My Wildlife Photography Volunteering Adventure in Nepal
Last Updated: September 29, 2025
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G'day, I'm Marie, from sunny Sydney, Australia. This October, I finally ticked off something that had been sitting on my bucket list for years — travelling to Nepal to volunteer as a wildlife photographer. I joined a conservation project in Chitwan National Park, one of Asia's richest wildlife sanctuaries, and spent weeks capturing life in the wild, from the smallest kingfisher to the mightiest rhino.
I swapped my comfy city shoes for boots, packed my camera gear, and set out with local guides and conservationists who know the jungle like the back of their hand. Each day started before sunrise, the air thick with mist and birdsong, and ended with memory cards full of magic.
Out in Chitwan, I photographed rhinos moving like ancient grey tanks through the tall elephant grass, crocodiles basking along the Rapti River, and wild elephants ambling through the sal forests. One morning, I spotted tiger pugmarks in the damp earth — massive prints that made my heart race. No tiger sighting that day, but the thrill of knowing it was close was enough to give me goosebumps.
At Bishazari Lake, the wetlands shimmered with life — flocks of painted storks, egrets, and woolly-necked storks feeding in the shallows. I spent hours there, crouched in the reeds, trying to capture that perfect moment when a stork-billed kingfisher dove for its prey. Down at Batuli Lake, I caught a mugger crocodile sliding silently into the water — blink and you'd miss it. The light around dusk there is unreal — soft gold spilling over the water, everything calm except the distant calls of peacocks and parakeets.
My favourite days were in Madi and Kamla Lake areas — quieter, wilder corners where fewer tourists go. That's where I photographed a mother rhino with her calf, grazing peacefully while a cloud of egrets danced around them. I even spotted a sloth bear scratching its back against a termite mound — pure comedy gold through the lens. One night, our camera traps caught a fishing cat prowling by the water — sleek, rare, and absolutely stunning.
But it wasn't just about the wildlife. The Tharu communities living near the park welcomed us like family. They shared meals of roti and buffalo milk chai, laughed at my clumsy Nepali, and told stories about life alongside rhinos and elephants. I photographed them too — their warmth, their colourful homes, their harmony with the land.
Each shot I took felt like a small piece of a bigger story — one of coexistence, respect, and resilience. The team I worked with showed me how photography can be more than art; it's a tool for conservation. Every image has the power to inspire someone to care.
By the time I left Nepal, I was dusty, mosquito-bitten, and completely enchanted. My camera was bursting with memories — peacocks fanning their tails, hornbills soaring through the canopy, sunsets over Chitwan's grasslands, and those quiet moments when the jungle seemed to hold its breath.
I came home with a full heart and a deeper respect for the wild world we share. If you ever get the chance to volunteer in Chitwan as a wildlife photographer, don't think twice — it's the experience of a lifetime. Nepal is wild, warm, and every single frame is worth the mozzie bites.
About Author
Marie Nikas
Sydney, Australia
At 54, Marie Nikas balances two very different worlds. By day, she's a seasoned cargo specialist; by passion, she's a wildlife photographer chasing light, life, and the raw beauty of nature.
Based in Sydney but often on the move, she has explored wildlife around the world. This year, Marie walked through Nepal's Chitwan jungles, tracked rhinos and elephants, and waited patiently for kingfishers to strike the perfect pose. Her lens captures more than animals — it tells stories of coexistence, conservation, and quiet wonder.
It's the wild that fuels her spirit. Marie believes it's never too late to follow your curiosity, get your boots muddy, and answer the call of the wild — one photograph at a time.
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