Kaziranga National Park

India

As you amble across the tall grasslands on elephant back and emerge into an opening, you’re likely to run into some heavily armoured, prehistoric looking one- horned rhinoceros, nonchalantly grazing before you barely looking up to give you the time of day. Do consider the sight that belies the extraordinary story behind their survival, here on the banks of the mighty Brahmaputra River. This 430 square kilometres of swamps, sandy riverine islands and waves of tall elephant grass which exist over a flat and broad plain, interspersed with forests of moist tropical trees, floods dramatically ever year and is key to its semi aquatic existence. A World Heritage Site, the park today hosts two-thirds of the world’s greater one-horned rhinoceros, according to the latest census in March 2015 a total of 2,401 - a remarkable feat considering the species was on the verge of extinction, with only 12 left in 1903. In 1908, Kaziranga was designated a Reserve Forest with pioneering protection ef...forts underway, before being given official park status in 1974. Within these watery borders remain herds of now endangered wild buffalo, Asian elephant, swamp deer, capped langur and Asia’s only ape - the hoolock gibbon, which lives in the canopies of the higher bordering forests of Karbi Anglong. It’s also one of India densest tiger habitats with recent estimations of over 80 individuals - but you will be lucky to spot them. Keep binoculars at the ready for this is rare Bengal florican country and a host of wetland and migrant bird species, specifically in the winter months can be enjoyed on elephant back, from a watchtower, by jeep, or in some parts, on foot with an experienced guide. The park has three tourism zones - Kohora, Bagora and Agartoli Read more