Down to the Nepalese Jungle

After our trekking experience and the insight into temples and architecture, we decided to see another face of Nepal and travel to the jungle. Our drive to the Chitwan National Park at the border with India is another 7 hours from Kathmandu. We arrive in a complete different world far from the snowy mountains and traffic jams of Kathmandu where houses are mainly made of mud and straw.

The lodge where we are staying is directly on the river side and looking into the park which brings a great relief from the hectic of Kathmandu.

Our first excursion is to an elephant breeding center, but the conditions in which the elephants are kept are not the best one could think of.

Elephant ride is on the program for the first half of the second day, and although it is very touristy, we manage to spot some wild animals including some rhinos in their natural environment.





After the walks, the elephants get their daily wash in the river just outside our lodge.



Our last excursion starts with a canoe tour followed by a walk in the jungle.

Our guide "Schuhman" warns us, we may not see any animal and it's not only for fun: each year a few people die including some tourists. Yet, as protection, he only carries a stick and gives us a few tips:

a) if we see a Rhino, climb a tree and if you cannot climb, hide behind the tree
b) Sloth bear, stay together in the group, since the bear will not charge on the group
c) Tiger: well, there's not much to do here, the tiger just chooses its prey...

On these reassuring words we start our walk and we are lucky enough to spot a sloth bear for a few seconds.


Here our last drink watching the sunset, before returning to Kathmandu.