A Corbett Park Elephant Safari

We chose a seven day elephant safari through one of the many complexes run by private operators on the Corbett National Park’s perimeter. We stayed five nights in four different forest rest houses. There are about a dozen or so forest rest houses built by the British Raj in the 1890’s and 1900’s to choose from. We left it to our guide/operator to organise all these details for us.

Some useful tips on choosing your Corbett Park elephant safari operator:-
Make sure you choose the right tour operator. They should be contactable by e-mail; many now have web sites and can be phoned.

The Corbett Park Elephant Safari package should include: -

1. A guide/naturalist – who is invaluable in showing you the jungle signs, interpret the sounds and take you to the places where certain species inhabit.
2. All meals should be included.
3. Supported by safari jeeps.
4. All the Corbett Park entrance fees and other costs included.

Our tour consisted of 6 adults, three on each elephant, supported by two elephant and their drivers “Mahouts” and two support staff to look after the elephants. Six other staff including the guide, two drivers, a cook and his helper, and a man to make the beds, put up the tents and other various chores.

The support team had two jeeps and a 4x4 truck to carry all the beds, food, tents etc for us and of course the support team. A feel of how the British Raj may have traveled but in modern times.

Riding the Elephants in the Corbett National.
The day started at 6.30am. with breakfast at 7am. Followed by getting on the elephants at 7.30 to 8.30am. The rides varied in length from 2-4 hours. The benefit of riding an elephant, is the height you are above the ground, some 12-15ft. giving excellent views of the surrounding countryside. Also the elephants go where no vehicle can go. They are silent and if you are silent you have a great chance of seeing all kinds of animals.

The Corbett Elephant Safari bath
Seeing the elephants have a bath in the river after several days on a Corbett Park safari was a real treat. They absolutely love it. The Mahouts and the rest of the support team all joined in. The elephant (all female - as they have a better temperament) first squirts water all over herself with her trunk so she is thoroughly drenched. They lie down in a pool and the team splash water onto her, and wash their thick skins thoroughly using a stone, with great effort. The soles of their feet are checked, removing any imbedded stones and behind the ears are washed thoroughly too. One side followed by the other side, the elephant, having to get up and turn over.

Guarding the elephants in the Corbett National Park

At night the wild bull elephants will try and mate with the females and take them away. The Mahouts take it in turns to guard them. At our first forest rest house, the elephants were kept in the jungle, just beyond the forest rest house perimeter ditch defenses. This necessitated the mahouts to keep a fire going all night, singing and chanting into the late hours and on one occasion letting off firecrackers to keep the wild elephants away. On other nights the elephants were secure in the forest rest house perimeter defenses allowing the mahouts a good nights rest.

So what would we suggest you carry with you on the Corbett Park elephant safari?
1. A small bag to put one or two items, such as water, spare batteries for your camera, spare film or compact cards, something warm.
2. Binoculars around your neck.
3. Your camera – have this ready at all times as often you only have a few seconds, before the wild animal moves away into the forest.

Would we recommend an elephant safari? – Definitely especially supported by the jeeps, makes for an excellent trip!!

Our Corbett National Park elephant safari was excellent!