It hasn’t been until very recently that I even started looking outside Africa for amazing wildlife experiences. I mean, with places like the Okavango Delta and Serengeti out there, why would you go anywhere else? But my thoughts changed a little once I went to the north east Indian state of Assam, in particular this state’s wildlife jewel, Kaziranga National Park.
It’s not all that easy to get to. You have to fly from Delhi or Calcutta to the capital of Assam, Guwahati, then drive for about 5 hours on pretty mad Indian roads full of potholes and holy cows and oblivious sheep, but once you get there it’s absolutely magnificent, and a welcome respite from the vast hordes of people that is typical of India. Kaziranga one of only two places that you can see the endangered Greater One-horned Rhino, a species that is still on the brink. It’s also a great place to see Asian elephants in the wild and a whole variety of deer species.
Not many tourists include Assam in their tour of India, in part due to the civil unrest that occasionally results in bombings by a rebel movement (ULFA). The rebel situation is a pain, but the fact that hardly anyone goes there is a real bonus in my view! Kaziranga is not a place where you get cues of game viewers at a sighting and battle to see past the minivan beside you. Chances are, when you see your first Indian rhino, there won’t be anyone else around. And that is one of the really special things about this place. Read more about Kaziranga in this article just published in The Australian.
Greater One-horned Rhino, Kaziranga
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/travel/world/horn-of-plenty/story-fn30265w-1225896127100
