Day 54 - 9th Apr 2009

Another early start for our elephant safari at 6 am, although we missed the morning tea and biscuits as we weren't up early enough. We boarded our elephant along with our dining companions and headed off into the jungle. Riding an elephant isn't really the most comfortable mode of transport but it does give you a good vantage point to see things from. Although it also means you're at about the right height for branches and stuff to hit! We saw a rhino sitting down resting and some nice birds and the usual wild boar. And then as we were getting fairly close to finishing our safari we saw a sloth bear! It also had 2 cubs with her which she was carrying on her back. It was amazing and made the whole uncomfortable elephant ride worthwhile.

After this exciting sighting it was time for breakfast. Word got round that we had seen a bear and some people were a bit jealous. Our next activity was a village visit, this meant a jeep ride out of the national park and then we walked round the village and got the jeep back. It was quite interesting seeing the houses and it was a bit like going back in time as it was all pretty basic. But to our surprise there were quite a few places with electricity and some had television. In some ways it felt like we were the show for the locals as everyone seemed to come out to look at us as we walked round. I guess it's not everyday they see 5 westerners wondering around. It was so hot that we were really glad to get back on the jeep to go back, but about 5 minutes up the road there were so,e roadworks Nepali style. This involved 1 man watching as 3 others shovelled sand off a trailer onto the road in and atempt to level out the potholes. There were 2 problems with this, firstly the blocked the whole road to do it so we had to wait in the full sun for them to finish unloading the trailer, second in the process of unloading the trailer they had manage to get the trailer stuck so we also had to wait whilst they figured out how to un jam the trailer! Needless to say we were roasting by time we got back to the lodge.

We decided we should pack all our stuff for tomorrows departure after lunch whilst it was light as there is limited lights allowed on after dark, which is about 7pm. So we are provided with a keresone lantern which is ok but doesn't really provide much light.

At about 4 pm, so it was getting less hot, we went with 2 guides to an observation tower. This was really good as it was just Adam and I with the 2 guides so we could ask whatever we wanted and they were really good at pointing things out. We saw a monkey again as we walked through the forest. The observation tower overlooked a bit of a lake and there were birds sat in the trees and some on the lake. Herons and Storks were sat in the trees and Moorhens and another pretty bird which I can't remember the name of were feeding from the lake. There were also 3 crocodiles sat around sun bathing! And as we sat watching the birds come and go and listening to the noise of the jungle a rhino came along to have a drink from the lake! It was amazing he was so big and I guess had no idea we were there as he just went about his business oblivious. Although at one point he almost looked like he was posing for pictures! It was a much more comfortable way of seeing a rhino as opposed to the elephant riding. Eventually he went away but then after only a few minutes 2 rhinos appeared, I think one was the same one. Then a couple of wild boar turned up to join the party. It ended the day nicely, so we walked back to have dinner, saying hello to the lodges baby elephant as we went past.