Nepal, the second attempt (Chitwan)

Chitwan National Park

Cities are great, but for us Berlin plants, nature is certainly much more valuable. So we went to the Chitwan National Park after two days in Kathmandu. In the morning, we walked with full luggage to the bus station because there were no more taxis in KTM - the embargo showed us tourists for the first time its ugly face. Clearly relieved to be rid of our heavy backpacks, we realized quite late what kind of ancient bus we were sitting in.... anyway, the ticket had been cheap and we rocked out of the city in high spirits. We went partly very curvy out of the valley, towards the Indian border.

from the bus

from the bus

The mood was good and we were looking forward to game drives and elephant rides and speculated whether we could actually have a chance to see a tiger, although it was not the right season for it.

On the way, we made a stop and after about 5 hours we arrived in Sauraha and were picked up by the lodge with a jeep. Bumpy and with a lot of laughter, we bumped over the unpaved road to the village. Our lodge was very simple, but there was intense tinkering - a pool had to be built.

Bungalows

Our rooms, musty but okay

In advance, it had been quite difficult to decide on an accommodation. They are not so cheap, but they all have hostel charm, which is okay....only for about $40 per night, it does not have to be too bad.

Our dream of a game drive burst right after our arrival - without gasoline (the embargo), no jeeps in the national park. So all we had left was the elephant and it was clear that we couldn't see rhinos, tigers, and co, as the fantas could not go so deep into the park, but rather patrolled the edges to prevent poachers...like Officer Hathi and his crew.... :-)

We spent the afternoon with a walk through the village and honestly, anyone who thinks Sauraha ruins tourists has no idea of beautiful places like Cancun, Patong, or El Nido (and it is still limited there)

Chitwan is also known for beautiful sunsets

Elephant safari, Elephant bathing, Baby elephants

Animals are early risers and so it was clear that we had to get up very early too. The night had been too hot anyway, the mosquitoes had done a good job, so it was no problem to be ready for sunrise.

Elephant riding is not everyone's cup of tea, and even among the six of us, there was a difference of opinion. Some had fun, others found it boring and unnecessary.

We rode with the crowds and of course, animals were scarce.

I won't form an opinion on whether it is animal cruelty or not, but it felt like every family in Sauraha had a baby elephant in their backyard, and I simply enjoyed being rocked through the park in the morning. Chitwan is beautiful, even without tigers and rhinos.

Here are a few impressions:

the meager yield

Red deer

After a late breakfast, we went for elephant bathing. For a small price, we were able to go into the water with the gray boys and girls. It was a real pleasure for the mahout to give orders to the elephant, which either released us into the water for elephant pee and poop or showered us off with the same water.

My pants were torn at the end and I had to fix them half-naked in the village.

It had been a great morning and it was topped off in the evening by a visit to the breeding center. State-controlled breeding of pachyderms.....they are needed in the jungle.

the center was very poorly equipped

We had to cross the river by boat to get to the breeding center, where the animals should have their peace. On the way back, we were able to capture a few beautiful impressions of life by the river

Water buffalo

moo

In the evening, the pachyderms are brought back to the village in a single file - a day of work is done.

in the background the name of our lodge

left right left right.....Officer Hathi and his men

With one last sunset, I say goodbye to Chitwan.
The next morning we headed to Pokhara

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