Tiger Tops Tharu Lodge

We had a lovely stay at Tiger tops and the staff go above and beyond to make your stay pleasant. We are glad we stayed 4 nights so we had plenty of time enjoying the safari. We couldnt have asked for a better guide, Sam was genuine and you could tell he loves his job. The only thing I would wish for to give it a 5 star would be air condition and wifi that works in the room.

My wife and I had an incredible trip! The food and hospitality were top notch. We both have food allergies and they were accommodated very well. We also celebrated our wedding anniversary and were surprised by the staff providing for us festivities to celebrate. Our guide (and wonderful friend) was amazing! He had so much knowledge of the area from plants, to animals, to birds, as well as the local culture. He was also very focused on ethical and sustainable tourism. We saw many more animals than we ever planned. I also appreciated the ethical and sustainable approaches to tourism that the Lodge follows. This trip will be cherished for years to come. I highly recommend Tiger Tops Tharu Lodge as a destination for seeing wildlife, local culture, and experiencing a retreat from urban life. The staff are also super friendly, accessible, knowledgeable, and fun.

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.