INDIA: KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK, DAY 2

 December 18, 2024

We got off early in the morning and were welcomed to the Jeep by hot water bottles for our laps/feet and a nice warm blanket. There were also hot water bottles in our beds at night. Luxurious.

We didn't get very far before Bob saw a bird, or our guide saw a bird, and we had to stop for a look-see.

For those of us who stayed in the Jeep, there was plenty of entertainment on the road. We saw dozens of these large cargo trucks that were painted in bright colors with interesting designs. This seemed to be unique to the State of Assam (where Kaziranga is) as we didn't see them elsewhere. Or maybe they just stood out more in Assam because it wasn't wall-to-wall traffic.

We also got a kick out of all the animal warning signs. 

Our guide would often have the driver stop the Jeep so that he could point out something that was almost impossible for the average person to see. In this case it was an Asian barred owl at the tip-top of a tall tree.

After driving on the main road for a while, we pulled off into the the Burhapahar Range, located in the western part of the park and known for its hilly terrain and dense forests.

There were a few jungle fowl showing off their fancy feathers in the yard . . .

. . . but I was more interested in what looked like a clean bathroom with some beautiful tile work. Ack! No seat? I'm getting too old for this.

We got back into the Jeep and were admitted into the park.

I got the sense that there were animals all around, but they didn't want to come out to play.

Giant black squirrels

Capped langur monkeys

More monkeys

There is quite a bit of water in Kaziranga National Park, and where there is water, there are ducks. Our guide had a bird book that he used to give us the names of the fowl we saw. Bob didn't seem to need it, but I sure did.

I liked this part of Kaziranga--green and peaceful.

I think these trees lining the road are the hardwood tree our guide told us are known as the "Pride of India" tree, a variety of the crepe myrtle trees that grow between our house and our neighbors' in California.

Whoa, check out the twining vines! It looks  like something from a Disney movie.

In addition to being an excellent spotter, our guide, Bablu Hussain, was great at making sure we got out of the Jeep every now and then to stretch our legs and soothe our bottoms.

This stop was gorgeous.

 . . . and interesting.

Such great traveling companions!

Nope, those aren't tigers, Bob, just feral cats.

Termite hills and hog deer:

Asian woolly-necked storks:

Well, good-bye to the dirt roads for a bit while we go back to camp . . .

. . . for some lunch:

No time for a nap. It's back on the road for another Tiger Hunt.

Here, kitty kitty kitty . . . 

I said "MEOW," not "MOO"!

Hey, look, tigers! Mother Nature set the table for you for lunch!

This drive was through the Central Range of the park. How can you not love these trees?

The monkeys seem to like them. 

I mean REALLY. Doesn't that look like a scene that should have a tiger walking through it?

Bablu told us that this area often floods during the rainy season. The lookout tower shows the height of some of the more significant floods in recent years.

We crossed this rickety wooden trestle bridge about four times during the afternoon. Each time we began to cross, I held my breath and didn't exhale until we got to the other side. (That's supposed to keep you safe, you know.)

We never got very close to a herd of elephants, but we did see quite a few. This herd has a lot of little ones!

Beautiful scenery. I'm glad we stopped every now and then just to appreciate it.

Oh wait! We didn't stop for the scenery! We stopped because Bablu's eagle eyes spotted a hoopoe (a crested bird), which apparently I couldn't see even with my phone's telelphoto camera lens!

I did much better with the rose-ringed parrot.

Bablu spotted something walking down the middle of the road. Could it be a tiger?  Only if it is wearing body armor. This is one roadblock you don't want to try to ram through.

It's hard to whine about bumpy dirt roads when this is the scenery.

. . . and we did appreciate the locals coming out to welcome us, even for just a minute.

Here's another "look closer" shot. See the pretty scenery on the left? Did you see the crane in the tree? Me neither.

We joined a dozen or so jeep-loads of Tiger Spotters at an observation tower but decided not to climb all those stairs unless it became apparent that someone was seeing some(tiger)thing.

See those itty-bitty specks down the road? TIGERS!

Nope. Just two hog deer. But look at that sunset! It's tiger-colored!

I think this is the elephant herd we saw earlier near the entrance to the park. They are working elephants, used for tourist rides and other activities.

Note the chain around this fellow's foreleg. It's just not the same as seeing a wild elephant.

This grouping of three rhinos (an adult male and female and a calf) and three forest guards stands at this entrance to the national park. The three rhinos were made of ash from the burning of 2,479 rhino horns collected from seized poached horns over a period of 40 years. The display honors the efforts of those who work to protect the one-horned rhino. Apparently poaching has dropped significantly in the last few years because of their efforts.

We made our way through the loud, crowded, colorful night market of Kohor, the small town bordering this entrance to the park . . . 

. . . and back to Diphlu River Lodge to eat an artistically presented dinner before we crashed into our beds to prepare for the next day's Tiger Hunt.