Manas Trip Report

December 2009

On our return journey we made a detour in the forest to go and see a water hole. Everyone from the group tried their best to spot the tracks of different animals and some succeeded also (tracks seen Elephant, Different deers, Leopard and possibly a tiger)

10th December
Manas National Park.

Today we had decided to start our excursion at the Central Range of Manas and accordingly left in jeeps for a ride through many small villages in order to reach the Gate at Bansbari Range. Completed the paper work and entered the park.

Manas has a thick foliage of trees and undergrowth and many varieties of flowers can be seen blooming here.

Our plan today was to reach Mothanguri Forest Lodge overlooking Manas river and the Royal Manas National Park. On the way managed to see a female sambar resting in shade and another troop of Capped Langur as well as Hoary-Bellied Himalayan Squirrel (my first). Soon reached the complex at Mothanguri and saw a Semi Adult Gaur quite near the track. It seems he was quite used to the company of the forest guards and came close to one of our jeeps.

All the group members got busy clicking pictures of the beautiful view as well of each other.

After lunch a short break to relax as well as walk down to the entrance gate for Royal Manas National Park which is in Bhutan.

Return journey was interesting and soon came across tree lying across the track. Our guide told us that this is the handiwork of wild Elephants who do not like humans using the same path as they do. So this was their way to show protest.

The boys cleared another path through the forest with their machetes and journey was resumed.