Jungle bliss April 11th

Gaur (Indian buffalo):
















Wild elephant:

[Cathy]
We are now indulging in a relaxing (and stimulating) stay at the very luxurious Jungle Retreat on the edge of the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary. We opted for the bamboo hut (with mosquito net and small biting ants in bed with us at night!) because the bathroom feels as if it's in the open air - highish walls and a roof, but a large gap between, where we can see the wildlife but not be seen. In the morning when we emerge from our room at 6.30 am for a birdwatching walk a herd of spotted deer is resting in front of the hut. We have to be escorted back to our huts/rooms after dark to make sure no elephants have wandered in!
The retreat is on private property just below the Ooty range of the Nilgiris, still at 1500ft above sea level, and nestles in the bowl of hills on a plain surrounded by scrub, only a few kilometres from the Wildlife reserve and its jungle. The reserve is closed because of the drought (and because a French tourist was killed by an elephant 6 months ago - [S]actually she was staying just down the road from this place), but we are able to drive on a public road in the reserve, which we did last night for nearly 3 hours, seeing wild elephants, and working elelphants having their evening bath, gaur (an incredible large and muscular bull bison, crossing the road in front of us) sambhar (deer), spotted deer, mongoose, wild peacocks and a hare from the jeep - no-one is allowed to get out on the road, because of the risks.




The food is fantastic here, and despite Samuel having a slight recurrence of his gut problem, we feel confident that we will have put on all the weight we lost earlier, by the time we return. There is also an open air swimming pool where we can keep cool whilst seeing the mountains on one side and watching the crested tree-swifts as they swoop down to drink from the pool. A large bull also came down to drink today, and a dog, and a cow yesterday - apparently at night deer, leopards and other wild animals come and drink, so they only chlorinate it very lightly.
In the mornings and evenings we go our on wildlife trips, watching at waterholes and exploring the surrounding villages and hills, and in the heat of the day we swim or relax in canvas chairs in front of our cabin watching the birds, deer and mongoose as they pass by. Fabulous!