Bardia National Park is Nepal’s most westerly, and the largest of its seven National Parks. The park was established in 1988 and covering an area of 968 km2 it is considered one of the most undisturbed national parks in Nepal's Terai. To the west is the Girwa branch of the Karnali River, and to the southeast the Babai River.

A haven for a wide variety of wildlife, the park was originally formed to protect the various ecosystems found in the area, and to conserve tigers and their prey. The Park has since expanded to become one of the finest in Nepal. Lush dense forests, savannah and riverine woodlands are home to an incredibly diverse range of flora and fauna.

There is a diversity of habitats in the park, ranging from dry upland hills to pockets of grassy plains. This allows the experience of a vast range of distinct species with diverse needs.
Most of the park is covered in sub-tropical forest, predominantly Sal (70%), with a good balance of Grassland, Savanna, and Riverine forests. Altitudes in the park variety from 152 metres on the Terai to 1441 meters at Sukamala on the crest of the Churia range.

Being a remote area has its own advantages but also its challenges. Getting to Bardia is not as easy and fast compared to the better-known Chitwan National Park, but it is possible through many convenient ways depending on the place where you are going from. Kathmandu and Pokhara, Nepal’s main cities, have buses that stop close to Bardia National Park, taking around 15 to 18 hours. However, the fastest way to get to Bardia is by a quick flight of 30 to 40 minutes to Nepalgunj and then a short trip of around 2 1/2 hours by jeep to our lodge.

When it comes to sighting the Bengal Tiger, Bardia is the place where you have the best chances in the whole of Nepal. This is mainly because the jungle is not as dense, the water sources are not as much compared to Chitwan, and the park area is bigger and quieter. Bardia and Banke (a recent park established in 2010 adjacent to Bardia) form the largest Tiger conservation area in Asia and its population has been increasing in recent years, the reason Bardia was awarded the TX2 award by the WWF in 2022 for doubling its wild tiger population since 2010, one of the most ambitious conservation goals set for a single species. In 2019, the park was considered on the top list of the best sustainable destinations in Asia-Pacific.
This is quite different to Chitwan, which has high numbers of tourists, causing the park to struggle with keeping the Tigers’ habitat as natural as required. For example, the amount of Jeep Safaris in the park is considered to reduce the chances of the Tigers catching their prey and the roads close to Chitwan are also one of the reasons that are making it difficult to increase the Tigers’ population. On the other hand, Chitwan is famous for its One-horned Rhino population, making up more than 90% of the country’s population of this fantastic animal. This makes it quite easy to sight Rhinos in Chitwan almost regardless of the season. However, Chitwan is already at the limit of its carrying capacity, which is why some Rhinos are being moved to Bardia National Park, expanding the Rhinos’ population there. There are currently around 40 Rhinos in Bardia, but it is incredible how often they are seen in the dry season on the riverbanks.
Bardia is also known for its amazing birdlife and the presence of endangered birds such as the Bengal and Lesser Floricans, the Sarus Crane and the Great Hornbill. Asian Wild Elephants and Leopards also inhabit this park along as the critically endangered Gharial Crocodile.

The park has three distinct seasons, winter, summer, and monsoon. From October through early April, the weather is dry and warm. From April to June the temperatures gradually rise with a peak temperature up in May. The hot sticky days give way to the monsoon rains in July that lasts until September. Bardia is a calm and serene place with a lot of biodiversity, not too many people and lots of surrounding nature.

The park’s west boundary is limited by the Girwa river, a branch of the Karnali river, the largest river in Nepal. This branch with its many braided streams creates an intricate habitat for a wide variety of species with its tributaries crossing through the park. The buffer zone of Bardia National Park is formed by private lands and community forest. The community forest is, as its name suggests, managed by the community having common gatherings to take decisions on the forest. One of the key features of the community forest, in terms of tourism is the treehouse, located remarkably close to the park’s border and allowing visitors to experience the jungle and its sounds during the night.

The community around Bardia National Park is tightly connected to the park, the forest and the wildlife. Most of the villages preserve the ancient culture and it is visible in its festivals, dances, houses and handicrafts. Experience Bardia is much more than sighting animals in the wild, is being overwhelmed by its landscapes, surprised by its sounds and touched by its people that are one of the most welcoming people in the world.

A little curiosity, each year, normally in December, there are 3 open days for the inhabitants of the buffer zone to go to the park and cut the grass for use in thatching buildings. In February, the park intervenes further with additional grass cutting, and the promotion of the growth of new green grass in the park encourages a better performance of the environment. Visiting after the grass is cut also makes some wildlife spotting easier.