Chitwan National Park suspends jeep safaris for monsoon season

CHITWAN: Chitwan National Park has suspended commercial jeep safaris from today for the monsoon season, the park administration said.

The suspension will remain in effect until further notice, as heavy rainfall often triggers floods in streams, damages unsurfaced forest roads and causes trees to fall, creating hazardous conditions for visitors.

Park Information Officer Avinash Thapa Magar said, "The monsoon is a crucial breeding season for wildlife and birds, so disturbances within the protected area must be kept to a minimum."

CNP, Nepal’s first national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Natural), has halted safari operations each monsoon for years. Services are typically resumed around the Dashain festival, depending on the weather and the condition of forest roads.

While jeep safaris inside the national park are suspended, commercial safari operations in surrounding community forests will continue, the park office said.

Safaris normally enter the park through gateways including Sauraha, Kasara, Meghauli, Madi and locations in Nawalparasi.

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The jeep safari is a major attraction for domestic and international visitors, offering opportunities to observe the park’s biodiversity and wildlife across the protected area of 932 square kilometres.