The luxury of a 5:45 wake up call for a 6:15 coffee before departing for the boat safari. The boat is about a 20 minute drive away through a couple of villages and some “bandit country” ravines. Once we arrive at the river we get out and walk a short distance to the boat, in which time we have already started to build up an impressive list of new birds, including a long-legged buzzard. Once in the boat the list climbs even higher, including osprey, Bonelli’s eagle, Egyptian vulture and many waders, including the Great Thick-knee – which is the name of my room at the lodge.
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We also see both Gharial and Marsh Crocodiles (Muggers) as well as Ganges River Dolphin. The crocodiles are happy to hang around for photographs, but the dolphins are too quick and erratic.
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We breakfast in the boat, then travel back down stream and return to the lodge for lunch. A bit of a rest in the afternoon, then a nature walk around the lodge – lots more birds including a spotted owlet and Eurasian hoopoe and a couple of mammals – Flying Fox and Nilgai. (David also spots an Indian Hare, and manages to get a photo to show the rest of us what we missed!).
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It’s not the end of the day’s activity either, as we take a further sort night walk after dinner, successfully finding the promised Palm Civet, along with an Indian Toad and an Indian Bullfrog.
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