Bardia National Park, Nepal: Travel Guide (2024)

Planning a trip to Bardia National Park, Nepal?

Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered! Bardia National Park may be far away from Kathmandu but it is one of the best places to see wildlife in Nepal.

My brother came to visit me in Nepal a few months ago and we made the trip to Bardia to go on a walking jungle safari. Bardia is far from Kathmandu but it was totally worth the trip!

The Bardia National Park is famous for being one of the best places in Nepal to spot tigers in the nature. You have more chance to spot tigers in Bardia than in Chitwan.

If you want to go on a wildlife safari in Nepal and you have 4-5 days, it is worth to go to Bardia rather than to Chitwan.

Here is everything you need to know about visiting Nepal’s Bardia National Park!

How to Get to Bardia National Park

Kathmandu to Ambassa/Thakurdwara Bus

The Bardia National Park is 570 km from Kathmandu and you can get there by bus or flights. The closest village to the Bardia National Park is Thakurdwara, and this is where most of the hotels are and where the jungle safaris start.

The bus from Kathmandu to Bardia takes around 17 hours and costs Rs. 2,200. Not all the buses go directly from Kathmandu to Thakurdwara, but only up to Ambassa (30 minutes from Thakurdwara). If your bus only goes to Ambassa, you can take a tuktuk from Ambassa to Thakurdwara for Rs. 500.

Kathmandu to Bardia Flight

If you prefer to fly, the closest airport to Bardia is the Nepalgunj Airport. After landing at the Nepalgunj Airport, you can take a local bus from there to Bardia. The flight takes around 50 minutes from Kathmandu and the bus from Nepalgunj to Bardia takes 3 hours.

Thakurdwara (Bardia)

Thakurdwara is a small village right next to the Bardia National Park. It is a small village and there are not that many amenities. There are only a few shops and a temple in the centre.

It is really small and it is not as developed as Chitwan. If you have been to Chitwan, you found it is full of restaurants, bars and travel agencies.

Thakurdwara is much more remote, there are not really western restaurants and travellers mostly eat in the hotels they are staying at.

Bardia National Park: Quick Facts

Best time to visit Bardia National Park

The best time to visit Bardia National Park is between February-April. During this time, the grass is lower and you get better visibility to spot animals on the safari.

The weather starts to get very hot in April so it is good if you pack sunscreen, sun hats and plenty of water.

Bardia National Park Entry Fee

The entry fee to the Bardia National Park is Rs. 1,500/day. If you want to enter for multiple days, you will have to buy a separate ticket for each day.

Wildlife in the Bardia National Park

The main wildlife in Bardia are tigers, rhinos and elephants. There are about 125 tigers, 38 rhinos, and over 120 elephants in the Bardia National Park.

Bardia National Park Safari Cost

Bardia Walking Safari

There are both half or full day walking jungle safaris in Bardia. The price of a full day walking safari costs USD 50 (which includes the park entry fee of Rs. 1,500 and a packed lunch).

If you want, there is also an option to go for a half day walking safari in the morning and then continue with a jeep safari in the afternoon. If you ask at your hotel, they will be able to arrange it for you.

Bardia Jeep Safari

The jeep safaris also run for half or full day.

The price of a full day jeep safari costs between USD 200-250 in Bardia and the price can be split between the passengers. If you want to go on a jeep safari, tell your hotel and they may be able to pair you up with other guests to fill up a jeep and be able to share the costs.

Other Things to Do in Bardia

Visit the Sunset Point

The Sunset Point is near the Elephant Breeding Centre in Thakurdwara. The sunset point is not as well built like in Chitwan (no bars by the river), basically it’s just a field from where you can see the sunset across the river and the park.

My hotel’s owner also told us not to stay too late and be back to the hotel before it gets dark, as animals can wonder around the river and it’s safer to be in the hotel’s premises before it’s completely dark.

You can still see some of the sunset but better not to stay too late.

Rafting

It is also possible to go rafting in Bardia. It is best to ask in your hotel and they will be able to arrange it for you.

Bird Watching

Although people mostly come to Bardia to spot tigers and elephants, it also has a great habitat for birds.

If you are a bird enthusiast, you can also check out the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve in Nepal, which has an even greater bird habitat.

Cultural Tour

The Bardia National Park is in the Tarai Region of Nepal, and the major ethnic group in the Tarai is the Tharu ethnic group.

As every ethnic group in Nepal, the Tharu ethnic group also have their own traditional food, dresses, houses and language. If you don’t want to pay for a culture tour, you can just walk around the village and see the traditional Tharu houses and village life.

Is it Mandatory to Hire a Guide?

Yes, it is mandatory to hire a guide to enter Bardia National Park. You don’t have to book the jungle safari too far in advance as you can easily arrange the guided safari the day before at your accommodation.

There are no travel agencies in Thakurdwara to shop around and negotiate the prices like in Chitwan. You may be able to negotiate a lower price in your hotel or alternatively, walk around some of the other hotels for better prices.

Generally, people book their safari through the hotel they are staying in. If you need budget prices, it is best to call ahead your accommodation to get an idea if they can give you a discount.

What’s it Like to Go on a Bardia Jungle Safari

I was not sure what to expect going on a walking jungle safari. To be honest, I was a little bit worried about it but my brother was visiting me in Nepal and he really wanted to go on the walking safari.

Despite my initial worries, our guide was really great, knowledgeable and I felt safe. I am not sure if I’d have the courage to go on another walking safari in the near future, maybe after some time passes, I’ll go again!

Despite my worries, the guides are really expert at their job. So while you should be cautious, it is a great experience to go on a walking safari in Nepal.

Coordination between the guides during the walking safari

Each safari starts at 7 am in the morning and there are multiple groups entering the park more or less the same time.

When I was there, there were maximum 10 groups that day (including walking and jeep safari) – so much less than in Chitwan. Once in the park, the groups more or less split up in different directions, and then meeting up every now and then at different lookout points.

The guides are in contact with each other all day long and let each other know if anyone spots any wildlife. This helps so every group is safe and if you are in a nearby spot, you may be able to make it to the next group/spot where some animals are (in a safe way).

Through this communication between the guides, we were able to spot rhinos and elephants.

Spotting Wildlife in Bardia

During our jungle walk, the highlights were spotting elephants and rhinos. We did not get to see tigers, although I must say our guides really tried to find tigers.

Due to the coordination between the guides, we were always updated on which animal we can spot in which location.

One time our guide got the info that we were nearby a river where an elephant was bathing. So we got up and quickly made it to see the elephant.

For me, this was surprising, at one moment, our guide told us to start running through the jungle path to make it to the spot to see the elephant in the river. It was funny because I thought if I will be running through the jungle it will be to get away from an animal attack but in the end we were running in the jungle to find the animals.

Although, I did not get to see a tiger during my safari, this is considered rare in Bardia as usually every group spots tigers. I only had 1 day to spend on a safari in Bardia, so if you want to make sure you see tigers, you should plan at least 2 days of safari.

Safety Measures

At the beginning of your walking safari, your guide will tell you the safety procedures and what to do in case any animal comes close to you.

If your guide does not tell you, make sure to ask so that you are prepared before you enter the park. Some good practices include: 

• If an elephant attacks you: drop your bag (the elephant will smell it around, play with it) and then you run away in zig-zag. Following your guide and his instructions. Elephants are very powerful, and it is said it is one of the most dangerous if one attacks you.
• If a tiger comes close to you: watch for its move, look into its eye and if it comes close, start to hit the ground with your stick (yeah, you will get a walking stick) in a way to scare it away. Climbing up a tree is also a life-saving option in the case of encountering a tiger.

Lunch Break During the Safari

As part of your package for a full day safari, you will also get a packed lunch. The lunch includes Nepali food (veg fried rice), some snacks and a can of juice.

Usually, lunch break is timed around 12 in a shaded spot, so that you can relax in shade and not be out during the hottest part of the day.

What to Pack for a Bardia Jungle Safari

Clothes

It is best to wear clothes in colours of green, brown, grey, black.

Do not wear bright colours that stand out too much from the jungle, such as red or yellow, and try to wear colours that blend in with nature as much as possible.

Binocular

If you are a nature and wildlife spotting enthusiast, it is great to have your own binocular. However, the guides generally have a binocular with them and they will happily lend you theirs to see the wildlife.

Sunscreen and Sun Hat

Although March-April is considered the spring season in Nepal, it can still get pretty hot and sunny in Bardia.

Bardia is located in the southern part of Nepal, close to the border with India, so it is much hotter than for example Kathmandu. If you walk a full day in the sun, it will get pretty hot.

2-3 Liters of Water

If you don’t have enough water bottles with you, you may be able to borrow from your hotel. The hotel I was staying at had extra water bottles to give to guests going on the full day walking safari.

It gets hot during the day in the jungle and you will easily drink 3 litres of water during the safari.

Names of Animals in Nepali

• Tiger = baagh
• Rhino = gaindaa
• Elephant = haatti

Even if you have a private guide, at some locations, the various groups during the walking safari will meet up. Sometimes, the guides are talking to each other (sometimes also on the phone) in Nepali about where and when wildlife is spotted.

Although, the guides are great and translate everything to English well, if you memorize the names of some of the animals, you will be one step ahead!

In general, people can speak English in Nepal, especially in big cities and touristy places. So you will not have to worry about communicating with your guide in Bardia. In any case, here are some useful Nepali words and phrases for your Nepal trip.

Hotels in Bardia National Park (Thakurdwara)

Looking for a place to stay in Bardia? Here are my top recommendations for every budget:

FAQs: Bardia National Park, Nepal

Is Bardia National Park worth visiting?

Yes, Bardia National Park is worth visiting! It is one of the best places in Nepal to spot wildlife, especially tigers.

Bardia National Park is located 570 km from Kathmandu and is visited by a lower number of tourists than Chitwan. Due to that, Bardia offers a more authentic jungle safari experience.

Why is Bardia National Park famous?

Bardia National Park is famous for being one of the best places in Nepal to spot tigers. There are 125 tigers in Bardia and the best way to spot tigers is to go on a walking jungle safari.

How many tigers are in Bardia National Park?

There are 125 tigers in the Bardia National Park, Nepal.

How many elephants are in Bardia National Park?

There are around 120 elephants in the Bardia National Park.

How much does the jungle safari cost Bardia National Park?

The price of a full day walking jungle safari costs USD 50 (which includes the park entry fee of Rs. 1,500 and a packed lunch) in Bardia National Park.

The price of a full day jeep safari costs between USD 200-250 in Bardia and the costs can be split between the passengers. If you want to go on a jeep safari, tell your hotel and they may be able to pair you up with other guests to fill up a jeep and be able to share the costs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Bardia National Park may be far away from Kathmandu but it is one of the best places to see wildlife in Nepal.

Bardia National Park is famous for being one of the best places in Nepal to spot tigers in the nature. You have more chance to spot a tigers in Bardia than in Chitwan.

If you want to go on a wildlife safari in Nepal and you have 4-5 days, it is worth to go to Bardia rather than to Chitwan.