Tigers in Bardia by the numbers
Nepal counts its tigers roughly every four years using camera traps across the Terai parks and corridors. The 2026 census, released in July, counted 429 tigers nationally, up from 355 in 2022. Bardia recorded 112, down from 125, and was the only park where numbers fell. Officials linked the drop partly to tigers moving into neighbouring Banke National Park, which doubled to 51, and partly to pressure on habitat and conflict with villages along the park edge.
Even after the fall, Bardia has one of the highest tiger densities in Nepal. Its 968 km² of sal forest, tall grassland and river islands along the Karnali, joined to Banke's forest, make up one of the most important tiger landscapes on the subcontinent. For visitors, what matters is that tigers are present across the western grasslands near Thakurdwara, where most safaris operate.
| Park | 2022 census | 2026 census |
|---|---|---|
| Chitwan | 128 | 145 |
| Bardia | 125 | 112 |
| Parsa | 41 | 71 |
| Banke | 25 | 51 |
| Shuklaphanta | 36 | 50 |
| Nepal total | 355 | 429 |
How a Bardia tiger safari works
Bardia safaris are built around patience. The standard format is a full day in the park, not a two-hour drive. You leave Thakurdwara around 6:30 am with a licensed naturalist, either in an open jeep or on foot, and spend much of the day waiting quietly at places tigers use: river crossings on the Geruwa channel of the Karnali, stream beds such as the Khauraha and Orai, and the edges of grasslands like Baghaura and Lamkauli.
Walking safaris are Bardia's speciality. Park rules require at least two licensed guides for walking groups, and the guides track tigers by pugmarks, scrapes and the alarm calls of deer and langurs. River floats on the Karnali add a different view, with dolphins and crocodiles, and occasionally tigers crossing between islands.
| Safari type | Duration | Best for | Tiger chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-day jeep safari | 8–9 h | Covering ground, families, photographers | Good in Feb–May |
| Walking safari | 4–8 h | Tracking, quiet hides, adventure | Good but brief sightings |
| River float | 4–6 h | Dolphins, crocodiles, birds | Low, occasional |
| Half-day jeep drive | 3–4 h | Short stays, young children | Low |
Best months for seeing tigers
Season makes a bigger difference to your odds than almost anything else. After the monsoon, from October to January, the grass is tall and green and water is everywhere, so tigers are spread out and hard to see. From late January the park cuts and burns grassland, and as the dry season advances, water shrinks to a few pools and river channels. By April and May, tigers come to drink and cool off at predictable places, and open ground makes them visible.
The trade-off is heat. April and May often reach 38–42 °C at midday, so safaris start at dawn and the hours around noon are spent in shade at a watchpoint. February and March are a good compromise. From late June to mid-September, monsoon floods close most of the park to vehicles and many lodges shut.
| Months | Conditions | Tiger odds |
|---|---|---|
| Oct – Nov | Green, tall grass, pleasant 25–30 °C | Fair |
| Dec – Jan | Cool, foggy mornings, 7–22 °C | Fair to low |
| Feb – Mar | Grass cut, warming, clear | Good |
| Apr – May | Hot 35–42 °C, water scarce | Best |
| Jun – Sep | Monsoon, floods, many lodges closed | Very low |
Realistic tiger odds
No one can promise a tiger, and you should be wary of anyone who does. What we can say from our guides' experience is that guests staying three or four nights between February and May, with at least one full-day jeep safari and one full walking day, often see a tiger, sometimes more than one. On shorter stays or in winter, many guests leave without a sighting but with plenty of fresh tracks, alarm calls and other wildlife.
Your own approach matters too. Spend full days in the park rather than short outings, stay quiet at watchpoints, accept long waits, and choose a guide who knows current tiger movements. Ask the lodge which areas have had recent sightings. Four or five nights give the best results; one night rarely works.
If you add a fourth night, use it for a second full jeep day in a different sector, or for the long drive to the Babai valley, where rhinos are more often seen. Good lodges let you change the plan the evening before, depending on where the guides have found fresh pugmarks that day.
Where to stay and what it costs
All Bardia lodges are outside the park in the buffer zone, mostly in Thakurdwara near the headquarters. Tiger Tops Karnali Lodge is the high-end option, with its own naturalists and full-board packages; a four-night stay with flights from Kathmandu starts from about ₹1,61,000 or US$1,890 per person. Family-run lodges such as Mango Tree Lodge offer simpler cottages and experienced guides at a fraction of the cost.
Our 3-night Bardia safari from Nepalgunj, with a full-day jeep safari, a full-day walk and park fees, starts from about ₹22,000 or US$260 per person, twin sharing. A 6-night trip combining Bardia and Shuklaphanta starts from about ₹48,000. Park entry for foreigners has been NPR 1,500 per day plus VAT, with lower rates for SAARC nationals; check current status before you travel.
A three-night safari, day by day
Most of our guests arrive from Nepalgunj or Lucknow and spend three nights at Thakurdwara. This is how the days usually run between February and May; in October and November we often swap the walking day for a river float, because the grass is still too tall for good views on foot.
- Day 1: drive from Nepalgunj, about 95 km in 2.5–3 hours, lunch at the lodge, then an afternoon walk to the crocodile breeding centre near the park headquarters and a sunset stop on the Karnali floodplain
- Day 2: full-day jeep safari from about 6:30 am to 4 pm, with a packed lunch at a watchpoint over the Geruwa channel and slow drives through grasslands such as Baghaura and Lamkauli
- Day 3: full-day walking safari with two licensed guides, alternating short walks with long waits at hides by the Khauraha or Orai streams, or a 4–6 hour river float for dolphins and gharial
- Day 4: early bird walk in a buffer-zone community forest or a visit to a Tharu village, then the drive back to Nepalgunj for an afternoon flight to Kathmandu
Safety and safari etiquette
Tigers rarely threaten people on foot in a guided group. The real risks on walks come from greater one-horned rhinos, wild elephants and sloth bears, which can charge if surprised. Guides brief you before every walk.
Conflict is a daily reality for the villages around the park, where people collect grass and firewood in the buffer zone and crops are raided by elephants. Attacks on villagers by tigers and elephants have been reported in recent years, and this is why walking inside the park is only allowed with licensed guides. Treat the rules below as fixed, not optional.
- Wear green, khaki, brown or grey; avoid white, red and bright colours
- Stay close together and silent on walks; no talking at watchpoints
- Follow guide instructions immediately, especially near rhinos and elephants
- Never get out of the jeep except at designated points
- No flash photography of animals, and no playback of calls
- Keep a respectful distance from any tiger, even if it seems relaxed
- Carry water, sunscreen and a hat; heat is a bigger risk than wildlife
- Take all rubbish back to the lodge
Other wildlife you will see
A day in Bardia is rarely empty even without a tiger. Spotted deer, hog deer, barking deer and swamp deer graze the grasslands, langur and rhesus monkeys fill the trees, and wild boar root along the trails. Rhinos, moved here from Chitwan from 1986, live mainly in the Babai valley and the Karnali floodplain, and Bardia has one of Nepal's largest wild elephant populations, including big tuskers.
On the Karnali, look for Ganges river dolphins, mugger crocodiles, gharial and smooth-coated otters. More than 400 bird species have been recorded, from great hornbill and Bengal florican to many raptors and kingfishers. Bring binoculars; they will be in use all day.
Places in this guide
Questions travellers ask
What are the chances of seeing a tiger in Bardia?
They depend on season and time spent. Between February and May, guests on three- or four-night stays with full-day jeep and walking safaris often see at least one tiger. From October to January the odds are lower. No sighting can be guaranteed, but Bardia's low visitor numbers give genuine chances.
How many tigers are in Bardia National Park in 2026?
The 2026 national tiger census counted 112 tigers in Bardia, down from 125 in 2022. It was the only Nepali park where numbers fell; neighbouring Banke rose to 51. Nepal's total reached 429. Census figures are estimates based on camera traps and are updated roughly every four years.
Is it better to see tigers on foot or by jeep in Bardia?
Both have advantages. Jeeps cover more ground and suit families and photographers with heavy lenses. Walking safaris let you track tigers quietly and sit at hides by water, which many guests find more exciting, though sightings are often brief. A mix of one full jeep day and one walking day works best.
What is the best month for a Bardia tiger safari?
April and May give the best odds, because grassland has been cut and tigers gather at the remaining water. They are also very hot, often 38–42 °C. February and March balance comfort and sightings. Avoid late June to mid-September, when the monsoon floods the park and many lodges close.
How many nights should I spend in Bardia for tigers?
At least three nights, giving two full days in the park. Four or five nights noticeably improve your chances and allow a river float or a trip to the Babai valley. One-night visits are not worth the journey from Kathmandu if seeing a tiger is your aim.
Are walking safaris in Bardia dangerous?
They are safe with experienced licensed guides and a disciplined group, as park rules require. The main risks are surprise encounters with rhinos, elephants or sloth bears. Guides choose routes carefully and brief you on what to do. We do not take children under 12 on full-day walks.
Can I photograph tigers in Bardia?
Yes, if you are lucky. Sightings are often at a distance across rivers or grassland, so a 300–600 mm lens helps. Jeeps allow steadier shooting with bean bags. Flash and calling animals are not allowed. Many of the best Bardia images come from long, patient waits at river crossings.
How much does a tiger safari in Bardia cost?
From about ₹22,000 or US$260 per person for three nights at a mid-range lodge with safaris and park fees, starting in Nepalgunj. A luxury four-night stay at Tiger Tops Karnali Lodge with flights from Kathmandu starts from about ₹1,61,000. Flights to Nepalgunj and tips are usually extra.
Why did Bardia's tiger numbers fall?
Officials and conservationists have pointed to tigers dispersing into Banke National Park, which saw its count double, and to pressure along park edges, including human-wildlife conflict and habitat loss. The decline from 125 to 112 is modest, and Bardia remains one of Nepal's best tiger habitats.
