The rhino exploded from the thick underbrush and launched itself off the six-foot-high stream bank. Landing with a resounding THUD, it thundered off through the forest. If I hadn't witnessed the sight with my own eyes, I would never have believed that a rhino could ever go airborne. Seeing that armor-plated hulk rocketing through the air, I was thankful that I was sitting on the back of an elephant. Given the option, I would spend all my time in Chitwan on the back of an elephant, and likewise, given a choice, I'd opt to stay at one of the expensive lodges inside the park. Although you're likely to see a rhino or two even if you stay at a lodge outside the park, your chances generally improve if you stay inside the park's boundaries.

Leave your trunk at home:
Elephants returning from safari.

Trip Facts
Difficulty rating: Easy
When to go: Fall, winter, and spring