Loading ...It began early morning in Bandipur. The mist played with mountains, the dew had just settled in. It was cold and damp. And the jungle presented itself to us, a collage of greens, yellows and browns. Shivering underneath our jackets and enjoying the nippy air, we drove through the forest in an open jeep, hoping for an unusual sighting.
Image Credit: Subharnab
A typical safari would read like this. It starts off as a smooth ride with a song in your heart. Add a dash of excitement and plenty of hope to the experience.
Then, before you know it, the jeep will suddenly swerve into a narrow path, cutting amidst trees and tearing through the grass. Your adrenalin levels increase. The smooth roads turn into sharp curves as the jeep cuts through the vegetation. You spot an animal hide here and there, a shadow darting through the leaves, a rustle in the woods. You squint through the natural mosaic of greens and browns and imagine like Macbeth, that the woods are moving.
Image Credit: Subharnab
In the beginning were the deer, the spotted and the S?mbhar variety. In great hordes, skipping, frolicking, playing .The birds and the butterflies flitted around as the peacock obliged us before darting behind bushes. Next in line were the wild buffaloes, majestic and proud; looking at us askance? Rustling amidst the trees are the wild boars, but there were no mammals for us. We chased and were chased. Eyes, though invisible to us were tracking us. We saw pugmarks of tigers, dung of elephants and heard stories of leopards. But they eluded us.
The roads are bumpy, you get covered with slush, your legs ache as you trek, but hope does not let you down. We continued with same hope in our hearts as we were driving down and this time, we got more than what we had bargained for. We pursued invisible shadows, but didn’t realize that it was our turn to be chased.
It must have been around quarter to seven, and darkness was slowly setting in. Shadows merged with trees and we were returning from another fruitless safari tour. We were on the Bangalore – Bandipur Highway, very close to our resort when suddenly we saw three elephants hardly 10 feet from us, on the edge of the road. We paused in an attempt to take photographs. We got out of the car. My friend was adjusting his camera, my husband standing outside the car beside us. Suddenly one of the elephants took a warning step forward. We backed a bit. A moment paused and we resumed our photography, when suddenly the elephant broke into a run…a very fast one at that. It was a race between man and beast… a thin line between adventure and death, the car was at least 5 feet from where we were. We made a quick scramble to get in… We yelled, shouted, screamed and panted. We were unprepared for this;. My friend rummaged for the keys. I flung the camera and looked back. The elephant stopped just a foot away from our bonnet… A look which said, Get out of my territory.
Image Credit: get2anbu
The entire thing lasted for around 30 secs, may be a minute at the most. We raved, ranted and told the same story many times over, each from his and her perspective. We thought of the many possibilities of an IF added to the situation. I remember the last look, all it had to do was to stretch out its trunk and reach out to us.
But it preferred not to do that.
beautiful photos and a nice post. Waiting for the next pst in the series.
Wonderful reading your experience. I felt like being on a safari myself. Nature unfolds its own drama with its actors reminding prying audience (read adventurous safari trekkers) to leave them in their habitat blissful and at ease. Of course, sights and experiences such as these are once in a life time and we need to cherish them forever. Cheers!
Thanks Vinay, you can certainly look forward to the next in the series.
Thank you Rajneesh. A well written comment! It is important to strike the balance, even when you are on an expedition. Nothing quite like being in the wilds, but of course being prudent, and respecting the wildlife.
Arun,
Thanks so much for posting it..Ive written about in my blog,http://backpakker.blogspot.com as well.
Vinay, Rajneesh,
Thanks so much for your encouraging words..the next post will be in shortly
Nice writing..did not know of this CLAY. Great idea, being a almost-happy CM member myself. Would be good to share this info with other members like me.
I guess, members are a sureshot/ best way to drive a torrent WOM..
Good initiative anyway…lemme see if I find the time and inclination to visit this again..
Very neat Lakshmi. Though a longer version would have commanded a greater interest.
Typically if you find an Elephant alone then just remain away, just dont venture close. If its a large group then thats the safest situation to be in.
I like the name CLAY.
Best wishes
Nandan
Just u brought the scene before to imagine lakshmi, seriously a bravo attempt! take care and wish u be alert at these situations.
Dear Pratap, thanks for the comments. We will be announcing Clay to the members through our Hello magazine. There will also be an e-mailer communication soon.
Pratap,
Thanks.I do hope to see you again soon
Nandan ,
Thanks for the feedback and reg the elephants we have been chased by a herd too, at Kaziranga when they blocked our way ..glad you liked the name CLAY
Jeevan
Thanks ..will def stay on my guard next time..glad you liked the piece
I simply dont understand why people would stop in middle of forest, get out of their vehicles, do other stupid things like picnic, boozing, etc. Just last week there was an elephant attack on a car in Bandipur Mudumalai border. Please dont do such dangerous stuff inside the forest.
Best regards
Bala
Bala – thanks for the comment. At the outset, I agree it was stupid to get out and we realized our mistake.However we are not into partying and boozing as you put it.We are travellers and not tourists to begin with and we have been to Bandipur, Mudhumalai , Nagarhole and other forests several times in a year . In fact am going to Bandipur again this year . It was just an impulse to capture the elephant on a photograph that made us get out and it was a scary experience and we live to tell the story..thanks anyways for the warning and we have become much careful after the incident
I didnt mean you were the boozing type. What actually I meant was we dont know what the guys who crosssed the elephants before us have done. The last week elephant attack was of the same nature. Some guys had irritated the elephant and it took its anger out on a family driven car. Even after so many years of regular driving through forest, I am still off afraid of elephants.
You dont mess with a powerful animal like an elephant.
Our coconut / arecanut trees are witness to their power in our guest house in Mudumalai
best regards
bala
Thanks for the warning..I understand your concern . We have been stopped by elephants several times in Masinagudi and its quite scary..You are right..cant mess with the beasts
[...] An elephant chase in Bandipur . Well,I am not going to post it here .Read more about this wild excapade in CLAY(Club Mahindra and You) a corporate blog of Club Mahindra where I am a guest [...]
“Your adrenalin levels increase.”
Haha..I know the exact feeling as I experienced that when I sighted a tiger in the Bandavgarh National Park in Dec 2007.
Thank you for a lovely read Lakshmi.:)
Good thing the lone elephant was not on ‘Masth’ or things would have been different.Beware of lone elephants in the future or lone tusker with calves.
Anyway your experience was thrilling!