Two nights in Chitwan with the kids: rhinos, canoes and bird walks
A short family stay at the edge of Chitwan National Park: a canoe on the Rapti river, a jeep safari and a guided walk, with children who talked about the one-horned rhino for a month.
Tom Lindqvist
14 Apr 2026 1 min read
- When March 2026
- Length 3 days
- Travelled With family
In this story2 sections
Chitwan is the easiest wildlife trip in Nepal. We drove down from Kathmandu one morning and by late afternoon were sitting in a garden with a cold drink and a view of the jungle edge.
The best hour was the first one: a quiet canoe ride along the Rapti at dawn, mist on the water, kingfishers on every branch. Our guide pointed out a gharial lying on a sandbank and, further on, a one-horned rhinoceros grazing at the water’s edge. The children went completely silent.
The jeep safari the next day found more rhino, deer and a troop of langurs. A short guided walk in the afternoon was calmer and slower than I expected. We came home with sunburn, bug bites and a lot of questions about animals.
At a glance
- When
- March 2026
- Length
- 3 days
- Travelled
- With family
- Getting around
- Road from Kathmandu, about six hours with stops.
- Stayed
- A lodge near the park edge, with family rooms and a garden.
As Tom Lindqvist describes the trip; details may have changed.
The route
- 1
Day 1
Sauraha
The village at the park edge where most stays are based.
- 2
Day 2
Rapti river
A dugout canoe at dawn.
- 3
Day 3
Chitwan National Park
Jeep safari and a guided jungle walk.
Tom Lindqvist’s tips
- Book safari activities through your lodge with a registered guide; walking in the park alone is not allowed.
- Mornings and evenings are best for wildlife; midday is for resting.
- Pack long sleeves and insect repellent, even in the dry season.
Written by
Tom Lindqvist
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