Mon., 11/5/12 – Chitwan National Park: Elephant Riding and Dugout Canoeing
We got up at 4:45 AM and drove 1/2 hour to get on an elephant to safari in the Park. We saw two rhinos, a dozen spotted deer, and several hog deer. The trees in the jungle were rhino apples (rhinos like their fruit), teak, and kapok. Riding the elephant, seated on the platform on her back, was a very rough ride!
Early morning: getting on the elephants
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Greater one-horned rhinoceros |
Greater one-horned rhinoceros
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Greater one-horned rhinoceros |
One of the elephants was decorated for the recent festival or a wedding
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The group |
Wading across the river
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Spotted deer |
Hog deer |
Another rhino
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Forest of Rhino apple trees
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View from above |
Mahout (the elephant driver or trainer) getting back up on the elephant via her trunk
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Our elephant decided to break off a rather large tree limb to carry along to munch on \ |
Now you have to get off! |
Kids
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Working the fields |
Plowing by hand with a single blade and two oxen
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View of the Rapti River from the lodge's porch
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The picture I wish I could have taken! |
More elephants! Later we walked to the river and watched the handlers give the elephants a bath in the river. Two of the braver members of our group took part in the bathing.
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Ann getting a bath
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Next, Gil's turn
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The ladies were enjoying the show |
Then they just walked back across the river
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Petting the elephant
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Petting the elephant |
She had been a bad girl, thus the rope and chain for control |
Resting her trunk by holding it in her mouth
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