Chitwan, October 20
Chitwan’s forests, greenery and natural surroundings are something that captivates tourists.
Riding through the forest on an elephant’s back is a different kind of experience for them. Most of the foreign tourists who came today to experience an elephant safari appeared to be Chinese.
Elephant safaris, a part of Chitwan’s tourism, bring tourists closer to the forest’s natural beauty.
Jeep safaris in Chitwan National Park are suspended when the monsoon begins. Rain damages the forest tracks, floods streams and rivers and brings down trees, making it difficult to run safari routes. Although jeep safaris stay closed for the three monsoon months, jungle walks continue to operate. Elephant and jeep safaris have continued to operate in the buffer zone outside the park and in community forests.
This year too, jeep safaris inside Chitwan National Park, closed because of the monsoon, resumed from the third week of September.
More than 200,000 domestic and foreign tourists visit Chitwan National Park every year. Most foreign visitors to the park enjoy the jeep safari, and the attraction for Nepali tourists is just as strong. The park collects millions of rupees in revenue from jeep safaris every year.
Elephant safaris are also a well-known attraction in Chitwan’s tourism. However, elephant safaris are not operated inside the park. Those run in the buffer zone and community forests offer tourists another kind of forest experience.
As tourism activity expands, equal importance needs to be given to proper care of the elephants, animal welfare and wildlife-friendly tourism practices.
A jungle safari is not only a form of entertainment. It is also a chance to understand the relationship between Chitwan’s natural heritage and tourism. If tourism can be managed in an orderly way while protecting the natural environment, Chitwan’s forests will keep attracting tourists.
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