It was a beautiful sunshiny day when at 6.00 am we set off for our Elephant Safari.
In the 1960’s the John Wayne movie ‘HATARI’ captured everyone’s imagination. Since then the catchy tune of Baby Elephant Walk always comes to mind when I see an elephant. Little did I imagine that 50 odd years later I would actually go on an elephant ride in the wild.
Seeing our old elephant Rani I was saddened that the 72 year old pachyderm still had to work while she passed other elephants freely roaming in the wetlands
Our guide was no John Wayne but was kinder to his mount than the other mahout was. I could see him prod his elephant with the sharp tipped machete.
I asked myself if it was fair to go on an Elephant Safari even if the park had strict rules on animal care
But on the other hand unless people see animals in the wild, they have no idea of what conservation is all about. The Kaziranga Game Park is wonderfully organised and visitors are strictly regulated. The pathways are clearly demarcated and the mahouts and guides are well informed.
It would be a shame if animal rights activists discontinued elephant rides .
This part of the park is mostly marshy bogs that are slowly being encroached upon by trees. What one is likely to see here is the Rhino and we saw a ton of them .
The Elephant Safari as over all too soon and we had to go back to IORA for a quick breakfast before our mid morning Jeep Safari to the Central Zone .
Ciao
Twenty- five Seven 
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