Day 126. Sausara

Today we signed up for an all day canoe and walking safari. We got up early and the hotel provided us with breakfast and a packed lunch. Our guide collected us at the hotel and we wandered down to the banks of the East Rapti river, a broad and gently flowing waterway. We set off for our 1 1/2 hour journey with just us, our 2 guides and the boatman in out dugout canoe.

The sky was clear and as we floated downstream the view to the mountains was spectacular. 

Mark looking wistfully at the mountains. 

There is an abundance of wildlife on the river with a variety of birds and of course crocodiles.

There are two varieties of crocodiles in Nepal. The Mugger croc is the most common and looks similar to other crocs we have seen around the world, then there is the fish eating Gharial croc with its long snout and interlocking teeth, this one is on the endangered species list. 

We then said goodbye to our boatman and began our journey back through the jungle on foot. 

It was very hot and sticky but the shade from the canopy was good and the pace was gentle. 

Throughout the day we saw a variety if animals, deer, monkeys flying through the canopy were amazing to see, we saw signs of Rhinos and Tigers but this is not the best time of year for spotting as the the grasses are still very tall. 

What every good safari walker should wear - loose clothing  ( too hot otherwise and dark colours) 

One thing that amazed me was the forest floor is alive with so many different insects, such and abundance and some quite colourful like the red Cotton bug. 

One of our guides trying really hard to find a rhino. 

Towards the end of the day we stopped for a break and a decent sized pig stopped by to say hi. 

It was now 5:30, we had been walking since 9 and feeling a bit tired, we made our way to the river bank so we could be transported back to our starting point by canoe. 

Our taxi. 

Once we reached the other side the guides told us they were taking on a little walk to where we went on yesterday’s walk. I was tired and could feel the beer quenching my thirst but off we went. And what a treat, a Rhino was taking a bath further up stream. 

A wonderful way to finish a memorable day, well not quite, we sat in the fading light drinking beer and watched the deer on the opposite river bank come down to drink ahhhhhh. 

Oh and those mountains.