Pench National Park - Part II
A very exciting afternoon Safari
02.11.2017 - 02.11.2017
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Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright - India 2017
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After a lovely rest this lunchtime (apparently I missed a fabulous lunch by having a siesta instead of eating), I feel ready to take on more adventures on this afternoon's safari.
The Gypsy arriving at the lodge for the afternoon safari. I love the misspelling of the word 'seat'.
We drive through a couple of villages to get to the park, with the usual daily activities
Gaur
The first animals we see this afternoon are the gaur, AKA Indian bison, the world's biggest wild cow.
Giant Wood Spider
These things are enormous! They measure about the size of your palm with even more gigantic webs. Every arachnophobe's worst nightmare.
Pench is a pretty park, with some beautiful scenery and attractive features.
Rose Ringed Parakeets
Indian Grey Hornbill from underneath
Hanuman Langur
Indian Pond Heron
Red Wattled Lapwing
Back at the same wetlands we visited this morning, we see some sambar deer lying down.
And in the background a White Throated Kingfisher.
Lilac Breasted Roller
Chital Chase
On our right we see a few spotted deer sprinting along at great speed, followed behind by a huge herd of them, all looking like they are running for their lives.
They just keep on coming, more and more and more.
Something must have really spooked them.
Then we see the reason for their panic: a couple of wild dogs! How exciting!
As the hounds close in on the chital, I begin to fear for this little girl's life – I really do think she is going to become dinner.
But she gets away and joins her friend. Phew.
The two dogs soon become seven as other dholes (Indian wild dogs) join the pack.
Then a Golden jackal turns up.
To be joined by two others.
I am hoping for an angry stand-off with the Wild Dogs.
But nothing happens unfortunately. The spotted deer survives for another day; and the dhole and jackal go hungry for a bit longer. We eventually and reluctantly move on.
Hanuman Langurs
We arrive back at the wetlands area where we were before; and the light there now is fabulous.
The shoreline is also full of langurs, drinking, preening and playing.
We spend some time watching their antics
As we are sitting on the only dry ground that leads from one side of the lake to the other, the langurs are having to jump across the water, providing us with a perfect photo opportunity.
The little one doesn't quite make it all the way across.
It's getting late, so we start to make our way towards the gate again, grabbing what wildlife sightings we can on the way.
Indian Grey Hornbill
Tigger woz 'ere
Just like domestic cats, tigers like their scratching posts too – this one has been used by a male tiger fairly recently.
Banyan Tree
This single tree, part of the fig family, began its life as an epiphyte (a plant that grows on another plant, where a seed has germinated in a crack or crevice its host). The Banyan Tree is the national tree of India.
Keelback Water Snake
We see a dead snake in the road, all shrivelled up, and I lean out of the car to try and get a better picture of it, when it suddenly raises its head, hisses furiously at me and slithers off. OK then...
What an exciting afternoon we've had, we the chase and then the backlit jumping langurs!
The moon
As we leave the park and drive back to the lodge, I notice the moon is very bright tonight. It is full moon in a couple of day's time, so that makes sense.
Dinner
Tonight's dinner is interesting, unusual and probably best described as a little staccato. First we are served a plate with fish fingers, pappad pakora and chick pea patties.
Then a soup, followed by a plate of sprouted beans.
When the waiter brings out bowls of roast potatoes, we assume it is as an accompaniment to the main course. It is not; it's a course in its own right. Oh well, I like roast potatoes.
By the time the main course of grilled chicken, vegetables and garlic rice arrives, I am full up!
I do manage to make room for the delicious strawberry delight dessert though.
We linger with a drink after dinner as we don't have an early start tomorrow. Stay tuned for the next instalment as we move on to Tadoba.
Posted by Grete Howard 04:19 Archived in India Tagged national_park pench tiger_park pench_tree_lodge pench_tiger_park pench_national_park Comments (1)