KATHMANDU, JUNE 23

Jeep safari services inside Chitwan National Park (CNP) will be suspended starting June 29 in anticipation of the monsoon season.

The annual closure occurs because vehicles find it difficult to operate within the park during the rainy months, as road conditions deteriorate due to flooding, landslides, and thick vegetation.

According to park authorities, the safari is typically reopened in mid-September when the monsoon subsides and the festival season begins. However, if the monsoon prolongs, the reopening may also be delayed accordingly.

CNP Information Officer Avinash Thapamagar said that the jungle safari will resume only after roads damaged during the monsoon are repaired. While safaris within the core park area will be halted, jeep safaris in the buffer zone's community forests will continue as usual.

Other tourism activities such as trekking within the reserve and visits to the crocodile breeding center will also continue throughout the monsoon.

CNP Chief Conservation Officer Dr. Ganesh Pant noted that it is standard practice around the world to close safaris in national parks during monsoon months. 'This seasonal closure ensures that wildlife is not disturbed, allowing animals to move and live more freely,' he said.

During the monsoon, the park faces various challenges including swollen rivers, flooding, fallen trees, and slippery, muddy roads. Additionally, increased grass and shrub growth makes it harder to spot wildlife.

Currently, 32 jeeps operate from Sauraha, 10 from Kasara, seven from Meghauli, and five from Amaltari, providing jungle safari services to tourists.