Chitawan, October 5
Chitwan National Park is preparing to reopen the jungle safari, which was closed inside the park because of the monsoon, from Friday, October 9.
The park had closed the jeep safari from July 1. It is now rushing to repair roads damaged by monsoon flash floods and clear fallen trees.
Floods in August damaged the jungle safari routes, which delayed the reopening, said Abinash Thapamagar, the park’s information officer.
“We had planned to start the jeep safari in the second week of Asoj, but heavy rain at that time sent floods through various streams and rivers inside the park and damaged the routes. We are repairing them,” Thapamagar said. “We are now working to resume from October 7.”
The flood in the Riu Khola in August did the most damage to the route to the park’s Tiger Tops area, Thapamagar said. Work is underway to prepare the route by laying gravel.
Although the jeep safari is closed inside the park, jeep and elephant safaris have continued as usual in the buffer zone and community forests.
Elephant safaris are not allowed inside the park at other times of the year. Jungle walks continue even during the three monsoon months when the jeep safari is closed.
The park earns tens of millions of rupees from the jeep safari every year.
Most foreign tourists visiting the park take the jeep safari, and it is just as popular with Nepalis.
Data show that more than 200,000 domestic and foreign tourists visit Chitwan National Park a year on average.
The park charges Rs 5,000 per jeep. Entry fees are Rs 2,000 for foreign tourists, Rs 1,000 for tourists from SAARC countries and Rs 150 for Nepalis.
Thirty jeeps from the Sauraha area, 10 from Kasara, seven from Meghauli and five from Amaltari run inside the park. Each jeep carries up to 10 people.
