Nature & Wildlife of Nepal
From rhinos in the lowland grasslands to snow leopards above the tree line, within a single country 200 km wide.
Nepal's wildlife in numbers
| Bird species | Nearly 900 |
| Wild tigers | 355 (2022 count) |
| One-horned rhinos | 752 (2021 count) |
| Protected land | About a quarter of the country |
Life zones by altitude
| Zone | Altitude | What you'll see |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical & subtropical | below 1,200 m | Sal forest and tall grassland in the Terai. Rhino, tiger, elephant, gharial crocodile, hornbills. |
| Temperate | 1,200 – 2,400 m | Oak and chestnut forest, terraced farms. Langurs and monkeys, sunbirds. |
| Cool temperate | 2,400 – 3,600 m | Rhododendron, pine and fir forest. Red panda, musk deer, Himalayan monal. |
| Alpine | 3,600 – 4,400 m | Juniper, dwarf rhododendron, summer meadows. Himalayan tahr, blue sheep, yaks. |
| Snow & rock | above 4,400 m | Moraine and glaciers. Snow leopard, lammergeier, Himalayan griffon. |
Parks we take guests to
Terai · since 1973
Chitwan National Park
Nepal's first national park and a UNESCO site since 1984. Rhinos, gharials and more than 500 bird species. Visit by jeep, elephant, canoe and on foot.
Far-west Terai
Bardiya National Park
The largest lowland park, and quieter than Chitwan. Some of the best odds of seeing a wild tiger. Gangetic dolphins live in the Karnali river.
Everest · UNESCO 1979
Sagarmatha National Park
Himalayan tahr on the cliffs and monal pheasants in the forests around Tengboche. Musk deer in the birch woods.
Largest protected area
Annapurna Conservation Area
Everything from bamboo forest to the dry Mustang plateau. Nepal's first conservation area run with local communities.
Closest to Kathmandu
Langtang National Park
Red panda country, in the fir and bamboo forests above the Langtang River.
Largest national park
Shey Phoksundo National Park
Dolpo's turquoise Phoksundo Lake and high, dry valleys. One of the best snow leopard habitats in Nepal.
Seeing wildlife responsibly
- We use naturalist guides and stay in locally owned lodges.
- Choose from jeep safaris, elephant rides, canoe trips on the Rapti and Karnali rivers, and guided jungle walks.
- On walking safaris, keep a safe distance from rhinos and follow your guide's instructions.
Trips for nature lovers
- Into the Wild: Chitwan & Bardiya · 9 days
- Classic Nepal Tour · 8 days
- Langtang Valley Trek · 9 days
- Everest View Walking Tour · 10 days