Jungle Tracks

All this month we've been on the road and this past weekend we were on jungle roads in the B.R. Hills ( Biligiri Ranganna Hills). Roads must be on my mind because I've taken more pictures of the jungle track when on safari than anything else.

The macademised road which winds up into the hills through lush tropical jungle. We were visiting the Biligiri Ranganna Hills for the first time. Its really very beautiful.

Its sunny one moment and pouring cats and dogs the next. It was noon when the picture above was taken. The mist was so dense we couldn't see a thing beyond fifty metres.

Dirt tracks criss cross the jungle. Everybody silent, scanning the undergrowth, branches and canopy for birds and animals. Will we spot a tiger, sloth bear or leopard? That's the question on everybody's mind.

Spotting animals in the dense undergrowth is difficult and takes experienced eyes and some luck. Most creatures are spotted close to the jungle tracks. When the jeep's engine is killed the jungle sounds can be deafening and like in the picture above you sit and observe the herd of Gaur grazing . The only other sounds are whispers and the rapid clicking of cameras.

Safaris into the jungle will take you past water holes. I always expect to spot a magnificent tiger or a herd of elephants cavorting in the water but haven't had that sort of luck to date, maybe the next time.

Alarm calls alert us to the presence of a predator close at hand.Everybody on the look out, until a leopard is spotted draped gracefully on the branch of a tree. The first leopard R and I have seen in the wild.It was a great weekend.Hope you're having a good week.

To see some magnificent pictures of the above mentioned leopard click here