Call of the Wild- Everglades National Park, An Alligator Alley

Compared to the west I haven't explored east coast of USA much. I have reached south-east as far as Florida, the southern tip of continental USA. I went on a road trip to Southern Florida covering Miami, all the three national parks and Florida Keys. One of my friends was pulling my leg ... Are you going hunting pythons? or wrestling with alligators? or riding a Florida panther? ... Ha ha ... I wasn't sure! I would have been lucky to sight a Florida Panther or a giant python! But, I did see a Black tipped shark and also a Florida Manatee :) Only thing I was worried about was the hot-and-humid weather!! But, the trip was worth every penny I spent.

Call of the Wild- National Chambal Sanctuary, The river of Gharials

Gharial

Well, I was in Gwalior and the time wasn't right. There was a lot of tension in Gwalior ... Travel agencies advised me not to venture out. And I wanted to visit the National Chambal Sanctuary which was very few KM away from the epicenter of all the tension- Morena. Next morning, I thought of giving a try than sitting in the hotel room. First, I reached Morena (38KM). I enquired in that dusty bus stand about reaching the sanctuary by public transport. Well, people were very helpful and I boarded another bus. Looked like everyone in the bus knew that I was getting off at the boating terminal. When the bus arrived at the place most of them spoke out ... 'yeh chokri, yahaan utar jao' (get off here) ... Well, I got off ...

Call of the Wild- Bandhavgarh National Park

Bandhavgarh National Park, popular for the tiger tourism in India, was a must see for me even after I had visited Kanha and Pench in the same month. Reaching the place using public transport took little too long. From Jabalpur I took a bus to Katni, then to Umaria and then to Tala. It was too very hectic in the old noisy buses which were filled with humans. Believe me there wasn't even an inch of free space. I felt world is so big when I disembarked at Tala gate :) Took a room for two nights in forest rest-house paying Rs. 3000 and extra for food. My plan was to go for safari and next day to the fort. It is a clean accommodation with no TV right at the national park gate at Tala.

Call of the Wild- Pench National Park

Madhya Pradesh has great number of national parks and tiger reserves popular being- Kanha and Bandhavgarh. One of the lesser known national parks is Pench. After my Amarkantak trip I took a break for few days only to return back t Nagpur. From Nagpur I was looking for a bus to Khawasa, nearest village few KM away from the park. In the beginning I asked for the bus to Pench national park. Nobody seemed to know. I wondered!! Then a person advised me to ask for Khawasa and not to say national park but say Abhayaranya (which means protected forest which in turn means national park). It worked!

Call of the Wild- Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary

Daroji Sloth Bear Wildlife Sanctuary is less known gem of wild Karnataka even though it is near to much visited and world popular Hampi ruins. The sanctuary is part of Bilikal Reserve Forest which is abundant in  birdlife. A major water canal passes through this area habitating large number of aquatic birds.  Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary is 15KM from Hampi. 

Call of the Wild- Kanha National Park

Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh is one of the India's Tiger Lands and also is on the world tourism map. The  park, largest in central India, is well developed by Forest Department and also Tourism Department. But, the question is- how is this development affecting tigers? 

Back on Memory Lane- My first encounter with Sherkhan

When I say my 'first' encounter- it was few years ago. First time is always special! It was month of August and me with friends planned a trip to Kyatadevara Gudi Wilderness Camp- A unit of Jungle Lodges and Resorts Limited, Karnataka. Located in the heart of Biligiri Rangaswamy Hills (BR Hills) wildlife sanctuary the resort arranges for different wildlife activities.