A Walk On The Wild Side

A Wildlife Reserve Makes for holidays with differences if you are prepared to rough it out.
If relaxing by the pool, fine continental meals and twenty-four service is what you look for in a Holi day, then Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve  is not for you But, if wildlife is mega numbers is more to your taste, and , if you are willing to relax your standards, then this is definitely a place to visit.
With over 400 species of birds, Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is a naturalist’s dream. The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is on the Ramsar List of Wetland of international importance, It is also the home of Nepal’s last herd of wild water buffalo and one of the few place to see freshwater Gangetic dolphins but, beware of the crocodiles. Boat ride in the wooden canoes is the easiest and more relaxing way to see Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve. Alternatively, you can take an elephant safari from the park stables, perfect for navigating through the soft reedbeds, as in Chitwan National Park.
Within the Park, it is possible to see many varieties of fauna but the area particularly noted for its diversity of birds, Migratory species arrive in winter from as far away as Siberia. 

The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve sits on the bank of the Sapta Koshi River, and constant floods in the monsoon season keep it as permanent wetlands, Totaling 175 SqKm, it is small even by Nepal’s standards. It stretches into parts of Sunsari, Saptari and Udayapur Districts and takes about an hours by car from Biragnatar town (and airport), just off the Terai’s east-west Mahendra Highway. Through Relatively small, it is teeming with wildlife, The Reserve has a humble park rangers camp with elephant stables, and guides who will show you around for a small fee.
You should take time before going, to do a little online research. Koshi Tappu is definitely not for everybody. Onsite accommodation is basic, but you can bring your own tent and set up camp instead. Next to the office is a small family guest with separate, simple bedrooms and local food is offered. Outside the reserve, some kilometers away, are a few resorts with less basic accommodation. These places have restaurants and their own guide. 

The weather is pretty unbearable here in the hot season and the mosquitoes become an irritant as well as a health risk. Spring and autumn are, therefore, the best time to visit, For those traveling between east Nepal and India, Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserver can be a wonderful opportunity to explore a largely ignored part of the country. 

Pat Kauba is a freelance writer and photographer with a love of the wild and the unique, He can be contacted at [email protected].