Kirthar National Park is Pakistan's second-oldest national park, established in 1974, and Sindh's main refuge for the rare Sindh ibex, along with urial, chinkara and leopard. It spans 3,087 sq km across Jamshoro and Dadu districts, and most visitors base a trip around one of its two managed centres, Karchat or Khar. Karchat is the main one, reached by a rough track off the M-9 motorway near Nooriabad and best visited between November and February, when days are warm rather than fierce.
The park also contains Ranikot Fort, and driving to either destination overlaps for much of the route from Karachi. This guide is about the park as a whole: getting in, the wildlife you can realistically expect to see, the Karchat cottages, and the permission and camping rules that apply.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Size | 3,087 sq km |
| Established | 1974, Pakistan's second national park |
| Main wildlife | Sindh ibex, urial, chinkara, leopard, striped hyena |
| Entrances | Karchat (via Nooriabad, needs 4x4) and Khar (paved road from Karachi's Northern Bypass) |
| Accommodation | Cottages at Karchat and Khar, or your own tent |
| Weather | Mild winters (highs in the mid 20s °C), very hot May and June (around 40 °C) |
| Best months | November to February |
Getting into the park
Kirthar has two main entrances, and they suit different kinds of visits. The Khar entrance connects to Karachi's Northern Bypass (M-10) by a paved road and doesn't need a high-clearance vehicle, which makes it the easier way in for a first visit. The Karchat entrance branches off near Nooriabad and is reached over unpaved terrain, for which a 4x4 is effectively required.
Whichever entrance you use, the Sindh Wildlife Department, which manages the park, recommends getting a non-objection letter before your visit, particularly if you're not travelling with an organised tour, since this can help avoid delays at checkpoints inside the park. These can generally be arranged same-day or next-day through the department's offices in Karachi or Hyderabad, so it's worth requesting one a little ahead of your trip rather than on the morning you leave.
Wildlife: what you're actually likely to see
The park's best-known resident is the Sindh ibex, a wild goat found in this part of the world and rare enough that its presence here is part of why the park exists. Urial, a wild sheep, and chinkara gazelle are also present and somewhat more commonly spotted than the ibex. Leopards and striped hyenas live in the park too, but sightings of either are uncommon; most day visitors leave having seen ibex, urial or chinkara rather than a predator.
A local guide improves your odds considerably, since they know the areas and times of day animals are more likely to be near water or visible on open ground, typically early morning or late afternoon rather than the heat of midday.
The Karchat cottages
Karchat lies in the southern part of the park, in Jamshoro district. The track to it leaves the M-9 (the Karachi to Hyderabad motorway, still often called the Super Highway) near Nooriabad, and it is unpaved most of the way, so it needs a 4x4. Karchat is the park's main visitor centre, with cottages offering basic facilities and a standby generator for when the grid supply drops. Khar has a smaller set of cottages with similarly basic facilities. Both are run by the Sindh Wildlife Department, and it's worth contacting them ahead of a visit to confirm current rates and availability rather than assuming a room will be free on arrival, since the park sees a steady flow of visitors, especially in the cooler months.
Camping in the park
Bringing your own tent and camping is permitted across the park, which suits visitors who want more flexibility than the cottages allow or are travelling in a larger group than the rooms can accommodate. As with the cottages, water and supplies should be brought in rather than relied on locally, and a 4x4 is the sensible choice if you're heading beyond the immediate area around Khar's paved access road.
Kirthar National Park weather and the best time to visit
There is no public weather station inside the park, so the nearest long-run guide is Hyderabad, on the plains east of it. NOAA's 1991 to 2020 averages for Hyderabad give daytime highs of about 24 °C in January and 26 °C in December, with nights around 11 to 13 °C; about 34 °C in March; and 40 to 41 °C in May and June. Almost all the year's rain falls from June to September, with July and August the wettest months. The Kirthar hills run a little cooler than the plains, and nights at Karchat in winter can feel cold, so bring a warm layer.
In practice, November to February is the comfortable window for walking and driving the tracks, with October and March workable if you start early. April to June is extremely hot. The July to August monsoon adds the complication of rain turning unpaved tracks to mud, which is a real problem given how much of the park depends on those tracks for access. For a live forecast before you go, check Hyderabad or Nooriabad, and allow for the hills being slightly cooler.
Is it safe to visit?
Kirthar National Park lies across Jamshoro and Dadu districts. Its northern reaches, in Dadu district, fall within the part of Sindh north of Nawabshah that the UK currently advises against all but essential travel to; the visitor centres at Karchat and Khar are in the southern part, well south of Nawabshah. The park is a long-established, actively managed destination, with a functioning wildlife department, visitor cottages and a regular flow of Pakistani tourists and school or university groups, particularly in the cooler season. If you hold a foreign passport, check current advice before travelling, since it can affect your travel insurance, and keep an eye on recent local news out of the two districts either way.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to visit Kirthar National Park?
There's no entrance fee, but a non-objection letter from the Sindh Wildlife Department is strongly recommended, especially if you're not with an organised tour. These can usually be arranged same-day or next-day from their Karachi or Hyderabad offices.
Which entrance to Kirthar National Park is easier to reach?
Khar, which connects to Karachi's Northern Bypass by a paved road and doesn't need a 4x4. Karchat, the main centre, is reached over unpaved terrain from near Nooriabad and does need a high-clearance vehicle.
What wildlife can I expect to see at Kirthar National Park?
Sindh ibex, urial and chinkara gazelle are the animals most visitors actually spot, generally in the early morning or late afternoon. Leopards and striped hyenas are present but rarely seen.
What is the weather like at Kirthar National Park?
Hot for most of the year. Using Hyderabad's averages as a guide, winter highs are in the mid 20s °C and May and June reach about 40 °C, with most rain in July and August. Visit between November and February.
Where is Karchat?
Karchat is the main visitor centre of Kirthar National Park, in Jamshoro district. It is reached by an unpaved track that leaves the M-9 motorway near Nooriabad, and a 4x4 is needed.
Is Kirthar National Park safe to visit?
Its northern part, in Dadu district, falls within the area of Sindh the UK advises against all but essential travel to, while Karchat and Khar lie further south. It remains an actively visited, managed park; check current advice and recent local news before travelling.
