Wildlife and birdwatching photography tour

With an everchanging landscape and a country of natural beauty, Nepal has remained a suitable home for birds of several species for centuries. A perfect climate, dense forests, and diverse habitats attract birds and animals from all around the globe to Nepal. Here you will find endangered grassland, wetland, and forest birds. You can expect to see Bengal Florican, Great Hornbill, Large Warble, Deep-blue Kingfisher, etc. These birds have been a major part of the region’s fauna for a long time.

Meanwhile, touring the Chitwan National Park will offer a glimpse of birds like the Red-vented bulbul, lesser adjutant, black drongo, and many others. However, with time, it has become hard to spot these birds due to their decreasing numbers. Climate change and habitat loss due to irrational decisions from humans are the major factors affecting them. So, it is important to follow responsible tourism and watch these birds for a safe distance without harming them and their habitat.

Capture Action and Emotion

Wildlife photos are often more pleasing when captured in action. Photos captured while the animals are in movement enhance the overall view. You can look for birds flying, predators hunting, or animals interacting. However, for a perfect shot, you might want to consider taking burst or continuous shots.

Stay Patient

While capturing wildlife through a lens, staying patient is an important thing you need to master. Animals in the dense forests often try to stay undisturbed and rarely move around, making it hard to spot them. Despite that, if you spot one, waiting for a perfect shot will further test your patience. You might have to spend hours in the same spot to look for the desired click.

Shoot In The Right Light

Lighting plays a crucial role in enhancing the pictures. Wildlife photos often look great during the early morning or the evening. With sunlight creating a golden hue, taking a perfect shot gets easier at this time of the day. Similarly, golden hours are also an ideal time for animals to roam around. This makes it far easier for you to spot rare and endangered species.

Respect Wildlife and Their Habitat

Wildlife in the forest generally prefer an undisturbed environment. Although they are not capable of conveying messages to human, we must always respect their space. While taking their pictures, it is important not to interfere with them and observe them from a distance. Moreover, we must always follow the key principle of leaving no trace behind to keep their habitat safe for their survival.

Unpredictable Weather

With varying landscapes, the weather in Nepal keeps changing quite frequently. Unpredictable rain and speedy winds are quite common in the forest areas where most wild animals are found. These uncertain weather changes can disturb wildlife and the lens while taking pictures. The paths leading to the animal habitats might also get slippery due to rain, making it further more challenging for photographers.

Safety Concerns

Roaming in the wild forest without proper guidance is quite risky. Encounters with animals like tigers, rhinoceros, and venomous snakes are quite common in the deep forest. Facing them with a calm mind can be challenging without proper knowledge of these animals. Similarly, the sloppy trails make photography even more dangerous. There is always a risk of falling off a cliff and getting severely injured.

Managing Low Light

Managing low light can be a difficult task during wildlife photography. The forest where most animals and birds are found is mostly covered with large trees creating a shadow over the area. Due to this, capturing a desired image becomes impossible for photographers.

Dense Vegetation

As mentioned earlier, the most photogenic wild animals are mostly found in deep forests. The dense vegetation covering the landscape creates a perfect yet challenging environment for photography. Navigating through this area while also looking for animal movements gets quite difficult. You must always stay aware of your surroundings and pay attention to the sounds for a perfect shot.

Adjusting to Dynamic Wildlife Movements

Wildlife movements are hard to predict. Most animals often exhibit fluctuating behavior according to their surroundings. Adapting to their changing behavior and movement patterns can be hard for a photographer. You will need to reflect quickly, make keen observations, and develop sharp skills. Doing this is hard for a beginner or an intermediate photographer, which ruins the entire experience.

Wildlife and birdwatching tours in Nepal are purely a great experience. However, for an enhanced experience and perfect shots on your lenses, you will need to prepare thoroughly. The first thing you will need to do is prepare a list of animals you wish to see and select the locations accordingly. After you have your list, try and understand the behavior of these animals through proper research.

Familiarize yourself with their habitat, response to human interaction, and, most importantly, their activity pattern. Now, you can start packing all the necessary gear, including your camera, lenses, tripod, proper clothing, sturdy footwear, etc. Additionally, pack some extra batteries for your camera and a first aid kit for emergencies.

A jeep safari inside Chitwan National Park is a truly unforgettable experience. As you travel through the park’s dense forest and grasslands, various animals and birds make an appearance. You might see famous one-horned rhinoceros, colorful kingfishers, and soaring eagles. You may also encounter deer, wild boars, and even the Bengal tiger if you are lucky enough.

Watching these animals up close is quite an adventurous yet exciting experience. In addition to large animals, Chitwan National Park is rich in smaller ones, too. Monkeys are quite common, while crocodiles may appear to be lounging by the riverbanks. As a home of several creatures, the park is full of surprises. All in all, the park is a heaven for animal lovers offering a chance to witness a wide range of wildlife.

Cameras and Lenses

• DSLR or Mirrorless Camera with fast autofocus and high burst rate (e.g., Canon R5, Sony A1, Nikon Z9).
• Telephoto Lens (300mm, 400mm, or 600mm focal length).
• Wide-angle Lens.
• Macro Lens.

Tripods and Supports

• Sturdy Tripod with a gimbal head for stability and smooth tracking.
• Monopod for mobility in rugged terrains.
• Bean Bag for stabilization when shooting from vehicles.

Accessories

• Spare Batteries and Memory Cards (high capacity and fast speed).
• External Flash with a diffuser for low-light conditions.
• Camera Rain Cover for protection against weather elements.
• Polarizing Filter to reduce glare and enhance colors.

Clothing and Gear for Comfort

• Camouflage Clothing or neutral colors.
• Weatherproof Jacket and Pants.
• Lightweight Hiking Boots.
• Hat and Sunglasses for sun protection.

Carrying and Storage

• Padded Camera Backpack for easy transport and organization.
• Dry Bags for additional waterproofing.
• Lens Cleaning Kit to keep gear dust-free.

Tech and Navigation

• GPS Device or Smartphone with mapping apps for navigation.
• Field Guide Apps for identifying species.

Optional Equipment

• Remote Shutter Release for minimizing camera shake.
• Teleconverters for extending lens focal length.
• Binoculars for scouting subjects before photographing.
• Portable Power Bank for charging devices on the go.