Located in Kanchanpur District in the south-west of Nepal, this park started out as a hunting reserve in 1969 and was designated a wildlife reserve in 1976. Later, the protected area was increased and declared a national park in 2017.
With an area of 305 sq. km. at present, these grasslands and forests are home to several animals and plants. The grasslands cover about a quarter of the park and the rest is occupied by thick and old forests. The sub-tropical jungle, vast grasslands and intermittent waterholes with scattered marsh vegetation is ideal for game-viewing. Countless animals are continually in motion in the river, wetland, lake, pond, and stream of this national park.
The swamp deer, wild elephants, jackal, leopards, and tigers are common here. Other inhabitants of the region are nilgai, wild boars, langurs, cobra, python, monitor lizard, and the Great one-horned rhinoceros, among others. For bird-watching tours, this park is an ideal choice in Nepal. A total of 423 bird species have been recorded. Herons, storks, kingfishers, flycatchers, the endangered Bengal Florican, yellow-eyed babbler, grey-headed eagle, hornbills, cormorants, ruby-cheeked sunbird, migratory birds, and egrets that vie for fish and algae – the fauna found here are probably endless!
Suklaphanta National Park is a less-explored, less-frequented gem of a destination, but it is an excellent choice for safari. The grassland, savannah, and forest ecosystem supports a wide range of bio-diversity. This protected region is one of the best-conserved examples in the world. Shuklaphanta is accessible by road as well as air from the capital Kathmandu. The summers are humid, and the best season to visit is from mid-autumn to early spring.
