35
Count the Big Five in
Zimbabwe
Hwange (pronounced
‘Wang-ee’) National Park is the biggest
in Zimbabwe and has a ridiculous
amount of wildlife: some 400 species
of birds and 107 species of mammals,
including the famed Big Five:
lion, leopard, rhino, Cape buffalo
and African elephant. Elephants are
what really define Hwange, home
to one of the world’s largest populations:
around 40,000 tuskers. Cheetahs,
hyenas and wild dogs put on the
supporting act, the latter with a growing
population. The best time for wildlife
viewing is July to October, when animals
congregate aroundthe 60 water holes
or ‘pans’, and the forest is stripped
of its greenery (www.andbeyond.com;
nine-day Victoria Falls and Wildlife Safari
tour from ` 3,40,000).36
Volunteer at the
Agumbe Rainforest
Research Station,
Karnataka
In Agumbe rainforest, also called Cobra
Country, larger mammals take a backseat;
it’s lesser-known fauna, especially snakes,
that’s in the spotlight. While the king cobra
is the star, there are plenty of other wild
things to be found among the towering
coconut and areca nut trees – from the
deadly, venomous common krait, one
of India’s Big Four, to uncommon butterfly
species. At the Agumbe Rainforest Research
Station (ARRS), volunteers can join
the telemetry team to help conserve
the king cobra and its ecology.
The experience includes seeing the kings
up close like never before, and reaching
out to the local community to learn how
it lives alongside the magnificent serpents
(www.agumberainforest.org).34
Track wild elephants
in Sri Lanka
With around 600 Asiatic elephants in herds up to 50
strong, Udawalawe National Park is one of Sri Lanka’s finest. For
elephant-watching, Udawalawe often surpasses many of the most
famous East African national parks. Spot the animals by joining a
game drive around dawn or dusk, while also keeping an eye out
for wild buffalo, giant squirrels, and sambar and spotted deer
(www.srilanka.travel; Udawalawe entry: ` 970).TRAVEL FOR WILDLIFE