Bunglow Manager: - Oh! You all are ready. That’s good. Accha, this is Dolui. He will take you to the Holong bunglow. The elephant safari starts from Holong bunglow only. Don’t worry; you don’t need to pay any money to Dolui. You need to pay only for the elephant safari in the booking counter in front of the Holong bunglow. Now, just get inside the jeep.
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Debarjun: - We are going to the deep jungle now. Isn’t it?
Dolui: - Yes, Sir. The Holong bunglow is around 4 Km from here. It is at the center of the Jaldapara jungle. Now, the jeep has to go through this muddy road only. Be alert and don’t make any loud sound.
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Ayandeep: - What happened? Suddenly, why have you stopped the jeep in this no man’s land?
Dolui: - Hssssh….I can hear some galloping sound. Maybe, a herd of bison is very near to this muddy road. Let me stop the jeep here for few minutes and blow the horn of this jeep loudly. It will signal them that we are here. By hearing the sound of the horn, they will move backward towards the Gorumara forest.
Debrup: - Gorumara forest? Where are we now? Is it Gorumara or Jaldapara?
Dolui: - This muddy road belongs to Jaldapara, but can you see those fences just a few meters away on the eastern direction of this road. Beyond that fence is the Gorumara forest. There is one common area between Gorumara and Jaldapara forest where fencing has not been done intentionally. Through that area, the animals keep on moving from one jungle to the other.
Roy: - Which is more dangerous, Gorumara or Jaldapara?
Dolui: - Gorumara is more dangerous and denser too. The number of tigers and leopards are more in Gorumara forest. That’s why; you will not often find tourists going for a safari in Gorumara forest. We are nearing the check-post. All the forest security guards are always vigilant here. Holong Bunglow is just at a distance of 1.2 Km from this check-post.
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Dolui: - We have reached Holong Bunglow. Note down my jeep number. I will be parking my car in that parking zone. After your safari, just come back in front of this jeep. Now, go and enjoy the elephant safari.
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Debarjun: - So, this is the Holong bunglow. Hmm…it is not made of woods or plywood, but of bricks and mortar. I can see 5 elephants, waiting for their customers. All elephants are domesticated elephants and are controlled by their respective Mahoots.
Roy: - Don’t under-estimate these Mahoots. They are very courageous and take risks every day. They are also government employees. I mean to say that they have been recruited by the West Bengal forest department officials. Look at those baby elephants also. They are running here and there. They are so cute. Look at Sain. He is touching the body of that baby elephant. If that baby elephant becomes angry and swings its trunk, then God save Sain.
Sain: - Ei, I have discovered a very funny thing. Look at the skin of this baby elephant. It is not at all smooth as it looks from a far distance. The skin of elephant is having long thorny hairs. Maybe, it gives them some protection. This baby elephant is very fond of dust and mud. See, every time, it is picking up some dust with its trunk and releasing those dust on its body.
Debrup: - Ayandeep, I will take a pose with that baby elephant. Please click my photo.
Debarjun: - Arrey, we should not waste our time. We should book the tickets for elephant safari from the counter now. It is 25 bucks per head. Each safari is for 15 minutes.
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Booking Counter Officer: - Your safari will be at 8.30 AM. Now, it is 7.45 AM. It is time for the elephants to have some breakfast. There is one more travelling party before you. They will go for the safari at 8.15. After them, it is your turn. Till that time, just roam around this Holong bunglow or sit somewhere. Accha let me tell you another thing. Only 4 people can sit on a single elephant. You are 5 in number. So, 1 person from your group has to ride on another elephant.
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