March 8, 2012 - Elephant safari, part two...

Because we were staying an extra day at Island Jungle Resort (most people stay two nights and we are staying three nights), we got to go on another elephant ride this morning. But this wasn't just any ordinary elephant ride. Whereas yesterday we mainly stuck to trails and didn't see much wildlife, today we went "off roading" and were able to see/chase down some animals.

We started off the ride by Mike and I getting our own elephant. That was pretty exciting!

It's much easier to see in all directions if there are only two, as opposed to four, people on the elephant. Our guide took us across the river to explore a new area of the jungle.

We were initially on elephant paths, bit quickly veered off after seeing and baby rhino with its mother. Our guide and elephant tried to chase it down (I never realized out quickly an elephant could actually move!), but the rhinos were quicker and more agile and were soon out of sight. We did see another male rhino a bit closer up not too far away, as well. (The following is a picture of the rhino butt. They move really quickly, it's difficult to get pictures!

Soon thereafter, we heard a strange call from the forest behind us and were informed by our guide that this was the call of a sloth bear. So off we went charging in to the trees to attempt to find it. When I say charging, I am not joking. In preparation for the charge, our elephant, Sashatikali, even felt the need to trumpet her horn before setting off. Sashatikali would blaze new trails if none were available, which was the case for most of our trip. We were often whacked with branches and shrubbery as we made our way through the jungle. When a small tree was in the way, no worries. Our guide would just shout an instruction and Sashatikali would tear it down with her trunk. It was impressive. Our guide's and elephant's hard work paid off though, as we were able to hunt out the elusive sloth bear. It was incredible (that's not the actual bear we saw, since it was too quick, but it's an example...).

We saw a few other wildlife during the rest of our ride - barking deer, rhesus monkeys, and peacock - but none were as exciting as chasing down the rhinos and sloth bear. At the very end of our ride, our guide let me "drive" Sashatikali back home.

I didn't really drive, per se, as sit on her neck while our guide yelled commands at her. But we made it back the rest of the way safely, and I like to think it’s because of my brilliant elephant driving skills...