Nature · Kasara
Birding walk on the Rapti riverbank
An easy guided walk along the Rapti near Patihani for kingfishers, storks, eagles, river lapwings and winter ducks, with mugger crocodiles on the sandbanks and the chance of rhinos on the far shore. Mornings are best.
The Rapti riverbank opposite Kasara is open and flat, which makes it ideal for an easy morning walk with a bird guide. In winter the river is low and braided, with gravel bars and sandbanks where waders feed and crocodiles bask once the sun warms the air. Walks are flat and easy, on sand, gravel and grass.
Common sightings include pied, white-throated and stork-billed kingfishers, river lapwings, great cormorants, woolly-necked and black storks, and ruddy shelducks in winter. Pallas's fish-eagle, ospreys and several other raptors hunt the river. Chitwan has more than 540 recorded bird species, and the riverbank is one of the easiest places to start. Keen birders can expect a long list in a single morning.
Walks stay outside the core park on the buffer zone bank, but wild animals cross freely, so go with a guide. Rhinos and spotted deer often appear on the opposite bank in the first hour of light. Carry binoculars, wear neutral colours and keep your voice low. Walks take two to three hours and end before the heat of the day.
Good for
Questions
How many bird species are there in Chitwan?
Bird surveys in 2006 recorded 543 species in Chitwan National Park, more than in any other protected area in Nepal. About 160 migrant and vagrant species arrive in autumn to spend the winter, so November to March is the richest season for birding along the rivers and lakes.
Do I need a guide for a riverbank bird walk near Kasara?
We strongly recommend one. Even outside the park boundary, rhinos, sloth bears, wild elephants and crocodiles move along the river. A local bird guide knows the safe stretches, finds birds by call and helps with identification. Inside the park itself, a licensed guide is required.
What binoculars should I bring for birding in Chitwan?
An 8x42 or 10x42 pair works well for both river and forest birding. Lodges and guides sometimes lend binoculars, but quality varies, so bring your own if you can. A field guide to the birds of Nepal or a bird app with offline maps adds a lot.
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