Chitwan, Nepal
The World Heritage Site National Park at Chitwan – meaning ‘Heart of the Jungle’ – is perhaps one of the best places for wildlife-spotting in Asia.
Covering an area of roughly 390 square miles, the park has benefited from recent concerted efforts to protect the wildlife contained within its boundaries: the rhino population was a mere 95 by the early 1970s, thanks to rampant poaching, but is now over 500. These one-horned rhinos, sloths, crocodiles and roughly 700 other species of wildlife are a particular draw, although it is the possibility of sighting the Bengal Tiger which motivates most wildlife-spotters. There are a variety of ways to explore the National Park: by foot on treks from half-day to a full week, by jeep, or by canoe down the Rapti River.
