[nkrishnap]

It was almost a month that I did any safaris in Nagarahole and Kabini. News of regular sightings of the Black Panther did not help one bit to keep the urge low. Managed to take a couple of days off from office and I was all set to go.

Day 1 – 2nd June 2016

Started off 2 am towards Damankatte. A leisure drive ensured I reached the forest office by 5.45 am with a couple of coffee breaks. Did not take the first safari for 2 reasons. One the duration is quite short and the lighting is quite poor.

The safari bus arrived by 7.20 am and we were off. Decent sightings for the 2 plus hours drive in the forests.























Tusker - 1













Tusker 2 - Young one





Tusker 3







Dry Backwaters





Came back to the forest office around 9.45 am. Phone rings in a few minutes. I get a news that my uncle has expired. I immediately drove back to Bangalore for the funeral.

[nkrishnap]

Day 2 - 3rd June 2016

Was back ready to leave by 1.30 am. This time, my good friend who is completely into Wildlife Conservation and Photography joined me. I dropped my car his place (thanks to the left pulling and wobbling issue, will explain in my ownership thread) and we drove along in his wolfed Linea. A couple of smoke + tea breaks, we were at the safari counter in Nagarahole by 6.40 am. We took the regular bus and we were off.





These wild dogs brought down a spotted deer fawn, we saw a live hunt. A separate post on this will follow.











Post the Safari, we headed to the forest office canteen for a nice breakfast. Played around with a kitten (cross between domestic cat and jungle cat) for a while and then headed off towards Damankatte office through Kutta - Bavali route.

[nkrishnap]

A leisure drove from Nagarahole to Damankatte

This is the route we took. Nagarahole - Kutta - Tholpetty - Kattikulam - Bavali - Balle - Damankatte

This time we took both the safaris 3 pm and 4.30 pm one.



Sambar Deer





Indian Roller





Indian Guar











Dholes























The safari ended by 6.40 pm. We decided to drive back to Bangalore. The drive was uneventful, except for pouring rain as we neared Bidadi. Many people simply do not know how to drive in rain. With the delay with slow moving traffic, finally was able to reach home by 12.10 am.

The black panther and a Tigress was sighted. Pics in a separate post.

[nkrishnap]

Tigress

































Black Panther - this one was quite far from the jeep trail. Nevertheless spotted the elusive one.

[nkrishnap]

Day 3 - 5th June 2016

A day's break on the 4th June and we were off again to Bandipur. World Environment day what better to do than visit the forests.





































Post safari, drove down to Gundlupet for breakfast. Decided to return home for two reasons without doing more safaris.

1. MotoGP Race - The return was worth for the brilliant race and masterful ride from the DOCTOR 46
2. My friend had to attend a function late evening on Sunday.

[nkrishnap]

Dhole Hunt

Safari at Nagarahole is always special, this time we witnesses a spotted deer hunt by Dholes. A pack of dholes had managed to separate a fawn from the deer herd and had chased it to the water hole. This is how it transpired. However, we could not witness the climax thanks to an over enthusiastic gentleman who wanted to see a tiger and the dhole hunt was not interesting to him

A bit to relax after separating the fawn from the herd.











Fawn in the water hole surrounded by dholes all around and no where to go



A dhole covers up when the fawn tries to get to the shore.



A couple of dholes enter the water and drown the fawn.

































Another one watching all the drama and acting as back up



Once the fawn drowned, the carcass would be pulled out and finished in 10 -15 mins. There will be very little left with a dhole kill. The fawn is a little meal for a pack of 12 dholes.

[ampere]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[kvish]

Beautiful pictures! Just the words Nagarhole and Kabini are enough to trigger the interest to go out to the safaris. The black panther and the tigress sighting is amazing!

[nkrishnap]

Originally Posted by kvish

Beautiful pictures! Just the words Nagarhole and Kabini are enough to trigger the interest to go out to the safaris. The black panther and the tigress sighting is amazing!

The Nagarahole Forests are very enticing. I make it a point to go there at every possible opportunity. A night stay at the Gangothri forest guest house will be even better.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Woah! Its almost unbelievable that you managed to spot a tigress, dhole hunt and also the elusive black panther in the same trip! Some very good shots as well.

Rating a well deserved five stars!

[mpksuhas]

Superb set of pics and amazing sightings.

Had visited Kabni (JLR) during 14th and 15th May. Thanks to overnight rain sightings were disappointing. Thanks to high room rates, visiting JLR frequently is not a viable option.

Can you share detail on how to book Kaveri or Gangotri rest houses? Also, the safaris you opted are the forest department ones I guess. How easy is it to get tickets in the same if you walk-in? Or is there any option to book tickets online like for Bandipur.

[nkrishnap]

Originally Posted by mpksuhas

Superb set of pics and amazing sightings.

Had visited Kabni (JLR) during 14th and 15th May. Thanks to overnight rain sightings were disappointing. Thanks to high room rates, visiting JLR frequently is not a viable option.

Can you share detail on how to book Kaveri or Gangotri rest houses? Also, the safaris you opted are the forest department ones I guess. How easy is it to get tickets in the same if you walk-in? Or is there any option to book tickets online like for Bandipur.

Thank you.

Sightings vary definitely with rain, it is beyond our control.

Kaveri and Gangotri rest houses can booked by reach out to Aranya Bhavan in Mysore. But it is booked full most of the times, difficult to get hold off. JLR is priced exorbitantly. What I generally do is take a room in HD Kote (mind you these are bare basic rooms. Just a shelter to sleep for the night) and do these safaris.

Damankatte is a different story altogether for safari booking. They are getting a 2nd vehicle in about 10 days time which should ease the load quite a bit. There is no online booking and you need to go to the forest office to book a ticket.

Morning Safari - Tickets will be issued the previous evening from 4 pm
Afternoon Safari - Tickets will be issued the same day morning from 10 am.

Note: One person can book only 2 tickets.

[ssateesh]

Excellent pictures Krishna. last one is my faourite

[Ace F355]

Awesome pics and travelogue, nkrishnap. Great catch of Tigress's mood! And a Black Panther!!! Wish the pics were from a bit closer there. But still, better than nothing!

Thanks for sharing.

[earthian]

What a catch. A ring side seat to a pack of dholes on a hunt. To see a dhole pack is a tough job, nut to see them in action and get superb photographs. truly blessed.'Good job.