Going on a Safari? Read This!
I share the 5 Essential Dos and Don’ts for a Superlative Safari Experience in India!
Winter is the perfect season to visit one of the many National Parks, Tiger Reserves and Wildlife Sanctuaries in India! Though rare animal sighting is, well, rare, the whole shebang is exciting and fulfilling.
For animal lovers, there is nothing better than seeing the animals in their natural habitat. For beginners like me, it is a newfound love — because not just the thrill of seeing the animal open and free, it is also the vastness, the unpredictability and the sheer mystery of the forest that is enticing and foreboding, at once!
On my first trip to Kaziranga National Park, located in the state of Assam, famous for its one horned rhino, I understood a few essential things about Safaris that I share here.
1) Wear Light Coloured/Dull Clothing
All those camouflage tees and pants? They’re perfect for Safaris! Beige, cream, military green and shades of these (basically what we’d call neutral or earthy colours), are ideal to merge with the forest. Bright colours scare away the animals and birds, so bright clothes must be avoided. Black is also best avoided as it attracts insects and flies.
(Also, try to wear full sleeves and long pants — learned this the hard way!)
2) Carry a Sunhat or Cap & Sunscreen
Most safaris will take you into open spaces — grasslands where animal sightings are better — and it would be essential to carry a sunhat for protection. Use as much sunscreen as you can and you won’t regret sitting under the sun waiting for an animal to appear.
3) Carry Binoculars
You may be like me – someone who is not an ardent fan of Safaris, but believe me, once you get into the jeep and see your first animal in the wild, hear the first bird or insect, you’ll be hooked and you’ll lament not having a pair of good binoculars. Investing in one is a great idea. With care, they can last years and years.
4) Be Quiet
The one thing that strikes first time visitors to a forest are the sounds of the forest — the buzz of insects, the calls of birds (depending upon time of day), and if you’re lucky, the call of an animal. Human voices tend to scare the wildlife away and keeping silence is absolutely essential for a good Safari experience.
5) Don’t Get Off the Jeep
This cannot be emphasised enough. Most parks, reserves and forests have designated areas where the jeeps roam and it is prohibited for humans to leave their vehicles in these places. Not only do you break rules if you get off the vehicle (either to see an animal up close or to photograph them), always remember that wild animals can be dangerous and unpredictable.
Your naturalist or jeep driver will let you know where you can get off and you should adhere to the rules.
