The final day of our Chitwan tour package. An early morning trip into the jungle in a jeep, to a slightly different location, but otherwise much the same as before (only a bit shorter, which I regarded as a bonus rather than otherwise.) Did see a rhino or two, but the highlight was probably a beautiful kingfisher, posing on a branch for us.
Rest of the day spent lazing, writing, swimming in the pool, then collected by Ram, our guide, who was taking us out to one of the Night Towers in the jungle, where we were to spend the night. A half-hour walk through the jungle to reach it, accompanied by a German couple with two small children and their guide, plus an extra guide as well.
Spotted a rhino refreshing him/herself in a stream on the walk out, then a climb up into the building, through a trapdoor (to keep out monkeys? Can’t imagine tigers making it up there, let along rhino.) Our room was on the top floor, meaning an extra climb for me (with a dodgy knee) plus climbs down during the night to get to the toilet, but actually very civilised – a comfortable double-bed with clean sheets and a towel, a (hole-free) mosquito net (though apparently it didn’t keep out frogs; the Germans had to chase one out from their bed.)
Great view of the surrounding jungle, but as darkness fell I took myself off to bed, with weariness descending. Val stayed up for a good while longer, having the patience to wait for animals to arrive, and was rewarded with sightings of a couple of rhino wandering past; you hear them munching, then use a torch to pick them out. We had brought some dinner with us, but it was no easy matter to eat it in the dark, and I didn’t bother with any of it, feeling increasingly rough.
Val came to bed at ten or so, and shortly afterwards I woke, read my book for a while on the terrace. Was rewarded with my own rhino, just below us, enjoying a midnight snack. But I was feeling increasingly unwell, with a streaming nose, utilising my t-shirt as an impromptu hankie. Pretty much stayed up for the rest of the night, reading, sniffing. It was not exactly exciting, but nonetheless wonderful, a terrific experience, to be there in the middle of things.
