Please note that both these expeditions are now full.

Nepal-Bardia

GIANT ELEPHANT EXPEDITION - 2012

In the Sal forests of Western Nepal there is a wild life reserve known as the Bardia National Park. Here, in 1992, John Blashford-Snell (JBS) and a team from the Scientific Exploration Society discovered the largest elephant ever seen in the Indian sub-continent. Standing 11 '3" at the shoulder, the giant was thought by local people to be a mammoth but he turned out to be an unusual Asian elephant with a pronounced domed head. Numerous expeditions to study this creature and his herd were made up to 2001. A book entitled "Mammoth Hunt" was published and a TV film won large audiences.

The discovery of Raja Gaj or King Elephant as he became known, led the Nepalese Wildlife Department to protect the area and this also preserved the endangered Indian rhino, the Bengal tiger, other animals and birds living in this sanctuary.

Five years ago Raja Gaj, disappeared, but in 20 1 O~• hearing he had returned, a new team sought him. However they learned that he hadpossibly been swept away in a flood. Happily the expedition found wild elephants including two large tuskers, rhino, tig~ and numerous other animals in this little visited area.

Bardia is a magnificent wilderness, flanked by two rivers and to the North; the Himalayan foothills rise sharply from the forest. To the South there are the vast plains of India.
Those who have enjoyed the magic of Bardia have urged JBS to organize an expedition on which young people could experience this unique place, riding and handling elephants whilst seeking wildlife and learning how to track and identify animals.
At the same time a number of older people who have been on previous expeditions are eager to return to this magical area.

Thus two expeditions are planned for 2012. The first will be for young people with adult members of their family and the second will be for those over 18.

THE 2012 FAMILY EXPEDITION
29th March - 10th April 2012

In the Easter school holidays JBS is planning a 2 week expedition for adult members of the family and children over 11 years of age. There will be a total of 16 persons who would assemble in Kathmandu, fly down to Bardia to be accommodated in a comfortable tented base camp on the banks of the Kamali River. Nepalese staff from the celebrated Tiger Mountain Company, many of whom speak English will look after the team and there will be trained tame elephants for safaris into the jungle.

Hot (solar heated!) and cold water and all meals are provided at base camp. However, there will also be a two day more basic camp at the Babai River. Inflatable boats can be used on the rivers and mahseer fishing is available. Children will be able to bath the elephants in the river! In the evenings there will be entertainment around the fire and a night vision device will be available for observation of wildlife from an hide.
The team will spend two nights at the Shankar Hotel in Kathmandu to acclimatize and visit sites of particular interest at the start and two nights at the end. Breakfast is included but other meals in Kathmandu, except for the Farewell Dinner will have to be paid for by members.

A member of a child's family or guardian must accompany the youngsters.

THE 2012 SENIOR ELEPHANT QUEST EXPEDITION
12 - 25th April 2012

The aim is to study the wild elephants and catalogue the tiger, rhino and wildlife in the Bardia reserve. The results will be passed to the Nepalese Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.

Up to 18 persons will take part. John Blashford-Snell will lead the expedition.
The team will assemble in Kathmandu on 1ih April, have an opportunity to acclimatize, shop and sight see before flying to Nepalgung, two hours' drive from the tented camp in Bardia. Trained domestic elephants and their handlers will then be used to carry the team into the riverine grasslands and the sal forests seeking the giant wild elephants. These will be measured with a special optical instrument, their condition noted and photographed for the record. ;\
It is also planned to spend two nights in the picturesque Babai valley where an herd of elephants was tracked in 2010. Inflatable rafts are available for journeys along the Kamali River, in an area where there are no serious rapids.

In the camp there will be instruction on the bathing and care of the domestic elephants. It is also planned to visit villages outside the reserve and provide some help for local schools.
A traditional Burns Supper will be held with the Nepalese staff and elephant boys before returning by air to Kathmandu on 23rd April. There will be a day for shopping and a farewell party before the expedition ends on 25th April.

If you would like further information, please get in touch via the 'Contact' page.