Friday, June 1, Sauraha, Chitwan National Park

One-horned Rhino

Les and elephant. Les is on the right.

Sarah and Michelle (from South Africa) having fun

Birds taken from the dugout canoe

Crocodile

Spotted Deer

Young elephant at the breeding centre

An early morning elephant ride took us through grassland and wetland habitat in hopes of seeing a one-horned rhino. It is an endangered species and there are only 503 of them in Chitwan,  so luck would have to be on our side. It was.  We came upon a family of three wallowing in a mud hole. Because we were on elephants, we were able to approach to within five metres of them.

Upon returning to our base, we came across elephants being washed in the river. Sarah volunteered to help. This consisted of getting on the elephants back while the mahout (driver) instructed the elephant to spray water back over its head on to the passengers. It’s hard to tell who had more fun, the elephant or the riders.  A couple of days earlier Nicki and Natalie had enjoyed the same experience. In fact almost all the sites that Sarah and Les visited, Nicki and Natalie had also seen.

Afternoon activities started with a dugout canoe ride. Our guide was an excellent ornithologist and naturalist. He pointed out several species included the roller bird, egret, grey headed fish hawk and several kingfishers. The highlight was three sightings of crocodiles that were basking or laying in wait for prey along the river banks. After getting out of the canoe, we walked into the Sel forest where we came upon other beautiful bird species including the Hoopoe.  We also came across a large herd of spotted deer that was quite spectacular. The last stop was the elephant breeding centre. There were quite a few young, including a pair of twins.