Hello from the Bandhavgarh jungle!
Started an early morning flight from Delhi airport, Air India, having enjoyed a lovely McDonald’s before take off, lusting after t shirts in marks and spencer, accessories in Accesorize, soaps in Body Shop and all things that looked British (has it only been a week?!) … Flight very swift and lovely – driver waiting for us on arrival and 4 hour transfer along bumpy roads passing fields, villages and barren land en route …. how delighted he appeared to be at being offered a kit kat (bought at duty free) – gazed at the wrapper and gobbled it up before it melted in the intense heat of the day, bless…
Arrived at Mahua Kothi resort within the Bandhavgarh National Park, a small complex of about 12 cottages – since leaned that title for resort in english means ‘mud hut’ … Yes, they are though probably concrete clad! Rustic, quaint but with electricity so that a welcome bonus! Food nice though rather ‘long on curry’ – we have requested a sandwich lunch tomorrow (pasta for husband) and cookies so curry can be only once in a day (please!). Went on first game drive pm, a lengthy affair as only so many jeeps allowed in park at one time, registration to get in takes about 10 mins (checking for poachers apparently) then you are allocated one track (alphabetically coded a-e) to follow …. Park enormous, approx 55 tigers in total vastness (territorial like lions but jungle is in fact a deep wood, occasional open space with one track you cannot divert from…) – ‘needles and haystacks’ come to mind as chances of spotting one relies on said tiger deciding to take the road track to water hole, and, as with lion, only kills about every 5 days, so also unlikely it will be stalking about in our 3 days …. so, we are doubtful of finding ‘the stripy one’ but hey, today we saw:
Jungle peacock
Jungle partridge
Jungle cockerel (yes, a chicken!)
Jungle jackal
Jungle deer (looked like monkjack!)
Jungle wild boar ….
… Certainly entertained us as truly expected jungle rabbit and jungle sheep to be strategically placed before our vehicle at some point!
Bounced around in the back of a jeep, actually really fun, for 3 hours, came back dusty and a quick shower before curry dinner (!) …. Rookie error: turn on shower, then turn off, then turn back on to fire up the hot water … useful information BEFORE I had a freezing shower for husband to then enjoy a boiler full of hot!!
Tomorrow early start (for a change!) – 5:45 safari (4 hours), back for brekkie (or cookie en route if cockerel isn’t about I think!) – lunch then another safari 3pm to 6:00…curry, bed and repeat …..
So, VERY different to Kenya, but appreciating we have a comparison – still really happy we’re experiencing this, ’tis a hoot! (I am very good at reading the tyre tread signals in dusty road now!)
