Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve

Max Altitude 75-81 m
Vehicle Bus and Jeep
Best Season Spring and Autumn
Trip Duration 6 days

Trip Overview

Koshi Tappu Wildlife is very famous all around the globe. Similarly, Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve was established primarily for bird watchers. The Camp is ideal for all nature lovers looking for peace in the midst of nature’s glory. Koshi Tappu wildlife reserve has established itself as a birdwatcher’s haven. The reserve encompasses Saptari and Sunsari districts in Nepal’s eastern south and is defined by the eastern and western banks of the Koshi River. Since 1987, the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve has been designated as a wetland site.

Due to the variety of birds and animals available in the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve. Annually a lot of visitors come to visit this place.

The reserve’s environment is primarily grassland with areas of scrub and deciduous revering forest. What makes Koshi Tappu unique is that the birds spotted here are not found anywhere else in Nepal. Around 439 different bird species have been recorded in the reserve.

During the winter, several of them fly all the way from Siberia. On the riverbank, a variety of ducks, herons, stork’s egrets, and ibis may be seen. Swamp Francolin, Black-necked Stork, Lesser Adjutant, Comb Duck, Falcate Duck, Spot-billed Duck, Cotton Pygmy Goose, Baer’s Pochard, Bailon’s Crake, Ruddy Crake, Greater Painted Snipe, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Yellow-wattled Lapwing, Indian Courser, Black-bellied Tern, Imperial Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, etc.

Wild buffalo, wild boar, hog deer, spotted deer, blue bell, and jackal are among the other creatures present here. Other attractions are the Gharial Crocodile and Gangetic Dolphin. Between October and April is the best time to visit Koshi Tappu.

More about Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve

The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is located in eastern Nepal, between the Saptari and Sunsari districts. The Koshi Tappu Reserve encompasses a large portion of the Koshi River delta. It is a popular safari tour site since it allows visitors to see a variety of indigenous and exotic species. As well as uncommon wild buffaloes. Wild buffaloes, hog deer, wild boar, spotted deer jackals, and Gangetic Dolphins all live in the forest. This area is mostly tall Khar-pater grassland, with a few patches of Khair-sissoo scrub woodland and a mixed kind of deciduous river line jungle thrown in for good measure.

Travelers can take an elephant back safari excursion to experience the Koshi Tappu area. Additionally, you can go boating on the Sapta Koshi River and take a short jeep ride to see a variety of endemic-exotic birds and endangered animals in the wild. Particularly during dusk and morning safari tours, you will get spectacular vistas of a wide variety of birds and animals perched along the Koshi River’s bank. It is the home of birds, and it is here that you may fulfill your goal of going on a bird-watching tour in Nepal.

The Status of the birds in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve

Despite the presence of a diverse range of migratory and resident birds, the birds in the Reserve are not safe. In recent years, the number of migratory birds has declined. The wetlands are drying up and being severely harmed by the Saptakoshi River’s inundation, resulting in the loss of migratory bird habitat. As a result, by the time winter arrives, the number of birds entering the Reserve has decreased.

Furthermore, the local people’s haphazard use of chemicals in agriculture is posing a threat to bird species. Several bird species in the Reserve have died as a result of this. The number of bird species in the Reserve has fallen, as has the number of bird watchers, ornithologists, avian visitors, and researchers who visit the park.

Highlights

One of Nepal’s top bird-watching spots (A total of 280 different species of birds are there in the reserve. )
Wild buffaloes, hog deer, wild boar, spotted deer jackals, and Gangetic Dolphins can all be seen on the Sapta Koshi River
Jeep Drive.

Itinerary

Day 01

Arrive in Kathmandu

You arrive in Kathmandu on this day, and we transfer you to your accommodation. After checking into the hotel, you relax and recuperate while taking in the sights. On the same day, a member of Travel Nepal Now will give a briefing on the itinerary.

Day 02

Sightseeing tour in Kathmandu city and Patan City

Today is a very exciting day at our Koshi Tappu Wildlife reserve. Similarly, Today we will travel to Kathmandu Valley. Likewise, we would take the privilege to go around the city and look at some interesting historical relics. Moreover, on this day we would visit Swayambunath stupa, famous as a monkey temple as well, Basantapur Durbar Square, an ancient palace courtyard, and Patan Durbar Square world heritage site.

Day 03

Kathmandu- Biratnagar (fly 45 minutes and drive 01 hours)

Drive to the domestic airport after breakfast, fly 45 minutes to Biratnagar, then drive one hour to Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve. Following your arrival at the Camp, offer a brief overview of the tour program and eat lunch. Birding can be done in the park’s immediate vicinity. Camp for the night.

Day 04

Full day in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve

Early morning nature walk followed by breakfast at Camp. Afternoon soft wildlife rafting on the Sapta Koshi river with naturalists to see water birds, water buffaloes, dolphins, and other marine and jungle species. End your boat ride with a picnic lunch on the riverbank. A short trip to the Koshi Barrage to see the freshwater dolphins and bird life. Return to the camp in the late afternoon. Camp for the night.

Day 05

Koshi Tappu - Biratnagar - Kathmandu

Early in the morning, go bird viewing, then return to the resort for breakfast before being transferred to Biratnagar Airport. After arriving in Kathmandu, you will have some free time in the evening. Overnight stay in a hotel

Day 06

Departure from Kathmandu

We will assist you in getting to the airport on time for your trip. We say our goodbyes for the time being with a sorrowful heart and anticipation of what we will see in the future.

Includes/Excludes

What’s Included

01 Full day Kathmandu valley sightseeing tour by Private vehicle with English speaking Guide.
All arrival and departure transfer by Private AC vehicle.
02 nights hotel accommodation in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve on AP ( Bed, Breakfast, lunch and Dinner) Basis.
03 nights hotel accommodation in Kathmandu on BB ( Bed & Breakfast) Basis.
Koshi Tappu Wildlife Camp activities and National park fees.
Kathmandu-Biratnagar-Kathmandu by flight or drive with comfortable vehicle.

What’s Not included

Lunch/Dinner in Kathmandu except Koshi Tappu Wildlife Camp.
Travel / medical insurance.
Entrance fee to the sightseeing places.
International Airfare.
Single room supplement fee if need.
Personal equipment.
Tips for the tour guide and driver.
Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, alcoholic beverages, bottled drinks, (including cold drinks and mineral water).
Extra expenses if unavoidable circumstances such as weather hazards, political unrest, and avalanches.
Note: Sightseeing entrance fee will be charge as mention below: (Kathmandu city-Rs.1000, Swoyambhunath stupa-Rs.200, Patan city-Rs.550, amounts total Rs.1750 equivalent = USD.18 totally per person)

Useful Info

Best Time for Koshi Tappu National Park

Between October and March is the best time to visit the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve. This is due to the fact that during this time of year, migratory and resident birds can be seen on the river’s barrage and main channel. In addition, the heavy rains of the monsoon season and the intense heat of the summer are avoided at this time. In addition, the months of October to March provide visitors with stunning mountain vistas. Mount Makalu (8475 m), the world’s fifth tallest peak, may be seen from the park.

Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve Route

Both by air and by land, the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is easily accessible. Flights from Kathmandu to Biratnagar are accessible on a regular basis. The trip takes around 45 minutes and provides breathtaking views of Mount Everest, Makalu, and Kanchenjunga in the Eastern Himalayas. The Reserve may be reached in 3 to 4 hours from Biratnagar.

Kathmandu is around 560 kilometers away from the Reserve. The Reserve is reached after a nearly 14-hour trip along the Mahendra route. The trek passes via the Mahabharata Hills and the Churia Range.

The trek passes via the Mahabharata Hills and the Churia Range. If you want to see the hillside villages and countryside lifestyle, using the road will be an excellent option. If you have adequate time, you may want to travel this way.

If you want a more adventurous trip, you can go white water rafting from Sunkoshi River to SaptaKoshi River. One of the most amazing white water rafting trips in the world takes place over the course of 8 to 10 days. The journey will come to a close at Chatara, after which you will be transferred to the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve.

Flora and Fauna at Koshi Tappu Wildlife reserve

Despite being the smallest protected area in the country’s Terai belt, the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is rich in floral and faunal diversity. Riverine deciduous forest, grassland, and marshy field are the primary vegetation types. The plain grasses cover around 68 percent of the Reserve, whereas the forest covers only 6%. The park’s grasslands are maintained by the annual flood and the grazing of domestic animals. There are 414 plant species in the reserve’s wetland. Eichhornia, Hydrilla, and Azolla are the most prevalent among them.

The Reserve is also home to a variety of creatures, including 31 different species of mammals and over 200 different types of fish. Swamps and marshes are home to the Gharial Crocodile and Mugger. In addition, the Reserve’s forested ecology is home to 15 globally significant species. Wild elephants can also be found in the reserve. Apart from the enormous contribution to safeguarding the wild water buffalo, the Reserve also supports around 20 other animal species, including hog deer, wild boar, spotted deer, Blue bull, and Rock Python.

Birds at Koshi Tappu Wildlife reserve

The Reserve is an excellent destination for birds, notably water birds and many migrating birds such as sarus from Siberia, in addition to being rich in biodiversity. Watercock, Dusky Eagle owl, Black-headed Cuckoo-shrike, and White-tailed Stonechat are among the Reserve’s notable birds. In total, 485 bird species have been identified in the park, including ducks, ibis, storks, egrets, and herons, as well as endangered swamp partridges and Bengal floricans.

In a 22-year hiatus, the Greater Adjutant, an endangered member of the stork family, was spotted in Koshi Tappu Reserve. The last sighting of the bird in the Reserve was in 1995. The bird can be found in portions of India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, but its population is declining owing to habitat loss. There are just 800 Greater Adjutants in Assam, 150 in Bihar, and 200 in Cambodia at the moment.

In 2018, a new species of Nightjar was discovered in Koshi Tappu, bringing the total number of bird species in the country to 863. The Nightjar is a nocturnal species that migrate to Nepal from Pakistan, China, and India.

Activities at Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve

During your visit to the Reserve, you can participate in the following activities:

Jungle safari with birds to view
Jeep safaris, river adventures, and boat rides

FAQ

Which is the famous animal found in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve?

In the south-eastern Terai, the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is located on the floodplains of the Sapta Koshi River. The reserve was established in 1976 to protect the last known population of Arna buffalo (Bubalus arnee).

What is Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve famous for?

When was Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve Established in BS?

What area is covered by Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve?

How many species of bird are found in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve?

What are the major activities in the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve?

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