Jungle Camping in Nepal

Sounds exotic doesn't it? Well it was! Our friend near Bardia National Park took us camping in the conservation area outside the park. We packed up a couple of mules, and these were no ordinary mules. They made a solo trek with a man named Dan from Lhasa across Tibet and into India and ended up living at Mr B's. This was an experiment in taking them camping to carry gear. We went by motorbike and met them near the camp site. We went into the jungle looking for one horned rhinos and it was an adrenaline raising experience. They are quite dangerous and will charge you and can kill you easily! We only got a glimpse of one and spent more time running from them than anything.

I have to interrupt myself to tell you that we are now in the mountains and its a torrential rain and hail storm. Really dramatic!

Back to camping...We picked out our site just at dusk and the boys started cooking. We set the mules up just as the moon starting rising over the river where we could see crocodiles lazing on the bank. Mr B is a competent guide here and knows the jungle and he heard warning and distress calls from the wild deer. It turns out we were in a female tiger's territory and they were warning she was near. The mules kept up a constant alert with ears perked and nostrils flaring.

We had a wonderful camp meal and then tucked in for the night. Mr B and the boys took turns keeping watch over night for both the tiger and wild elephants. Our tent was pitched next to the river bank for quick exit over the bank if we got a visit from the wild things! After a little star gazing and moon watching we turned in and lay in the tent listening to tribal drums from a distant village celebrating a festival.

I was surprised to get a a good nights sleep under the circumstances but I did. The next morning we found tiger prints about 150 feet from camp. She paced back and forth and decided not to visit! There were fresh elephant prints nearby too. After a hasty cup of tea we were off rhino hunting again. Mr B was determined we see one and get a picture but after lots of trucking around and running from them we were only rewarded with another glimpse. The irony is that one day we went into the park to see them and they came out of the park and were in the creek right next to Mr B's all the time we were in the park!

After the rhino hunting we went to a nearby village and dispensed some medical stuff, a volleyball and some skipping ropes and frisbees. The people were so grateful and humble. I have to say the non prescription glasses were a real hit and the joy from folks who could now read was remarkable.

We motored home through the countryside, passing villages and fields being harvested. Wheat, rice and lentils being harvested stalk by stalk by hand. You know they call marijuana 'weed', well it was literally everywhere as a weed even in their fields like we might have dandelions. Quite a sight. Got home to Mr B's tired and contented with life.