A view of lush green Kirthar National Park during the monsoon season

Kirthar National Park, a vast rugged national park in the south-west of Sindh, is home to historic Ranikot fort. This dry arid land of seemingly endless landscapes of desert with rugged lines of hilly terrain, parallel rock hills, and twisted, stony valleys is ranked among the largest national parks of Pakistan and is home to a wide range of mammals, birds and reptile species.

Kirthar Park offers a unique and incredible landscape rich in natural beauty and cultural heritage.

Understand

A blackbuck on a hill

Sindh Ibex on a hill

Situated in the Kirthar Mountain Range, Kirthar National Park with an area of over 3,087 km² (about 1200 mi²), is home to two wildlife sanctuaries — Hub Dam Wildlife Sanctuary and Mahal Kohistan Wildlife Sanctuary — and to the Surjan, Sumbak, Eri and Hothiano game reserves.

Before the independence of Pakistan in 1947, this part of the Kirthar mountain range was used for hunting, but after research was conducted by the Forest Department in 1965, it was declared a game reserve in 1970. Later in 1972, it was declared a wildlife sanctuary, and in 1974, it finally gained its National Park status, and was also the first Pakistan park to be included in the United Nations' list of national parks around the world, in 1975. It is classified by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature as a Category II area.

Flora and fauna

Kirthar National Park is home to a variety of wildlife and the extensive mountainous terrain is an important refuge. The last leopard was shot in 1977, and although exact numbers are unavailable, its official status is "threatened". Populations of the striped hyena and desert wolf are also feared to have disappeared entirely. The desert lynx is critically threatened too. Nonetheless, many species still find their habitat here. Indian foxes, jungle cats and jackals are still common. Substantial populations of urials (a type of wild sheep), Sindh ibex (also known as Turkman wild goats) and chinkara gazelles live in the park. Indian grey mongooses, hedgehogs and porcupine are among the other larger species. In 1984, a captive breeding programme for blackbuck was initiated, with the intent to reintroduce them into the wild. Fifteen of these antelopes were brought to one of the visitors' centres from the United States for this purpose.

Climate

The climate is not noticeably different from the rest of Sindh, but it may feel a little hotter and drier in the summer season here from March to August when temperatures are often extreme. The moist months are July and August during the monsoon season when rainfall occurs and makes this desert area greenest. These summer months see flowers in bloom and more lush green vegetation. For most travellers, the best time to visit is roughly October-January, as considerably cooler weather makes these the more comfortable months for getting around.

Permits

There are no entrance fees, but a non-objection letter from the Wildlife Department is strongly recommended if you're not going through a guided tour; otherwise, be prepared to encounter security hurdles inside the park area. NOC can be applied for and obtained the same day or the next day from the Wildlife Department offices in Karachi and Hyderabad but it is recommended to apply well in advance.

Get in

Map of Kirthar National Park

Travel to Kirthar National Park generally requires a 4x4 and most of the visitors use private vehicles — usually 4x4s — to get into and see the park. There are two common entrances to the park — Karchat and Khar — both being the location of visitor centres.

The main visitor centre is at Karchat. For Karchat, the entrance is via an arterial road branching off near Nooriabad — a major truck stop — from the motorway M-9, commonly known as the Super Highway, which runs between Karachi and Hyderabad. This route takes you through some small villages to Karchat, is passable only by 4x4 because the road going to Karchat is mostly an unpaved by-way that is in places challenging to access because of the difficult terrain, and neither is the signage properly marked.

For Khar, take the Kirthar Park Rd, linked in the middle with the Karachi Northern Bypass (motorway M-10) radiates north from Karachi. Kirthar Park Rd leads to the Khar is paved and can be easily accessed even without a 4x4.

If you don't have your own 4x4, you can go by a guided tour. The Wildlife Department office in Karachi and in Hyderabad can arrange a vehicle rental (in the form of a Jeep) along with a driver as well a guide.

Most of the people also travel to Kirthar for Ranikot Fort which lies inside the boundary of the park. For Ranikot, The fort is easily accessible even without a 4x4 if you only want to see the fort. A dirt road near Sann on Indus Highway lead up-to fort.

A few tour companies in Karachi can arrange for you to hire a 4x4 vehicle along with a guide-cum-driver, which can cost between Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 35,000 for a group of two to three, inclusive of one night's stay inside the park guest house, pickup and drop off, a tour of the park, and meals. Guides can also be arrange through Sindh Kohistan Tours at +92-300-8370349, which is managed by Sindh Wildlife Dept employees.

Get around

Public transport doesn't exist inside the park. A 4x4 remains the only and common way to explore the park, so bring your own if you have one. There are several hundred kilometres of roads throughout the park, but most are transitory dirt roads and four-wheel drive is definitely needed. Road signs are poor to non-existent so even if you're bringing your own vehicle, it is strongly recommended to hire a guide from the visitor centres. In fact, you will need to go with a guide (it's mandatory because they want to protect the park and its wildlife, but also to keep an eye on you to make sure you don't wander off the beaten path). A guide for the whole day can cost you not more than Rs. 1,000.

The rangers at the visitors' centre are generally useful and helpful in planning your visit and are on hand to answer all your questions.

See

There are two visitors' centres in Kirthar National Park maintained by Sindh Wildlife Department. The main visitors' centre is in Karchat in the deep heart of the park while the other is in Khar near Hub Dam, just north of Karachi. The area surrounding Karchat centre is most visited, as the area is more mountainous and a better place for wildlife watching, and also where most of the archaeological attractions are located, while the Khar side have captive breeding animals and usually for bird watchers, as the nearby Hub Dam protected wildlife sanctuary is an important habitat of migratory birds and of reptiles during the winter.

The primary attraction of the Kirthar National Park is its beautiful landscape and famous Ranikot Fort. Kirthar is one of the largest wildlife reserves in Pakistan, and viewing the wide variety of resident wildlife is one of the main reasons visitors come here. Sightings of many different species of birds are inevitable and the Sindh ibex, urials and chinkara are common. Hyena, jungle and desert cats and wolf encounters cannot be expected unless you search very hard, since their numbers have declined.

Kirthar National Park isn't long on man-made sights — the attraction is the park itself, and of course its wildlife — but the park's human history is also worth exploring.

• Hub Dam. One of Pakistan's largest dams, is a major attraction in the south-west of the park and is a good place for water-based activities. The dam has produced a large reservoir on a river that courses through arid plains and low stony hills. Much of the reservoir's shoreline is steep and stony. 
• Koh Tarash. Prehistoric ruins. 

Giant fortifications of Ranikot Fort

• 1 Ranikot (Great Wall of Sindh). An enormous fortification built on barren hills in the extreme north-eastern part of the park. Ranikot is believed to be one of the largest forts in the world and is a major attraction in the region due to its mind boggling size: the fort’s massive 10-m-high walls of dressed sandstone are 26 km in circumference. Seen from a distance, portions of its ramparts resemble the Great Wall of China, as they dip and turn to the contours of the hills. It was built for bow-and-arrow warfare but it was later enlarged to withstand and cope with firearms. Some attribute its construction to Arabs and some to the then-Persian Governor of Sindh in 836 AD and yet other Sindh archaeologists think that some of the present structure, and especially a small inner fortress about 8 km inside the main gate, was either constructed or renovated in the early 19th century by Talpurs of Sindh. Reasons for its baffling construction in this desolate area are equally diverse and unsettled.
  The fort’s structure, encircling many hills is long, strong walls are made of gypsum and lime-cut sandstone. 
• Taung. Chaukundi style marvellous and beautiful historical tombs. 

Do

Trekking is something not to miss while here

Driving on the hilly and rugged network of unpaved dirt roads in Kirthar National Park is a true adventure, and most of the visitors to this park come precisely to enjoy this type of driving, which cannot be found elsewhere in Sindh. Expect a bumpy ride, no matter which direction you head to. The roads can even take you to the most remote parts of the park that are otherwise hard to access. For a true adventurer, driving the more remote and less maintained "primitive" dirt roads is the way to go, but come prepared and be sure to take it slow. The roads are rough, sandy, rocky, and become even worse during the monsoon season when the rain makes pathways muddy and thus more challenging, but with the right vehicle and preparation, you can enjoy the experience even in the rain.

While driving is a thrilling experience, to enter the park and not take at least a short walk would be almost foolish. After all, recreation is a major aspect of the Kirthar National Park, and visitors come here to enjoy nature. The rugged and hilly terrain of the park offers a great landscape and makes a hike a nearly mandatory activity. Hiking is possible in some parts of the park where there are marked hiking trails. The trails are of varying difficulty and length, ranging from easy strolls to steep climbs, although a guide is usually required. You can even hunt in the game reserves of Kirthar National Park, but you'll have to hire the services of a guided tour company in that case.

Eat and drink

As this is a wilderness area, most visitors eat and drink what they take with them when they enter the park. So do try to bring your own food and drinks if possible. In particular, bring plenty of water: too much is better than not enough. And since thirst is a notoriously unreliable indicator of your body's water needs, when in doubt, drink often.

An on-site lodge may arrange some food for you, but you'll have to advise them beforehand. There are a few old villages dotted inside the park, and the villagers can be helpful if you're looking for bottled water or possibly food, but beware that the food may not be very hygienic.

Sleep

You can pitch your tent in the park

Within the park there are few lodgings and facilities are basic, but the situation is slowly improving. The guesthouses maintained by Sindh Wildlife Department in both the Karchat and Khar areas can offer lodgings equipped with civilised amenities in the wilderness. If you prefer, you can pitch a camp in the park, but you'll have to bring in your own tents.

• Wildlife Guesthouse, Karchat. They have seven cottages with basic facilities and standby generators. Maintained by Sindh Wildlife. For pre-booking a room, contact Sindh Wildlife Department at +92-21-9920 4951/2. Rs 800. 
• Wildlife Guesthouse, Khar. They have five cottages with basic facilities. Maintained by Sindh Wildlife. For pre-booking a room, contact Sindh Wildlife Department at +92-21-9920 4951/2. Rs 800. 

Stay safe

The isolation, wilderness and ruggedness that makes Kirthar National Park appealing for some may also brings with it a big potential for danger — especially for those who are not well prepared. The vast majority of trips go off without a hitch, but taking a few simple, precautionary steps can make a huge difference, should the unforeseeable occur. The chances of being a victim of crime of any sort in the park are very low but not unheard of; it's usually in the form of armed robbery and unattended cars getting broken into (such as when parked in remote areas). But, if you use common sense, then you'll be fine; keep a low profile, hide valuables from view or in the boot or, better yet, leave them at home.

Temperatures here can shift dramatically during the summer months, and dressing properly is an important way to beat the elements. Just as important is water, so prepare equally no matter what your itinerary is — even for short hikes or if you don't plan on getting out of the car at all. If you're bringing your own 4x4 vehicle, make sure your tyres are properly inflated (don't forget the spare tyre!) and bring a jack. Check coolant, oil and fuel levels. If you do not already have one, consider adding a winch to pull the vehicle out of difficult situations.

And as always, when you are hiking, consider bringing a first aid kit.

Go next

• Mohenjo-daro — an ancient city not to be missed by history buffs
• Karachi — Pakistan's biggest, most diverse and cosmopolitan city
• Mothparja