Tiger Tops Tharu Lodge

We spent a couple of nights at Tiger Tops after both trekking and rafting in Nepal and it was a really great addition to our itinerary. The lodge is very relaxing and peaceful - and there are plenty of activities to choose from. We also changed our mind in the middle of our stay and the staff were very flexible and helpful in making that happen for us. Excellent food - and a lovely area to sit and chat with fellow guests in the middle of the main area. Spacious room - and very comfortable bed. Thank you all!

Tiger Tops delivered on every dimension for us. The lodge is typical of safari lodges - rustic but with extraordinary service. The food is definitely a differentiator, as it's truly excellent, including total flexibility if you need to tailor things a bit based on preferences, kids, upset stomach, etc. From a safari perspective, we had an excellent guide and driver (Sam). The animal gods were with us, as we had excellent viewing in the park, including a high-quality tiger encounter with super clear viewing along the river. Other animals included an Indian Bison, gharial, yellow crocodile, rhinos, peacocks, monkeys, mongoose, martins, and a thousand deer. The highlight, however, even considering the tiger spotting, was definitely the elephant walk. After tracking tigers and rhinos for two days, you suddenly find yourself walking in the same heavy jungle where you watched a rhino disappear 10 feet from you and you knew a tiger was watching you without you being able to see it! With an elephant in front and an elephant behind, somehow you feel safe! We encountered two rhinos at close distance. It was pretty incredible - the elephants drew in close and came up along side the kids and starting making humming noises to establish their dominance. It was probably the most amazing animal experience I've ever had (which includes 3 trips to Africa). Tiger Tops is great value in an extraordinary part of the world.

Arriving in September we had the whole lodge to our selves. However, it was extremely hot and the pool was not open which was a disappointment. Other than that, everything else was grand. Food exceptional and plentiful. Elephant walk and sunset on the river banks, jeep safari, town walk, elephant sandwich making led all by our personal guide and naturalist- Gan. Service was great. Rooms very comfortable. We saw mongoose, rhinos, monkeys, deer, boar, and numerous birds. Downside of the whole trip was driving on the bumpy main highway for 1.5 hours which unfortunately not much can be done about that.

I am sharing this review after my second stay at Tiger Tops Tharu Lodge and both stays were amazing. There is something magical about this place and it has earned a spot in my heart. This is not the same safari experience you have in Africa so managing expectations is important. Chitwan National Park has a lot of vegetation and available water so animal sightings, while plentiful, are not as easy as in Africa. The lodge rooms are large and very comfortable but rustic, without AC or TV, but you don’t miss them. The food is plentiful and delicious, served homestyle. The staff are fantastic, warm, attentive and very accommodating with food allergies. The elephant sandwich making and late afternoon elephant walk/sundowner are a must. Words can’t describe the thrill of encountering a momma rhino and baby, on foot, under the protection of two majestic elephants. The jungle jeep safari is thrilling and Sam is a wonderful guide, making sure we spotted almost every animal except the shy tiger and sloth bear, even though he tried very hard to locate them. He does not use a radio for animal spotting like they do on an African safari but instead relies on the warning calls of jungle animals and he seems to know them all. This knowledge netted two leopard spotting, one on each stay. I am honestly still amazed he was able to find one lazy leopard napping on a fallen tree which was covered in thick vegetation. Even though I knew where it was I still had trouble finding it again each time with binoculars. When we returned from the jungle safari we were greeted with warm smiles an ice cold towel and a delicious cold drink. Make sure to take a refreshing swim in the pool to cool down before you enjoy snacks and then a delicious dinner in the lodge.

We had a fantastic visit. We visited in mid-March and I think we picked the perfect time. The temps were starting to ramp up in the afternoon but the mosquitoes weren’t much of an issue at all. Our guide Sam was wonderful, ensuring our elephant walk, park walk and Jeep tour of the park were thorough. We saw almost all of the animals mentioned, however I had to settle on only hearing two leopards kill a deer and then argue over who was going to get the best parts. The staff at the resort were great and the lodge rooms were large and really very comfortable. I would recommend this experience to families with older children and couples….so much adventure for a very affordable price. Don’t miss the sunset elephant walk or the opportunity to feed the elephants. We learned a lot!

Outstanding lodge. Staff were attentive to our every need. Food and service was excellent. The elephant camp is a must visit as well as sundown elephant walk and river side cocktails. Hang out at the main lodge by the fire at night.