The Rhino Residency Resort

“We could not hope for a better experience”

I spent some time looking for a place in Chitwan where I could have a great experience without supporting elephant captivity. Hotel Rhino Land is one of the few that doesn’t organize elephant rides and stands against it, which was very important to me. I contacted Raja via WhatsApp, and he offere… more

I spent some time looking for a place in Chitwan where I could have a great experience without supporting elephant captivity. Hotel Rhino Land is one of the few that doesn’t organize elephant rides and stands against it, which was very important to me. I contacted Raja via WhatsApp, and he offered me a variety of activities at a fair price, organizing everything from Kathmandu. We arrived in Chitwan at 3 PM, and Raja took us for a ride around the village. We visited the baby rhinos together and then had the chance to watch the sunset from the riverbank, where we saw crocodiles and elephants. On the first day, we went on a full-day safari walk with B and Ramzy, two amazing, dedicated guides. They did everything they could to find the animals, and we were fortunate to see a rhino very close. I appreciated that for lunch they chose a quiet spot by a small lake instead of a crowded tower with ten other tourists. On the second day, we had a full-day jeep safari, which Raja made private, so it was just the three of us in the jeep instead of twelve, without paying more than what other companies had offered. This made a significant difference. Guide B and the driver worked well together and formed an amazing team following bear and tiger footprints. Each time we spotted an animal, they were almost more excited than we were! At the end of the day, we drove to a tower to spend the night. There are different towers, and I think Raja secured us a spot in the best one since it was near the river. We watched animals coming to the river throughout the night. The accommodation was better than many tea houses. B even woke us up in the middle of the night to catch sight of more wildlife. It was truly a memorable experience! In the morning, we returned to the hotel, where breakfast was waiting for us before we boarded the bus. Raja made everything very smooth; he even coordinated with our mountain guide to manage our bus departure from Chitwan. He came to pick us up at the bus park and dropped us off, even though another driver was already assigned to do so. He shared a wealth of knowledge about the jungle, having been a guide for many years. Having the same guide for all our activities was a real plus, especially with Mr. B, who couldn’t be more dedicated. He deeply loves his job and animals, and as far as I know, he is the best guide I have ever had (and this wasn’t my first trip or safari).

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