Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve

Within this beautiful reserve are the last surviving wild water buffalo (arna, around 150 of them), blue cow (nilgai), different species of deer, wild boar, gharial crocodiles and Gangetic dolphins. There are over 400 species of birds including storks, herons, terns, cranes, gulls, ducks, ibises and egrets. Some migratory species that come to the park between November and February are the sarus crane from Siberia and the ruddy shelduck from Tibet. Not people visit this park (less than 1000 foreign tourist), but it is good for bird watching.

The park is on a floodplain and the vegetation in the park is mainly tall grasslands (phanta) and there are also riverine forests. The local villagers cut down the grass for thatching in January, which makes it easier to see the wildlife.
Not many tourists come here. There is just one deluxe place to stay. There is also a place where you can camp.

The wildlife reserve protects a part of the Sapta Kosi’s flood plain behind the Kosi Barrage. The Sapta Kosi is one of the largest rivers that flow to the Ganges. The Kosi Barrage is there to minimize the annual floods. The river floods each year during the monsoon. There are high embankments in the reserve which direct the spread of the river in the direction of the barrage.

Information
The headquarters for the reserve are at Kusaha, which is on the east side of the barrage, 3km from the highway. The entry fee for the park is Rs 1000. If you want to visit the park it is a good idea to call in advance at 025 21488.

The turn off to get to the entrance of the reserve is 2km before the before the village of Laukhi. If you are coming from Itahari it is about 45km to Laukhi, and then it is another 2km past the village to the turn-off.
There are several elephants and a ride on one is Rs 650 per hour. It is also possible to take a canoe ride. It is possible to a take a walking tour of the park, but you need a guide.

Where to Stay
The conventional place to stay is in the area is the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Camp (01 247-078). It is located 24km north of the barrage close to the village of Prakashpur, a little northeast of the reserve, 25km from the barrage. You get to it from Inerwa on Mahendra Highway. It has a pleasant garden and it is next to a waterway so it is a good place for bird watching. It has comfortable tents and there are shared bathrooms. It costs $185/275, which includes guided boat watching water and a mellow half-day rafting trip down the river. It does not have electricity. Not many people come here, so it is peaceful. It has a first-class restaurant.
Most of the people who stay here come as a part of a package tour from Kathmandu. It is booked with Explore Nepal (01 226-130; fax 224-237; email; explore@mos.com.np explore@pramok.wlink.com.np), PO Box 536, Kamaladi, Kathmandu.
Aqua Birds Unlimited Camp (01 429-515; email: aquabird@ccsl.com.np), a few minute walk from the park headquarters, has deluxe tents with solar heated hot water. It has experienced guides. Meals and park activities are included with the price.
There are some really basic places to stay at Bhantabari, which is a small village on the east side of the barrage.
Koshi Tappu Village Rest House (025 21488), just northeast of the park headquarters, has some basic huts.
It may be possible to stay with a family or camp (Rs 350) near the park headquarters. The facilities are really basic.

Travel
Most people staying at the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Camp take a flight from Kathmandu to Biratnagar (55km southeast) and then a car from there, as part of an organized tour.

Buses going along the Mahendra Highway can let you off at the turn-off for the park and then it is 3km from the park’s headquarters.

If you do not have your own vehicle and want to go to the wildlife camp, you take a bus to Inerwa on the Mahendra Highway. You then take a local bus to Prakashpur. From there it is a 1km to the wildlife camp.

Copyright ©2001 John Howley and Spiritual Guides