Travels in Nepal # 56 Rhinoceros
Royal Chitwan National Park
During the elephant ride on our first day at Royal Chitwan National Park in Nepal we were delighted to see a Rhinoceros in the grassland next to the river. Our guide was very good at getting the elephant into position to get good views and good photos. I wish my bird photos had turned out as well.
Rhinoceros in Royal Chitwan National Park
Later on we had distant views of a family of Spotted Deer. These were rather harder to see because of the tall grass. They were also frightened away by another several groups of tourists also on an elephant ride.
Travels in Nepal #24 Yakking about Yaks
On my trek in Nepal last January our trekking group passed many yak trains on the path. These animals are quite amazing, considering their size and the burdens they are expected to carry up and down the mountains paths. They are smaller than I had anticipated, being short but very stocky in build. They are obviously very strong and resilient, hauling large loads up steep inclines over long periods of time.
Yak train near Namche Bazar.
Our guides warned us to always give way to the yak trains. Some of the loads were quite wide, taking up quite a deal of some of the narrower paths. One could easily get a nasty bump from the load. The guide also stated that some yaks have a nasty habit of giving trekkers a hefty nudge, so it was always wise to be on the uphill side of the yaks.
Getting behind a yak train can be frustrating on several counts. They are inclined to be plodders, walking at a much slower pace than even slow trekkers like myself. This makes overtaking on the narrow paths a hazardous undertaking.
Another hazard was the dust stirred up by these animals. Some sections of the track we hiked were covered in dry and very powdery dust. Many of us were severely affected by the dust which clogged our nasal passages causing great discomfort. The dust from our own feet was bad enough. The yaks just made it far worse. The dusty conditions were far more hazardous than their manure which was deposited in copious amounts all along the track.
Related articles:
- My photo gallery – photos of Nepal and many more things
- Travels in Nepal – an archive of articles about my experiences in Nepal.
Travels in Nepal #22 Himalayan Tahr
Himalayan Thar
On our acclimatisation day in Namche Bazar I thought we would be having a rest day.
Wrong.
We probably did more walking that day than any other day on our trek. The only difference was that it was mostly at about the same altitude. Before breakfast we walked up a very steep ridge to view Mt Everest at dawn. I wrote about that here.
After breakfast we headed up the ridge again and then around the ridge and along a very beautiful track which happens to be the route to Tibet. Mind you, the Tibetan border was still seven days’ walk away.
Along this track we passed through rhododendron forests which unfortunately were not in flower being the middle of winter. We were also fortunate to see a small flock of Himalayan Tahr, a close relative of the wild goat. They actually look like a very large goat. They are native to the Himalayan regions of Nepal, India and Tibet. Feral populations exist in New Zealand where they are a popular target for hunters. For more information click here.
Related articles:
- Travels in Nepal – archive of my travels in Nepal.
Himalayan Tahr
Travels in Thailand part 6 Elephant Ride
Elephant ride in Thailand
After the walk to the waterfall in the Khao Yai National Park, we continued our drive through the park to a lodge just off the main road. Here we had a wonderful traditional Thai lunch, complete with the fruit we had purchased at the market in the morning.
After lunch we went on a ride on an elephant through the rainforest. This was very relaxing and a good way to see the forest up close. An elephant’s back is not a great bird watching platform because it is continually lurching from side to side. Despite that I was able to identify a few species as we stumbled our way back to the bus.
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Gluepot Bird Reserve part 2 – reptiles
No Comments »8th July, 2006; Category: Animals
Bearded Dragon lizard
On my visit last year to the Gluepot Bird Reserve owned and run by Birds Australia I spent a whole day driving and walking the various tracks and walking trails. I didn’t have time to walk all of the tracks so I must return sometime later this year.
The reserve has been especially set aside to protect a large number of threatened and endangered species of bird. Birds like the Black-Eared Miner, a honeyeater, are relatively common in the reserve but elsewhere are very rare. Scarlet-Chested Parrots are also hard to find in other places.
Bearded Dragon lizard
The habitat suitable for these birds is also very good for a range of other species. The flora is particularly interesting and so is the insect and reptile life. The two photos featured on this posting are of two Bearded Dragons, a lizard species, I encountered that day. They were quite accommodating, posing beautifully for me while I took a series of photos.
Related links:
- Birds Australia – Australia’s largest birding organisation.
- My photo gallery – photos of birds, animals, flowers and much more.