“Keep close to nature’s heart… and break clear away, once in a while, climb a mountain, or spend a week in the woods” – John Muir.
As I reflect on the memories created in Kabini, the land of spectacular landscapes and wildlife, where I had the opportunity to spend time with nature in the month of December, 2024, where adventure took us to the most unique experiences.
Kabini is located in the Mysore district of Karnataka, India and is home to wildlife that lurk on the backwaters of the uneven river at Kabini which is at the edge of the Nargarhole and Bandipur National Parks. It has a mix of dry and moist deciduous forests and is home to tigers, leopards, elephants, wild dogs and many species of migratory as well as resident birds.
As I explored the forests of Naraghole, while being seated in a canter (a twenty four seat bus), during our safari, I realized that sound in a jungle is more than just a background core, it helped us to see what our eyes couldn’t while opening our minds eye to imagine, construct and relate the different aspects of the jungle. As we were coming to the end of one of our safaris, wishing and complaining about not spotting the Bengal Tiger, we suddenly spotted the only dominant female tiger in the territory while she had come to take a dip in a waterhole while embodying in the spirit of the wilderness.
We took two boat safaris, one during the serene sunrise hours and one at noon. As the morning safari advanced, we saw spotted deer, dotting the greens close to the water. The 9 am sun brought comfort to the greater and little cormorants, after they dived deep into the still waters to earn their breakfast. The morning safari concluded as the birds began to play and sing songs, of both fear and pride. The melodic morning gave way to an exciting afternoon as we embarked on our noon excursion. We came across mugger crocodiles, basking in the sun by clumps of bamboo, many dead and some new. We feasted our eyes over some water-borne amphibians like the smooth-coated otters, frolicking in the afternoon sun in large bevies. It was truly a sight for sore eyes.
February, 2025
