Big Game Hunting.

Another long travel day in the bus but with something special promised at the end of it. We were off on a jeep safari to look out for wild elephants, tiger and leopard.

In the late afternoon we arrived at our safari village. Having purchased some beer on the way, we sat out on our veranda enjoying a glass or two before setting off in pursuit of our quarry. The previous week an Indian lady had been killed by a domesticated elephant. She wanted a picture standing in front of the beast with the elephant having raised its trunk. This is an aggressive stance for an elephant and is generally a precursor to an attack. Unfortunately, the elephant brought its trunk down on the lady's head then trampled her. Two days before our visit and on the same reserve as us, a German tourist had been killed by a tiger. Despite there being signs every where warning you not to walk, he had persuaded villagers to take him trekking in the bush. Unfortunately, they came across a tiger and the villagers could run faster than him.

We were well warned to stay in the jeep. Even within our compound we were warned not to walk about. With some trepidation but with high hopes we set off as the sun was starting to dip towards the horizon. First we crawled along the road that the elephant crossed on their way to take their evening drink. Then we loitered by water holes where tiger had been spotted the week before. After that we went to the top of a hill where we had a panoramic view of the surrounding bush. Anything moving would be instantly visible. So far only some Spotted Deer and Sambar Deer. Still nothing. By now the sun was setting and it was beginning to darken. We slowly retraced our route past the elephant trails and watering holes peering deep into the bush as we coasted along. Soon it was dark. Torches were produced and the bush was probed with shafts of bright light. Apparently there had never been a trip were no elephant had been seen.

Back at the ranch, dinner was laid out waiting for us and after dinner we were escorted back to our accommodation by big burly men armed with bright lights. Well warned to lock the doors and stay inside. We were quite sceptical about the presence of dangerous animals but when we opened our curtains in the morning there was a family of water buffalo wandering past and great steaming heaps of elephant poo everywhere.

Last laugh to the elephants!