If you wish to go deeper in the jungle and explore the Sal Forest, the Jeep Safari is the option that takes you further from the park’s entrance. It is also a good option if you aren’t as fit and don’t want to do the long walks that can be involved in full day jungle walks.
The Jeep Safari activity starts at the Eco Lodge early in the morning and can be performed all day or for half a day. If you choose a half day, the activity will take between 4 and 5 hours and for the full day, it will take between 10 and 12 hours. In both options, some short jungle walks are done on the way to viewpoints. Here there is a significant difference between the full-day and half-day safari, because on the half-day safari there are also stops at the observation points, near the river where animals such as rhinos and tigers are cooling or just passing by, but these stops take less time. The probability of sighting the Bengal Tigers as well as other animals that visit the riverbank increases if the safari is all day, as there will be longer stops, such as the lunch break, where animals are expected to arrive. There are also some spots where Leopards are sometimes seen, and our experienced guides and drivers will stop at those places and be aware of any signs of their presence. The sight of other large animals like One-horned Rhino and Wild Elephants is also possible on the road and on the stops in riverbanks. Although the number of Rhinos is not as high in Bardia compared to Chitwan, this animal has a predictable behaviour and being sighted on the large Grasslands in Bardia as well cooling on the river during the hot season between March and July. It is quite common to sight on the way several deer species like Spotted Deer and if you are lucky, a tiger crossing the road or by a riverbank. Langur Complex and Rhesus Macaque are also two Monkey species that are commonly sighted at Jeep Safaris.
As the Jeep Safari takes you into the Sal Forest, you will be able to sight some common residents of this habitat, like Bengal Monitor Lizards, Samba and Barking Deers, Nilgais and Golden Jackels. Regarding the birdlife, the Sal Forest is a peculiar place where the Himalayan and Black-rumped Flameback call home, together with the Indian Pitta and distinct species of woodpeckers as the Great Slaty and the Brown-capped Pygmy. It is impossible not to mention the majestic Great Hornbill.
On the way to the Sal Forest some Grassland habitants as the Chital and the Swamp Deer as well as the Black Francolin and the common Hoopoe amongst other bird species such as Oriental Pied and Indian Grey Hornbills, White-rumped Shama and several distinct species of Drongo, namely the White-bellied, the Greater Racket-tailed and the impressive Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo. During the stops on the riverbanks, it is common to sight Indian Pewfowls and different species of Kingfisher. Longer stops allows you also to observe the behaviour of this rich wildlife.
PRICING:
Pricing is per person and subject to the number of people travelling in the jeep. If you are a solo traveller, we will aim to join you up with another traveller staying with us, or from another lodge, to minimise extra costs for you. You can contact us about this with your preferred dates, or finalise your arrangements when you get to the lodge.