Kabini the Magical Land

Starting early in the morning of 8th June 2013 and stopping at Ranganathittu (Read Here) and having a blast of a time, Manjunath and I continued our journey to Kabini, a part of Nagarahole National Park. My first entry to the land of Tigers and Leopards and Elephants and Deer and....

On our way we stopped at a lake before HD Kote Handpost and spotted a few Birds, I was more keen on photographing the Pied Kingfisher. I took some time and approached a closely perched one and began shooting. And wow, I got my best shot of the bird.

Pied Kingfisher - My best shot so far..

Manjunath works for BBMP at the Head-office and has a lot of contacts, and was able to book the Irrigation department IB at Beechanahalli, a decent place with very basic - simple food. The nearest shop is at the Hand Post about 20KM away.

  

We reached on Q after a simple lunch at the Hand-post and dumped our luggage in our room, and started for the RFO's office at Dammanakatte, this is where the Forest Department - safari bus starts from this side of the park. One needs to get there before 3PM to book the safari. The safari is done only in the evening and they use only one bus, about 25 people in the bus.

Soon the Safari bus started and I was entering the Forest- I was living my dream...

The safari bus goes to both A and B sectors of the Park, and keeps moving and stops only on spotting a carnivorous or a raptor. Although you could ask the driver to stop if you spot something but not a very good option for photographers.

My first ride in the forest was full of Ungulates, a few birds, and a pack of wild dogs.

Sambar Deer - He welcomed me to the forest

We returned back to the RFO's office and then to the IB hoping for better luck the following day.

Since there is no "morning safari" with the Forest Department, we had spoken to the JLR manager and we were "walk-in guests" for the safari.

The IB is about 40KM from JLR and the road is bad. We started by 5AM for the 6.15 Safari.

Due to more "walk-in guests" from another resort from across the backwater, Manjunath and I were not in the same safari vehicle. JLR vehicles can go only to A sector or B sector. And he went to A and I went to B. I was the only photographer in the vehicle and got the first seat, the guest from the other resort were also in the same vehicle and there was a Naturalist with them.

Indian Roller - Juvenile 

Tusker with interlocking tusks 

The safari started and we were all excited, a lot of Langoors, Spotted Deer, Elephants and my first Malabar Pied Hornbill. And then there was silence, the kids in the vehicle were suppressed by there mothers after the naturalist told them to. Outside the vehicle there was a strong-long alarm call - Spotted deer around us, tension was in the air. We waited and waited but nothing, we were all looking in the same direction. Suddenly there was a sound, and frighting at that, almost like roaring... very close to me. It took a few seconds for me to realize that one of the people in the vehicle was now in deep sleep. The whole vehicle burst into laughter and decided to leave as it was nearing time.

Crested Serpent Eagle -CSE

We were now coming back and were on the main road and I spotted a raptor in the A sector of the park, we stopped on the road to have a better look at it, It was the Changeable Hawk Eagle another lifer for me.

Changeable Hawk Eagle 

We were now nearing the JLR property and I was wonder how Manjunath's safari was...

Langoor 

When I reached drop off point I saw Manjunath sitting on the chair, the look on his face said it all. No CATS...

We then spoke to the manager and booked another safari for the evening. We were asked to stay for the following day but Manjunath had some office work to attend. The JLR manager was kind enough to give us a complementary breakfast. The food at JLR was amazing as always.

Same Tusker shot on day 2

We went back to our room at the IB and packed our bags, once that was done and ready. We went to wards the dam, a 300M walk straight out of our room door. That too was great, river terns, spot billed duck,black kite etc...

We had a light biscuit lunch and started to wards JLR. This time we both were in the same vehicle and headed to sector B again. It was a smaller vehicle and had four others. We saw a tusker crossing the road as we entered the forest. The first few minutes was uneventful. Suddenly our drive-naturalist Prem was speeding and I was wondering and looking around, then I saw two more vehicles at a jeep track junction, there were alarm calls all around, everyone thought it was a leopard. I was looking on to the right side and I saw some thing move... I saw orange,white,black... Tiger Tiger I said. A huge male, rather skinny just crossed the road and I bust frames as fast as I/camera could. I was the only one in three vehicles who got a frame. We followed the same for some distance and found a small heard of elephants with a new born calf. We guessed the tiger was after the calf.

Tiger - My first in the wild

After the high action with the Tiger, we headed to the sunset point to catch another glimpses of him but he never came out of the bushes.

The rest of the safari was dull with a few elephants, deer and langoor. As we were coming back to the main road we heard another alarm call and went in that direction, but only found Indian Rollers. Light was almost gone and the time was almost up. My heart sank, it was over.

Indian Roller

We came back to JLR and thanked the JLR staff and started back to Bangalore.

My first visit to the forest and I had seen a Tiger...I was high... But somewhere there was pain, My heart said leopard,leopard,leopard...

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Reaching Kabini side of Nagarahole      

We used a car to reach Kabini and is the best way. Personal transport is what is required.

If you are staying at JLR-Kabini River Lodge and if you require transport you can contact the resort for a pick up or take a bus from HD Kote to Karapura. This bus is to hard to find.

From Bangalore-Mysore-Take the right at the ring road junction and continue in the same direction and take the 3rd right ie at PARASAIYYANA HUNDI- Follow the road till HD Kote Handpost- From there the JLR boards should be able to lead you.

RFO's office is on the same road and is on the left side of the road.

CSE