Jeep safari to be suspended in Chitwan National Park

Jeep safari services inside Chitwan National Park will be suspended starting June 29 in anticipation of the monsoon season. The safari is typically reopened in mid-September, when the monsoon subsides and the festival season begins. The annual closure occurs because vehicles find it difficult to operate within the park during the rainy months, as road conditions deteriorate due to flooding, landslides, and thick vegetation.

While safaris within the core park area will be halted, jeep safaris in the buffer zone's community forests will continue as usual. Other tourism activities such as trekking within the reserve and visits to the crocodile breeding center will also continue throughout the monsoon.

During the monsoon, the park faces various challenges including swollen rivers, flooding, fallen trees, and slippery, muddy roads. Additionally, increased grass and shrub growth makes it harder to spot wildlife. Currently, 32 jeeps operate from Sauraha, 10 from Kasara, seven from Meghauli, and five from Amaltari, providing jungle safari services to tourists.

By Asian Hiking Team