Safari Marathon

Our first full day in Chitwan - march 17 Monday

Remember the schedule?  The 9:00 am float down the river in a dugout canoe with a German couple, along with our handlers, was relaxing (we were driven upstream) and productive: herons and storks and cormorants, darters and bee-eaters and mini kingfishers-bright aqua with red heads; lazy crocodiles lining the river banks; spotted deer grazing. Our grand finale, a rhino after we debarked.

The jeep safari at 12:30 turned into a marathon. The first hour on the weaving rutted road, the kapok trees with their red spiky flowers and the vines and creepers which cling and curl around any upright living thing mesmerized us. By the third hour we were so done, in accord with our 7 seat mates. Thankfully we were not in an oxcart and seats are cushioned. Whenever our vigilant guide spotted a moving object he rapped on the roof and we slammed to a stop. We saw, in order; a chicken, a huge turtle, spotted deer, a wild boar and 2 more on our return trip. They are covered with bristles and I bet their babies aren't even cute. 

The midway stop for all jeep safaris is a government-sponsored Gharial breeding facility which consists of a series of cement pools the same color as the endangered grey thin-nosed crocodiles. Signs state the date they are born, from babies to older guys 4,5,6-year olds. They look bored but maybe they always look that way. Mostly they seem asleep.

Happy to be released ourselves, we reach the end of the trail at sunset, a quick boat ride over the river and home to the lodge and a beer and dinner and bed. Slept well.