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Published: October 2nd 2010
Namaste from Chitwan National Park! We took a 20 minute flight from Kathmandu Airport here to Chitwan yesterday. Up and down basically. But we flew over green, green hills that looked like the Jolly Green Giant should be living there. Or perhaps the family from the Hidden Valley Ranch salad dressing commercials in the 70's. Things are quite warm here - we went from hot and muggy to HOTTER and MUGGIER - I don't think I have every felt this humid outside of an actual sauna. But our choice of hotel, I'm happy to say, was right on. Sapana Village Lodge, a Dutch guest house located right outside Chitwan Park in town of Sahaura. Charming guesthouses and great food. Elephants, goats, water buffalo and cows walking around. Quite a different experience than Kathmandu - the indiginous culture, the Theru Tribe, live in villages that we pass on the way driving to the park.
Last evening, we went on a river ride in a cut out tree canoe. A little shaky. We actually switched from one canoe to another more stable one b/c we were shaking too much. So....not that I'm wimpy about falling out of a canoe, but there are lots
Chitwan Elephants
Mike and I riding the elephant into the river for bathof $$$ worth of camera equipment involved as well as +++++ crocodiles in the water. We passed at least 8 of the little critters skimming through the water.
Canoe ride was followed by 2 hr walk in the jungle in 6-8 foot grass and ankle deep mud. The walk was preceded by instructions from the quide of what to do in event of 1) tiger sighting or 2) rhino sighting. Both opposite actions - one you run to nearest tree and climb, or hide behind (rhino) and the other one you make eye contact and slowly back away. This is important b/c we did happen upon several rhinos, one uncomforably close to us. I believe I was walking along, kind of day dreaming, listening to the dog in the distance when all of a sudden I reallized....hey.. we are in the JUNGLE...there are NO DOGS out here. That was instead a snorting Rhino. And of course I got no pictures b/c I was panicking trying to find that darn tree to climb...or find the big fat tree to hide behind. Neither of which were anywhere in sight. Those rhinos are HUGE. Seriously HUGE when you are on foot in 8
Chitwan elephants
Scrubbing down the elephant with rocks feet high of grass. Our guides did a lot of yelling, stick hitting and got the rhino to run away into a river, which I have to say - watching those massive things run is something never to forget. All of that was followed by guides using the words "dangerous situation", followed by them climbing up a wooden observation tower to have a smoke.
This morning, we got our chance to ride the elephants back into the jungle on a 3 hour safari, followed by elephant bath time. THe elephants need to be scrubbed down in the river every day, so tourists like me pay to ride them into the river, wait until they decided to sit down and roll over, then roll off with them into the river. This is followed by a 20 minute scrub down with rocks why they lie on their side and just soak it in. Tons of fun. They look like they are enjoying every minute of it. A little scary riding though, as we were at elevation about 25 feet while sitting on their backs. But all good fun. I do have pictures taken of us, though just to warn you, climbing on
and off an elephant is neither glamorous nor graceful.
Things to love about Chitwan:
1. Elephants!!! Their eyes, their ears, the way they kneel on their knees so we can climb up on their back. Yes - they are amazing creatures.
2. Sapano Village Lodge - peaceful, great rooms, amazing food
Things we are not so sure about:
1. Rhinos getting too near to my personal space.
2. Humidity... serious humidity.
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kay hopko
non-member comment
thanks
This is awesome Kim them coming and I finally got in to read this. Sounds like you and Mike are having a great time wish I was there or maybe not witht he humidity.