, the guide will take you to jungle vicinity located near the breeding center.
Jungle Walk (7:00-11:30am)
Walk a short distance from the hotel and you will reach the main vicinity for canoeing. Canoeing will take for 30-45 minutes, where you can see different birds and crocodiles.
During the jungle walk, if you are lucky, you may see rhinoceros, deer, monkey, bear, birds and wild boar.
Our experience with the jungle walk caused me an adrenaline rush. We were chasing for a deer and it so happened that 2 rhinoceros were blocking our way, 5 meters away from us. It was a nerve-racking and stomach-churning event. Then the rhinos noticed our presence and ran away.
Jeep Safari (1:00-5:00pm)
If you are lucky, you will see more than what you’ve seen in jungle walk (rhinos, tiger, bear). The road is rough and so you have to hold tightly in the jeep.
In our experience, the start of the activity was exhilarating. The first thing we saw was tiger footprints. Then we drove more and more (30km minimum) and saw rhinos, deer, monkey, birds. We didn’t see any tiger though. At the end of the day, we saw a total of 6 rhinoceros. It was quite interesting. Before we left the jungle, we had a flat tire. So we waited for 20 minutes for it to be replaced with another tire and went back to the hotel.
NOTE: It is dusty and warm in the jungle so you better bring sunglasses and cap.
Elephant Safari (9:00-11:00am
The hotel management will drive you to the elephant safari vicinity. Then you will line up in the stairs. You will see big, small and medium sizes of elephants. At first, you may see it very interesting but wait until you ride on the elephant. It is uncomfortable. Only 4 people maximum is allowed to ride per elephant. During the ride, you may see rhinos, wild boar, wild chicken, deer and monkey. The trail in the jungle is too small so you better watch for your legs not stuck in the branches.
I got 2 blue marks in both of my legs due to the uncomfortable wooden chair and branches.
NOTE: You might feel dizzy at the first part of the ride.
Tower Night (4:00pm-6:00am)
In the morning, you can check-out in the hotel until 12noon. You have to wait until 4pm before the guide will take you to the tower night vicinity. When you reach the vicinity, the guide will show you around the jungle. You may think that the vicinity looks familiar. Yes, it is indeed familiar because you have surely passed the tower during the Elephant Safari Activity. At the end of the day, you will see a lot of deer in the wide area where the tower is located.
The room is nice and the bed is comfortable enough with mosquito net. The hotel will still provide you the breakfast, lunch and dinner. In the morning, a jeep will take you back to the hotel so you can eat your breakfast and prepare for departure on wherever your next destination is (Kathmandu/Pokhara).
NOTE: You don't need to bring sleeping bag. The tower has its own bed, blanket and mosquito net. You can just bring headlight and your valuables. Leave your backpack in the hotel.
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