Nepal : Part 21 - Royal Chitwan National Park (Day 2) - Canoe Ride and Jungle Walk

28092013 - Today morning, we wake up at 6am to start our 630am activities. The jungle guide told us that it is better to leave early because in the morning, we can see more animals as the weather is more cooling. The animals are more prone to have a bath in the river or have a drink in the river in the morning. The lodge provides breakfast. So, we have a very filling breakfast. Very needed because we are going to do some serious jungle activities today. 

At 6.30am, we waited outside Jungle Guide. One of the staff was waiting for us there to bring us to the canoe ride. I did not realise Sauraha Village was located next to a river. It was less than a 10 minute walk to the river bank. Our designated jungle guide for 2 days is Suresh. He is one true survivor. He told us his story of how he saved his sister from a rhinoceros. The rhino tore his skin at his arm and abdomen which resulted in his intestines pouring out when he tried to stand. He showed us his scars. He believed that this is his second chance to live.

Guess what is our canoe made of? It is made of a tree trunk which has been emptied its contents. The canoe ride took an hour. Our guide stands during the ride pointing out the fauna, while we sit and enjoy the ride. We ride on the 1.5 meter deep river that separates Chitwan National Park into 2 parts - the one managed by the community i.e. the locals are able to enter and collect plants and the other is managed privately and locals are restricted to protect the wildlife. The national park's fees we paid of Rs1500 was for the private jungle.

I see my first rhinoceros taking a dip in the river. We also saw a crocodile that just got out from the waters. We see many crocodiles swimming in the river that looked like a moving rock. The only thing that could be seen from the waters was the nostrils.

After an hour, we stopped and started on our full day jungle walk. We walked through the long elephant grass that apparently can grow up to 8m high! Also, a nest for leeches in this elephant grass because I was bitten by so many. Out from the grass, the guide briefed us on what to expect from this walk, the things to do if encountered any animals.

We walked on a nicely cleared path. My sister bought this walk with the specifications to do bird watching. So, we birdwatched from 8am to 6pm. I have never birdwatched before. I can tell you this - this is my first and last time birdwatching! 

At 9am, after an hour of walking, I found myself sweating really badly. I missed the cold air of the mountains. The guide brought us to an observation tower. We climbed up and I saw grasses everywhere. According to the guide, the best time to do jungle walk is in the month of March where it is cooling and one can see lots of animals and birds. During birdwatching, both the guide and the sister will discuss on the bird they have seen and confirm which bird is it by referring to the book on 'Birds of Nepal'.

  

Then, suddenly, a slimy thing rolled down my sleeve. And out dropped a fat round leech. I had 4 leech bites while the others had none due to me having the strong scent of blood for very obvious reasons.

We sit on the path and have our lunch. We ate on some biscuits and raisins while the guide and his friend had rice. Both the guide and his friend brought a stick to protect themselves and us from the animals.

The guide snapped a photo of this bird from his binoculars. Okay, I know the name of this bird. After spending half a day birdwatching, this bird is known as the 'Lesser Adjacent'. Well, it did sound like this spelling from the pronounciation. So, I know there is a Greater Adjacent but not an Average. I know, right, bird's names are weird.

When the bird flies, it felt like there was an airplane above us. When the wings flap, it sounded like the sound when you pump air into a bicycle tire. Just multiply the sound 100times. When the wings don't flap, as in just straightens, it sounded like 'swoosh'.

When the 3 of them sees birds, I see trees and skies and clouds. They can spot the tiniest bird perched some faraway branch, and I squint my eyes trying to find the bird.

  

We climbed up another observation tower in the evening, and the guide beckoned us to come quietly because he saw 2 rhinos! We climbed up and saw one rhino.

We walked back, and I saw jeeps. These are jeeps used for the jungle safari ride. We could not choose this option because the tracks are closed for repair works after the raining season. Along the walk back, we heard rhinoceros sounds. The guide said they were fighting. It sounded like loud air bellowed out. The guide said - Run. Although we could not see the rhino, but when a rhino runs, it runs fast. No chances taken and we ran, occasionally turning back, looking at the guide who was hearing the sounds while walking fast. We stopped running when we were out from the boulevard of trees and into the open land of grass only.

Into the open land of grass, we walked towards the river bank. I felt so relieved being out in the open.

At 5.30pm, our jungle walk has come to an end. We took the canoe ride to the other side.

We were in time to see the sunset. The guide met his friends and told the story of the birds he saw and the encounter with the rhino. The friends were surprised that 2 Chinese girls walked for a whole day under the hot sun. Because China tourists cannot stand the heat.

We bought a bottle of cold Coke, and shared it. It was the best drink ever. It was my first time I birdwatched and my last time I am doing it. It was an interesting experience where my sister identified 94 species of birds while I only managed to recognise 1 - an owl. And for that I was wrong too, because it is an owlet. The birdwatching experience was very tiring, worst than my Base Camp trek. Imagine this - being on your feet from 8am till 6pm, the hot glaring sun, humid air, no knowledge on birds and hence, limited interest, and being a girl, having the cycle which is on the 2nd day. My sister enjoyed it though, having the time of her life, which is more important because that is the reason I chose Royal Chitwan National Park.