A warm night last night. I feel rested so I must have slept. A tap at my door at 6 am, cup of tea at 6:20 then elephant safari into the forest at 6:30. Three of us on the beast in a chair with the "driver" sitting with his legs either side of the elephants ears. Off we go into the very damp and misty day. Down a very steep bank of at least 45 degrees. A slow rocking quite relaxing journey. Quite quickly and within 300 metres of the lodge we see a rhino and what do we do but walk towards it to get some good photos. We trudge round the 18 inch wide elephant tracks, all the time it reaches out with its trunk and eats and eats and eats. Grass, shrubs and trees just get gobbled up at the rate of 150 kg a day we are told later. At one point our path is blocked by a small tree. At the driver's command our path is made clear, the elephant just breaks down the 5metre high tree and off we go again. We spot another rhino this one much smaller 6 to 7 years old. Yes and we walk towards it to about 30 metres. The elephant is turned round so we can each get good photos. There are lots of birds and very weird sounds. The only other animals we see on the 135 minute trek are a pair of deer. Then the bare footed driver just gets off the elephant to go to the loo 50 yards behind us. He shows us tiger tracks, they have seen the tigers 3 times here in the last year during the elephant safaris. No such sighting today I am pleased to say. Then its our time to drive the elephant. He moves to the back & I sit astride its head just behind its ears. The driver gets off and gives verbal commands from behind. The skin is so warm to the touch and very bristly with short black hairs. You feel in a very safe and commanding position. Swapping drivers is however a little tricky.
And so to breakfast and on to an elephant teach-in at 10 am. We walk to where the same elephant is tethered by a rope hoop to its back right leg. We follow it to a circle of wooden benches 400 metres away down a steep hill through a pond in a stream up the other side. The guide tells us a few facts, then each of the 5 of us get the chance to hand feed a large capsule of elephant grass about 8 inches long and as thick as my ankle. We observe, and then are able to climb on to its head by putting our right foot about waist high onto its trunk and yanking yourself up using its ears to hold on to. Dead easy. Then they needed a volunteer to go up on its head again for the ride back to its stables, yes it was me again. I did hang on for dear life down the steep bank. As we went through the water 100's of tiny frogs jumped out of the way. A little tricky getting off but the command was given for it too kneel, then I could just slid down to the ground. Much more comfortable than riding in the chair.
And so to the afternoon session walking in the forest looking for rhino on foot with the guide, who informed us that his large bamboo stick shoved in the rhino's sensitive mouth would deter it from hurting us. The rest of it is built like a horned tank. The risk assessment was if one of them charged at us run in a zigzag line to the nearest big tree. As fast as you can (bearing in mind its top speed is 45 kph and it weights 3 tons). Yes we did see a rhino 50 yards away. It would prefer to come towards us away from the two elephants with some Germans on. There was a large pond between us & the rhino. The animal paused momentarily during its jogging through the water towards us. Time for a quick photo and I was off. Seeing one rhino in the wild was enough for me but the guide continued to look. Only a small deer was seen, plus leeches that somehow stuck to the stomach of the girl in our group of three. Fortunately I did not pick any up. The girl was a little perturbed when bleeding started after the small 15 mm x 2 mm leech was removed.
On return to the lodge I called Lesley to say she could now reduce my life insurance. Dark by about 6, still warm. A shower was called for and hey-presto the water was warm. The jungle/elephant clothes have gone into quarantine to be sorted out at home.
Our guide gave a slide show on the wild life of the national park. Very interesting. My stay at the Machan Paradise, Chitwan National Park, has been very enjoyable. All the staff are most friendly and very very keen to help you. A good last night chatting to other guests.
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