Wildlife · Bardia National Park
Walking safari with two naturalists
Walk into the forest and grassland on foot with two licensed naturalists, reading tracks, dung and alarm calls. Slower than a jeep, it brings you closer to how the jungle works, and to its sounds and smells.
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Walking safaris are Bardia's tradition. You set off from the park gate in a small group with two naturalists, one leading and one at the back, each carrying a bamboo stick. The first lesson is how to walk: single file, quietly, stopping when the guide raises a hand. Before you go, the guides check your clothing, ask about your fitness and decide on a route that suits the group and the season. Most walks begin early, when animals are active and the air is still cool.
On foot you notice what a jeep misses. Guides show you a tiger scrape on a sal trunk, the flattened bed of a rhino in the grass, the hole a sloth bear dug for termites, and the tracks of a leopard that crossed the path an hour before. Hornbills, woodpeckers and parakeets are easy to watch at walking pace. Smell matters too: the musty scent of a rhino midden or the sharp tang where a big cat has marked its territory.
Before you start, your guides will explain what to do if you meet a rhino, an elephant or a sloth bear: the answers differ for each animal, and they are serious about them. Walking safaris need a reasonable level of fitness for four or five hours on flat ground, often in heat. Long trousers and closed shoes are a must. Carry a small daypack with water and a snack, and leave anything noisy behind.
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Questions
Are walking safaris in Bardia dangerous?
There is some risk, which is why groups are small and led by two experienced, licensed naturalists. Rhinos, wild elephants and sloth bears are the main concern, not tigers. Guides brief you on what to do with each animal and choose routes with good visibility and escape options. Listen carefully and do exactly what they say.
Can children go on a walking safari?
Most lodges set a minimum age, often around 12, for walking safaris because children must stay quiet and follow instructions immediately. Younger children can enjoy jeep safaris, river trips and village walks instead. Ask your lodge about its own rule when you book.
How fit do I need to be?
You need to walk four to five hours on flat but uneven ground, sometimes through tall grass and across shallow streams, often in heat. There is no climbing. Anyone who can manage a long countryside walk will be fine, and guides set an easy pace with plenty of stops.
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