ADVENTURE
If you haven’t done a wildlife safari yet, you’re really missing out. Because this stuff is thoroughly good.
The Indian hotspots of Corbett, Ranthambore and Bharatpur and their African counterparts in Zambezi, Masai Mara and Namibia witness hundreds of thousands of tourists year after year. The joy of watching a herd of desert elephants, or a coterie of black rhinos from the vantage point of your Land Rover on a dusty trail across the grasslands is simply indescribable.
Be that as it may, however, sometimes one tends to be overenthusiastic and, shall we say, reckless. It’s important to remember that you’re not in a controlled environment – it’s called the wild for a reason.
So here’s our guide, a dummy’s guide to going on a wildlife safari. By no means comprehensive, this guide will let you enjoy your wildlife safari to the fullest while bringing you back with no horror stories to recount.
Whether it’s in India or Africa, there are certain travel essentials you’ll need to keep within close reach at all times. This includes a mosquito repellant, a pain relief spray, a first aid kit, a Swiss knife, water bottle, torch and some emergency food rations (chocolate usually works).
Keep a satchel or handy bag with you to keep all this in – it could save your life someday.
It doesn’t have to be a DSLR or anything fancy. But just bear in mind that you’ll need a camera that has a comprehensive zoom lens and can take rapid snaps (because wildlife doesn’t strike a pose). The grasslands of the Masai Mara and the woods of Corbett and Ranthambore have some amazing sights on display, both in terms of flora and fauna. You don’t want to be stranded with a digicam that can’t keep up.
Over the last few years, we’ve all heard tragic tales (and some unintentionally hilarious ones too) of individuals tempting fate on wildlife safaris. The selfie culture took a reckless turn as people tried to photograph themselves standing less than 30 metres away from wild bears and rhinos. Now, we know that makes for one epic photo and bestows bragging rights galore, but just don’t, okay? When you’re feeling like taking that fateful step into the unknown wild, just remember that Usain Bolt can notch a top speed of 28 km/hr. A garden-variety rhino, on the other hand, can do 55 km/hr. You’re no Usain Bolt. Case closed.
The Kenyan and Assamese safaris usually do give you a chance to get up, close and personal with the local inhabitants who can give you a glimpse into life alongside the wild. This is truly an opportunity not to be missed. So when you’re out there, step out of your tourist shoes for a while and get the inside story from the indigenous peoples living in these parts.
So, that’s our little list of experiences to indulge in (and avoid) while embarking upon your wildlife safari. Have anything to contribute? Any experiences to share with all of us? The comments section says hello.
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