Hunting for Rhino in Chitwan

It was time to move on from the chaos and rolling blackouts of Kathmandu to my next destination, Royal Chitwan National Park which is about a 7-8 hour bus ride from Kathmandu.

I got up early the next morning for headed to the parking area for my 6am bus. Now I was somewhat aware of the dangers of riding buses in Nepal but to experience it firsthand was something totally different. I headed to the back of the bus to my assigned seat. As it was the last row it was kind of elevated and I saw that the window was level with the seat. Someone could easily fly out an open window on a sharp turn. Riding the bus in Nepal is not for the faint-hearted. Here are some things to keep in mind before getting on a Nepali Bus

1. Speeding Buses, Trucks, Cars, Motorbikes
2. Oncoming Traffic (usually speeding)
3. Narrow Roads barely wide enough to accommodate 2 cars side by side
4. Drivers who try to pass, (both sides)
5. Driving through mountains in high elevations and a lack of any crash barriers
6. Rock slides
7. Washed Out Roads

The View of the winding road from my bus seat

With all those aforementioned points it can lead to many HOLY SHIT moments on the bus. To reinforce the danger I saw more than a few trucks that have driven off the road. I had fun! nevertheless.. Here is a warning DO NOT ride buses at night in Nepal.

 So I arrived in Royal Chitwan National Park after about 8 hrs on the bus. Immediately as with any bus stop I'm bombarded with touts begging me to go to their guesthouse. I chose one out of the Lonely Planet previously so I headed to that one. When I got to the guesthouse  I found out I was the only one there! On the plus side the owner was really cool and the jungle view was AMAZING. I still had some time and decided to go on a Jungle Trek. Royal Chitwan National Park's most famous resident is the Rhino, so I thought it would be cool to see them in their natural habitat. There were two options, do a trek on an elephant or walk. I chose to walk which was a little bit cheaper.The trek started out with a short canoe ride down a croc infested river. We stopped off on the banks of the river right before the treeline.

Jungle View from my guesthouse

Canoe through croc infested rivers

 

 

 

 

Should have taken the Elephant

Giant Orb Spider

Here Rhino Rhino Rhino...

 After getting off the canoe. I started to get the feeling I should have taken the elephant trek option. My flipflops were useless after getting covered in thick mud. The initial path was through thick jungle bush and I decided to go barefoot. I have a phobia for anything six legged and I noticed the ground was covered with various creepy crawlies so I tried my best to ignore that.

Some insect on taking a rest on my guides foot.

 

After getting off the canoe. I started to get the feeling I should have taken the elephant trek option. My flipflops were useless after getting covered in thick mud. The initial path was through thick jungle bush and I decided to go barefoot. I have a phobia for anything six legged and I noticed the ground was covered with various creepy crawlies so I tried my best to ignore that.

The next 2 hours were spent looking for Rhinos. I didnt really think about what I would do if I came across a Rhino on foot as Im pretty sure they could outrun me. The 2 pieces of advice I received from the guides were to 1. NOT RUN  or 2. Climb a tree. Luckily or not we didnt cross paths with any Rhino although they did show me where rhinos may have passed through like a watering hole they might have been at or signs they rubbed up against a tree. Still I enjoyed the peaceful jungle trek. After I just chilled by the river watching the gharial crocs. Decided to leave for Pokhara the next day..