Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve Tour

Weather and Best Time to Visit Koshi Tappu

Koshi Tappu experiences a warm terai climate with significant variation between wet, hot and dry seasons. October to May is the most comfortable time to be outdoors. October to May is also the recommended time to visit the reserve by the Nepal Tourism Board.

October to February is the time of the year when you can expect a cooler morning and dryness. It’s an ideal time to see birds, as many migratory birds make their way to the wetlands and estuaries.

The cooler months of the year are much more desirable for a Koshi Tappu Wildlife Tour, favoring early morning strolls and longer walks outdoors. Although summer is a good time to enjoy the area, guests should be ready for hot weather and potential rain.

A Day in the Life at Koshi Tappu

The morning starts early as the first few hours are good for bird watching and nature observations. During this tour, you are likely to be woken around 5-30 am and taken out for an early morning nature walk at approximately 6 am.

Most of the activities typically begin around 9 am after breakfast. This may vary from day to day, with activities ranging from a river safari, jeep drive, or jungle walk. The schedule permits you to visit other areas of the reserve than the one you have picked.

Lunch can be provided in the camp, as a picnic, or packed for a day out. It is later in the afternoon when you come back to camp or another planned activity.

Evenings are quieter. There is time to rest after dinner, which will be followed by an early start. It is a relaxed tour for those who love spending most of the day outside in the nature that makes Koshi Tappu Wildlife Tour suitable for them.

Birds and Wildlife You May See

Koshi Tappu is significant for bird-watching purposes because it features a river, wetlands, grassland, lakes and riverine forests, which provide habitat for various birds. Nepal Tourism Board calls the reserve a significant hotspot for birders and it has recorded hundreds of bird species, including migratory birds during winter.

The reserve is also home to wild water buffalo (also known as Arna). Wild boar, hog deer, spotted deer, blue bull, jackal, crocodiles and Gangetic dolphins are other animals found there.

Ducks, herons, storks, egrets, ibis and other wetland birds can be seen during Koshi Tappu bird watching. Actual sightings will vary from season to season, weather to weather, water to water and animal action to animal action.

The chance of seeing wildlife is never assured. You can use a guide or a naturalist who will help you identify and understand the behavior of these animals and stay away from them, while also helping to identify species.

River Safari, Jeep Safari and Jungle Walk

On this tour, there are options to explore the reserve in different ways through the activities. A river safari is exclusive to the Sapta Koshi River and the habitat around it, whereas jeep drives go to hard-to-reach places like grasslands and wetlands.

The river safari is helpful in searching for water birds and aquatic life. Occasional sightings of river dolphins such as Gangetic dolphins may be observed depending upon the natural conditions.

A Koshi Tappu wildlife safari will also provide an opportunity to visit the areas inaccessible by boat. The route may alter on a day-to-day basis as the reserve encompasses a large area with wildlife moving from habitat to habitat.

Bird Watching in Koshi Tappu

This tour includes much birding and is best done in the early morning. Many of the activities of birds around wetlands, grasslands, river banks and woodland areas are quieter and less active during the day, making it easier to hear their calls or to observe them.

Koshi Tappu has documented hundreds of species of both resident and migratory birds. The wetlands of the reserve are of special significance for species like ducks, herons, storks, egrets and ibis.

One of the most helpful aspects of Koshi Tappu bird watching is that a naturalist guide might be able to help identify birds and tell you where they are found. Binoculars are helpful if birds are perched more distant in open wetlands or on river banks.

Patience is important. May take several minutes to watch before you see movement. The experience is not about the number of sightings but an observation of natural behaviour.

How Much Walking Is Involved?

The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Tour is not trekking or a long hike in the mountains but rather a tour around the Koshi Tappu area. But walking is an integral part of the experience, especially on one of the early morning nature walks and the jungle walk in the itinerary.

Certain trails might be irregular, muddy, seasonal, or natural. Therefore, comfortable shoes that allow for walking are recommended. Be ready to stand quietly for extended periods of time watching birds and animals as well.

Be familiar with:

• Nature walks of short and medium length.
• Walking on rough terrain on the earth.
• Birding from the outside, with a field guide
• Transferring in and out of cars and boats.
• Exposing several hours to warm weather.

Generally, the pace can be maintained comfortably and the naturalist can lead at a rate determined by conditions. If anyone has difficulty walking for extended periods of time, please notify Adventure Walkway before the tour and arrangements will be made.

Food and Camp Experience

The daily activities of the animals are scheduled around the meal to allow early departure for walks and longer outings. Breakfast is usually provided following the morning’s nature walk and lunch is dependent on the day’s activities.

Lunch may be a picnic or provided as a packed lunch on a longer river or jeep trip. At times, the visitors may then come back to the camp to get lunch. The meal at the camp is typically provided after the day’s activity.

The wildlife camp is a good place from which to explore the reserve in practice. You should be prepared for a natural environment, not the sights and services of a hotel. Nature is an integral part of the experience and it is helpful to be prepared for outside conditions.

Please notify Adventure Walkway if you have any dietary restrictions, food allergies, or special meal requirements. This will allow camp and tour staff to make necessary preparations.

What to Pack for Koshi Tappu

The key to packing for a Koshi Tappu wildlife safari is to make it comfortable and pleasant outside. It can be warm weather and in winter, early mornings can feel cooler. Lightweight fabrics that are easily movable are helpful for most activities.

Items to help with sun, insects and long time outside should also be brought along.

Useful items include:

• Comfortable walking shoes
• Loose-fitting, air-permeable clothing
• Sun hat or cap
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent
• Binoculars
• Camera and spare batteries
• Reusable water bottle
• Small day bag
• Wear a light jacket in colder seasons
• Personal medicines

If you are taking part in wildlife observations, neutral or less visible clothing can be of some benefit as this will help you to blend in with the surroundings. Don’t take superfluous valuables on nature walks.

For those who like taking photos all day long, you can also make use of a power bank. It’s also wise to protect your equipment from dust and moisture and to ensure that it’s not taken aback by rain, especially in wetter months.

Wildlife Safety and Responsible Travel

Never approach wild animals. Guests need to follow the advice of the naturalist and/or the vehicle/boat crew, especially when wildlife is present, during the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Tour.

Avoid feeding or trying to draw in birds or making loud noises for a closer picture. Beware of the unpredictable behavior of wild water buffalo, crocodiles and other animals; do not approach them.

Responsible travel also refers to respecting the reserve and the neighbouring communities. Do not leave plastic and other waste behind and do not take or remove plants, feathers or other natural materials.

Patience and quiet observation are more beneficial than attempting to approach birds during Koshi Tappu bird watching. Low noise levels help to minimise disturbance and enable the group to continue observing natural behaviour.

The reserve preserves significant habitats for wetlands, grasslands, forests and wildlife. By following these guidelines, you are helping preserve these areas for future generations and wildlife.

Mobile Network, Internet and Charging

Cellular connectivity is not consistent throughout the Koshi Tappu area, especially outside of camp during activities such as walking, jeep and river travel. The connectivity is not expected to be as good as in Kathmandu and other major cities.

Internet availability is dependent on the accommodation and local network conditions. Should the use of the facility to stay connected be necessary, find out about the facilities available by contacting Adventure Walkway before departure.

Planning to charge phones and camera batteries at the camp should be based on the facilities available at the time of your stay. It’s handy to have a power bank since one can end up spending several hours out of the camp while conducting full-day wildlife activities.

It is also a good idea to carry important travel information and emergency contact details offline. Before you travel to an area with better connectivity, download maps, booking info and other vital information to avoid headaches later on.

For photography, it’s especially convenient to have extra batteries or a charged power bank. When the weather is fine, one can utilize the phone or camera battery for bird watching and viewing wildlife in a very quick way.

Transportation and Airport Transfers

The tour starts with you at Biratnagar Airport. From there, a meeting with the team and a road march towards the Koshi Tappu area will follow. According to the Nepal Tourism Board, the reserve is located approximately 40 km away from Biratnagar and about 90 minutes’ drive from Kathmandu.

Reserve transportation will be based on the program for the day. Jeep drives are made to the various wildlife viewing areas and boats are used for river excursions along the Sapta Koshi. The following walks are offered: walks around the camp and select natural habitat walks.

The route may vary from day to day as the reserve is very extensive. This enables the group to visit a variety of places, rather than going back to the same place again and again.

After breakfast on the last day, a road transfer back towards Biratnagar Airport. Those who have later flights may be able to make an optional stop at the Pink Tower near Koshi Barrage (subject to extra cost and time).

What Makes Koshi Tappu a Birdwatcher’s Paradise?

Koshi Tappu is unique in terms of being a popular birding spot since birds will have a variety of habitats in the river, wetlands, grasslands, lakes and riverine forests that it possesses. It is interesting to observe birds both in the spring and fall when migratory species pass through and also during the summer and winter, when resident species can be seen.

The most suitable time to watch Koshi Tappu birds is the cooler months when migratory birds are present. Early morning is ideal as the birds are active around the wetlands and river banks and the weather is cooler and around the grasslands.

On the tour, you can expect to see ducks, herons, storks, egrets, ibis and many other birds of both water and land. The naturalist guide can assist with identification and provide information about species’ habits and habitat.

The experience is not about seeing a fixed number of birds. There can sometimes be lots of sightings one day and patience required another. Using binoculars and maintaining silence will help you see birds without disturbing them.

Meet the Arna: Koshi Tappu’s Wild Water Buffalo

The national animal of Koshi Tappu, the wild buffalo or Arna, is closely tied to the history and conservation of Koshi Tappu. It is primarily for the protection of this important species, which is a great reason for seeing these animals during the visit.

On a Koshi Tappu Wildlife Tour, you can see the wild water buffalo in the grasslands and wetlands as well as in the vicinity of the river. They can be identified from a distance by their size and unique horns.

Visitors should never approach wild water buffalo, or go up to them to try to attract their attention – they are a powerful beast of the wild. Your naturalist guide will select appropriate places to view and provide instructions for safe viewing.

Animals move around freely in the reserve and sightings are not guaranteed. They may be found in any season, weather, or time of day depending on the conditions.

Visiting Arna in its native habitat also provides visitors with a deeper appreciation of the need for preserving the reserve’s grasslands and wetlands.

Life Along the Sapta Koshi River

Sapta Koshi River is an important feature in the landscape of Koshi Tappu. It is a vast river system, with banks, wetlands and surrounding habitats that support many species of birds and other wildlife.

One of the highlight activities of Koshi Tappu wildlife tours is a river experience to explore this environment from the water. Raft boat safaris offer a different perspective on the reserve and offer a good chance to spot water birds and aquatic life.

Additionally, natural conditions may also allow you to spot Gangetic dolphins, crocodiles, wild water buffaloes and other wildlife around the river and its habitats. Nonetheless, the sighting of wildlife is completely reliant on conditions and natural movement.

The river also plays a significant role in the overall Koshi Tappu ecosystem. Birds and animals use different habitats depending on water levels, riverbanks, wetlands and seasonal shifts.

The river safari is thus more than just a boat trip. It offers you the opportunity to quietly appreciate the landscape and to learn about the natural world with the help of a naturalist.

A Wildlife Day Without Knowing What You Will See

Compared with visiting a location where the animals are in permanent enclosures, going to a site to view wild animals is different. In a Koshi Tappu Wildlife Tour, the animals and birds are freely moving in their natural environment; thus, each day can be unique.

Time can be spent watching birds near a wetland, a jeep can be used for travel through the grassland, or quietly looking for movement along the river. There was an occasion when an opportunity arose unexpectedly when you weren’t actively seeking it.

This is a time of uncertainty and it’s an experience. It doesn’t always rain; it doesn’t mean there is no wildlife around. Larger animals can be more distant from the track and birds can be concealed by plants.

The naturalist can assist you in your understanding of signs of wildlife, learn bird identification and select appropriate locations for viewing. The route can also vary from day to day as different parts of the reserve are visited.

This is not meant to assure you of any specific animal, but to allow you to witness nature’s activities in its natural habitat. It’s possible to have a much more fun experience if you’re patient, quiet and don’t have unrealistic expectations.

Beyond Wildlife: Village and Local Life

The tour primarily concentrates on the Koshi Tappu bird-watching and Wildlife activities but also gives a glimpse into the life around Koshi Tappu. The third day will be dedicated to a trip to a local village and market.

This is a rest stop from the wildlife viewing and an opportunity to see the places around from a local point of view. Local shops, homes, agricultural land and the daily routine of the people who live around the reserve may be observed.

This visit will not be a long cultural outing. Rather, it offers a straightforward way to see the way in which local communities live in the natural world.

Outside of the reserve, you can also watch everyday products and local activities that you would not find within the reserve, at the markets. Your guide can provide information about the region and interact with the locals, as necessary.

The Koshi Tappu Wildlife tour is a great experience with the involvement of local communities. It demonstrates that the destination is more than just about animals and birds; it is about the people and landscapes that surround the protected area.