Jungle expedition!
Chitwan expedition!
Chitwan is the name of National Park in Nepal. It is one of the oldest national park, created in 1973. It is classified as world heritage of UNESCO. Chitwan contains many animal species such a crocodiles, rhinoceros, Bengal tigers, brown bears, or rare wild buffaloes.
This national park is on the down way to the border of India. And yes, for the most of the team the Nepalese visa is coming to be expired. We also have to remake Indian Visa in Kathmandu to extend it on half year extra. The date of the Indian visa does not start when you enter the country but when it is published; it means that even while being in Nepal, the validity of our Indian visa is already running. To edit an Indian visa in Nepal, The best is to go in Kathmandu. It takes about a week of waiting if all your paperwork is in order, finally for us it becomes as normal as drinking a coffee in the morning!
So here we are in the Chitwan area. We will put our trucks in Sauraha.
We had the contact of a guest room that could accommodate us with our trucks on one of these lodge. I repeat it often in my articles, but with a big group like ours and a template heavyweight like mine, we often have difficulty to find a spot, especially in Nepal. Another reason is that many places are in a protected area and it is impossible to camp there. Nepal is definitely not an easy truck destination, although I think being in a 4X4 it can really make a difference here.
In short, against a daily fee (which will cost us the same price as if we rented a room, nothing is free in Nepal!) We park in the heart of Sauraha. As long as we are here, we want to enjoy the maximum of the nature and we are very happy to discover animals so exotic for us.
Bike expedition
We ride our bikes for reach one of the accessible park without guide. The nature is amazing and even if we do not cross a lot of animals in the first part of the day except spotted deer and swamp deer, riding in such a setting is very relaxing and offers a lot of energy. The best times to observe wildlife are early morning and late afternoon when the sun goes down.
We confirm this observation when we find ourselves within 50 meters of a huge rhinoceros on the way home!
extraordinary meeting!
We congregate, be wildered and impressed by this lord of nature. He has been huge and really close to us. We are aware of his ability to charge us and stay there, as kids, watching him eating. He finally saw us and tries a maneuver to head in our direction; fortunately a hill was between him and us! Finally he doesn’t attack us (did he really want it?). Baba jump on the tree, most of us jumb on our bikes, Lenka remains communicating with him with sound without stress. We still enjoy a few minutes and decide to leave him in peace; aware of the luck we had to meet him so closely.
Baba on his tree!
We come back to rest because tomorrow morning we leave for a whole day in the jungle accompanied by a guide.
Access to the jungle is regulated and can only be done in the company of a homologized guide. Nature is wild and the dangers are real. In addition, the guide is a gold mine of information for all nature lovers.
Chitwan means the “heart of the jungle,” and I can only confirm that!
We will spend a day on the same footing as the day before; we are going to have a lot of luck! Rhinoceros, crocodiles, parrots, turtles, birds of all kinds, wild buffaloes, and even a sloth bear on the end! We will have the chance to cross all these species in their natural habitat, without disturbing them, it is for me a great moment, rich in emotions. This kind of adventure requires patience and experience, something we had thanks to the great guides who accompanied us.
Not being at all attracted by all that is tourist activity, I left without much conviction in this expedition. But I must admit that I had a great day and we all enjoyed the professionalism and serenity of our guides who send me back as in a childhood dream.
That’s why we leave you here the contact of this company: “into the wild tours and travels” Chitwan national park, Sauraha, info@wildsauraha.com
After these few days, it was time to plunge hands in grease. We park at the bus station to carry out routine maintenance of the truck: changing oil, belts, greasing points, the exchange with bus drivers is quick!
But we will not spend long time in this charming place. We have found a camp on the river. Daan and I are cutting a window in the heavy weight accompanied by the kids of the village while the rest of the team at the turn of a walk end up in a baptism! Beautiful Nepal where the smile is on all the faces and where tranquility is easy to find.
Window cutting with the kids
Enjoy this calm, because soon we will drive for India well known for its frenzy. “What is lived, and passionately hoped for in the adventure, is the emergence of the future” said Jankélévitch … India, what are you preparing for?
