Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve: Travel Guide (2025)
Looking for information about the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve in Nepal?
The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is a far away destination from Kathmandu but I was so happy when I finally got the chance to visit it. It is a remote place and apart from wildlife spotting, you also get to see authentic Tharu villages in the area.
The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is located in Eastern Nepal, in the Tarai Region, about 340 km from Kathmandu. It was declared as a wildlife reserve in 1976 and it is the only wildlife reserve in Nepal.
Visiting the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is a good alternative to Chitwan or Bardia National Park if you would like to explore the wildlife of Nepal in one of the least touristy environments.
The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is famous for spotting migratory birds, arna (wild water buffalos), wild elephants, Gangetic dolphins, crocodiles, deer, wild boars and jackals among others.
Here is everything you need to know about Koshi Tappu, Nepal’s only wildlife reserve!
How to Travel to the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve
The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is 340 km from Kathmandu and you can get there either by bus or plane. The bus takes around 15 hours from Kathmandu to Koshi Tappu.
While, the flight takes 40 minutes from Kathmandu to Biratnagar, then from Biratnagar, the bus takes 1.5 hours to the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve.
Bus to the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve
To get to Koshi Tappu, you will have to take a bus or minivan going from Kathmandu towards Biratnagar or Itahari. The bus journey is quiet long and can take up to 15 hours. The bus ticket prices range from Rs. 1,800-2-500.
Once you are in Koshi Tappu, most likely you will have to get off at Nahar Chowk (Koshi Tappu Gate) but it is best if you check with your hotel the nearest stop to your hotel.
✈️ For more information, check out how to travel to the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve.
Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve Flights
There is also an option to travel to Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve by plane. The closest airport to Koshi Tappu is in Biratnagar and from there, there are buses going to Koshi Tappu.
The flight takes about 40 minutes to fly from Kathmandu to Biratnagar and costs USD 100 for a one-way ticket for foreigners.
Once you land in Biratnagar, there are buses going towards the direction of Koshi Tappu. From Biratnagar, it can take about 1.5 hours to reach Koshi Tappu by bus.
If you prefer to take a flight to Biratnagar, check out the flight options on Buddha Air’s website.
Information on Visiting the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve
Best Time to Visit the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve
The best time to visit the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is between October to March. Depending on which animals you’d like to see, each month is known for being the best time for spotting specific wildlife.
- October – November: Best time to see summer migratory birds and wild elephants
- December – January: Best time to see winter migratory birds
- February – March: Best time to see wild elephants (they say during this time, wild elephants even wander into the nearby villages)
Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve Tickets
- Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve Ticket Price: Rs. 1,500 (foreigners), Rs. 750 (SAARC), Rs. 100 (Nepali)
If you want to enter the wildlife reserve for multiple days, you will have to buy a new ticket for each day.
💰 💰 Want to know how to budget for visiting Koshi Tappu? Check out my guide on the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve: Budget and Costs.
Guide Rules and Costs
Is the guide mandatory? No.
For the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, it is not mandatory to have a guide. The east side of the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve can be visited in one day even without a guide.
However, having a guide can help in spotting the different species of wildlife and provide extra knowledge about the Wildlife Reserve.
Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve Guide Costs: around Rs. 4,000/day
The costs can be shared within a group of people, however, there are not as many tourists in Koshi Tappu than for example in Chitwan, so you will not be able to join other people on the spot. If you want to split the costs, it is easier if you already come in a group.
Koshi Tappu Wildlife
| Main Mammals | Arna (wild water buffalo), Asian wild elephants, Gangetic dolphin, Fishing cat, Blue bull, Hog Deer, Spotted Deer |
| Main Reptiles | Asian Rock Python, Golden Monitor Lizard |
| Main Birds | Swamp Francolin, Bengal Florican, White-rumped Vulture, winter migratory birds |
Visiting the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve
How to Get Around the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve
By Walk
There are walking safaris organised usually with guides. The walking safari is best for bird spotting and the guides will take you to the best places to spot birds.
By Scooter
There is an option to hire a guide with a scooter – it can be a good option if you are travelling solo.
The “main road” around Koshi is paved with concrete but there are usually only a few people visiting the reserve. (It is not like in Chitwan where you have jeep after jeep following each other, scaring away the animals).
So, I found that even with the noise of the scooter, the animals come very close, even by the side of the road.
By Tuktuk
Hiring a driver with a tuktuk for a day is the most budget friendly option. The downside is that the tuktuk drivers will most likely not speak English and will not be able to tell you about the animals found in the reserve.
Nevertheless, they will take you around the best spots for spotting animals. Price of hiring a tuktuk with driver for a day: Rs. 2,000.
How Many Days are Enough for Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve?
The number of days you need, will depend on how much time you want to spend in the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve.
If you are short on time, you can go on a 1-day safari and check out the most popular wildlife spots. In 1 day, you will only be able to explore the part of Koshi Tappu closest to the villages and won’t be able to go too deep into the reserve.
If you are specifically visiting Koshi Tappu to see migratory birds, it is best to go on a bird watching tour for a couple of days.
1 day in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve
If you are short on time and good to discover the most popular spots in Koshi Tappu, one day is sufficient.
In the span of one day, you are most likely to spot the following animals: arna (wild water buffalo), lots of different types of birds, deer, dolphins, wild boars.
If you’re lucky, you will also spot crocodiles and wild elephants.
Spending 1 day in Koshi Tappu might feel rushed, especially considering the long journey it takes to get there. Nevertheless, if you are short on time, 1 day will give you a good idea about the reserve and its wildlife.
Multiple days in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve
If you have more than one day, you can generally get a customized tour of your preference.
During this time, you will have the chance to go deeper into the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve and pass by boat from island to island. The more time you have, the more chance you get of spotting different types of animals.
Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve Wildlife Viewpoints
Arna Viewpoint
Apart from the various species of birds found in Koshi Tappu, the Wildlife Reserve is most known for the arna (wild water buffalo).
The reserve has been doing extra work to preserve and grow the population of arna in Koshi Tappu, and it is the only place where you can find arna in Nepal.
From the Arna Viewpoint, the arna can still be located quite a bit away and you may not get good views.
I was there with a guide and we braved to go into the reserve for a better view. Still, if you decide to do the same, be careful not to go too close as the animals may charge at you.
Crocodile Viewpoint
The Crocodile Viewpoint is near the Arna Viewpoint. The view tower overlooks a small pond which is frequently inhabited by crocodiles.
When I visited during the winter season in Nepal, the water levels were low and during that time the crocodiles usually do not go there. So I was not able to see crocodiles here.
Dolphin Viewpoint
The Dolphin Viewpoint is actually not located in the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve but by the Koshi Barrage.
You can hire a tuktuk to bring you here and it should cost around Rs. 100-200 to get there from the main touristic area of Koshi Tappu.
The type of dolphin in the Koshi River is the Gangetic Dolphin.
The dolphins usually come out when it is sunny, so you have the best chance to see the dolphins if the weather is good. I managed to see a couple of dolphins once the sun came out but could not get a photo of them.
What to Pack for Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve?
Binoculars (optional): if you hire a guide, you will be able to use the binoculars of your guide.
If you plan to spend multiple days here and come here to see specific animals, it may be best to bring your own binoculars. I only used the binoculars of my guide and I was pretty happy with that.
⭐ Get your binoculars now and spot wildlife like an expert!
Other Things to Do in Koshi Tappu
There is not much else in the close vicinity of Koshi Tappu other then the Wildlife Reserve but you can discover the village areas.
Explore the Villages
The Koshi Tappu is in the Tarai region of Nepal which is mostly inhabited by the tharu ethnic group. Walking around the villages is a great way to see traditional tharu houses.
Check Out the Information Centre
The Information Centre is near the ticket counter where you can buy your entry ticket to the wildlife reserve. To be honest, the exhibition is very small, with only a few animals on display and not much information.
They have a miniature of the Koshi Tappu Reserve showing the various viewpoints and best spots for specific animals. I probably liked this the most as I could get a better visual idea of the animals found in the reserve.
Hotels in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve
Generally, it is hard to find information on accommodation in Koshi Tappu.
The accommodations are not available for booking on online (like booking.com or Agoda), so the best thing to do is to check a few accommodations on Google and call for rates and packages.
Budget Hotels
- Rate: Rs 2,500/night (including breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Bookings can be arranged through their Facebook or call (00977)9862454344.
Mid-Range Hotels
Rate: Rs. 3,000/night (excluding food)
The rooms are in separate “tiny houses” built using materials traditional in the Tarai region of Nepal. Each room have AC and private bathroom. Call for bookings: (00977)9846660419.
Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve Photos
FAQs: Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve
How many wildlife reserves are there in Nepal?
There is only one wildlife reserve in Nepal, the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve.
In total, Nepal has 12 National Parks, 1 Wildlife Reserve, 1 Hunting Reserve, 6 Conservation Areas, and 13 Buffer Zones. All of them belong to the Protected Areas in Nepal.
What’s the price of the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve tickets?
The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve tickets cost Rs. 1,500 (foreigners), Rs. 750 (SAARC) and Rs. 100 (Nepali).
If you want to enter the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve for multiple days, you will have to buy a new ticket for each day.
The costs for a guide comes on top of this, with the price for a guide costs around Rs. 4,000/day for Koshi Tappu.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is the only wildlife reserve in Nepal and it was declared a wildlife reserve in 1976. The wildlife reserve is located in Eastern Nepal, in the Tarai Region, about 340 km from Kathmandu.
It is most known for its habitat of arna (wild water buffalo) and many different species of birds (including migratory birds in winter).
Visiting the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is a good alternative to Chitwan or Bardia National Park if you would like to discover the wildlife of Nepal in the least touristy environment.
Koshi Tappu is the best place for bird watching and for seeing the wild water buffalos. In addition, you can also find other animals here including wild elephants, Gangetic dolphins, crocodiles, deer, wild boars and jackals.
