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Have you ever shared your "bath" with an elephant? You can do that at Kipling Camp! Remember there is a first time for everything! Kipling Camp was established in 1982 on the edge of Kanha Tiger Reserve in Central India. The camp welcomes naturalists, conservationists and those who wish to relax in idyllic surroundings. It is also the home of Tara, the much-loved elephant who starred in Mark Shand's best selling book "Travels on my Elephant". Kipling Camp a simple, comfortable and unique jungle lodge for an enjoyable stay. The Camp is open from October to mid May. Kipling Camp guests enjoy picnic breakfasts in the Park, bathing Tara our elephant at the river, relaxing siestas and drinks by the campfire. There's the excitement of tracking tigers from the backs of Park elephants, and the peace of watching birds whilst walking in the forest.
The focal point of the camp is the
Shamiana , where guests enjoy indoor and outdoor dining. It is an ideal
place for guests to mingle with fellow wildlife enthusiasts or simply
pick up a book and relax. There are no fences or barriers segregating
Kipling Camp from its environment, and the Camp is frequently visited by
spotted deer and langur monkeys, while jackals, wolves and even leopards
occasionally pad by.
"In 1989, our friend Mark Shand, with Aditya Patankar purchased Tara in South Orissa. She was in very poor shape and a begging elephant used to scrounging from various villages and so forth. Mark Shand then rode her, very gently for several hundreds of miles to the Sonepur Mela north of Patna in Bihar, which is held annually as the largest elephant fair in the country. Of course he was accompanied by a jeep-load of stores and delicacies, together with Aditya and a mahout! His subsequent publication 'Travels on my Elephant' became a best seller At Sonepur, Mark, in his dhoti, set up his tent with the Union Jack outside, prepared to sell Tara to the highest bidder. He received a number of offers since she is such a docile creature amongst many other rather difficult elephants on sale.
She eventually arrived, and has spent the past 14 years or so at Kipling Camp, where she is an absolute gem, very popular with so many guests, who greatly enjoy assisting in her afternoon bathing in the river Banjar, and carrying guests around the Buffer Zone of the Tiger Reserve, viewing wildlife. She has recently had an enormous 'Palace' constructed for her to replace two which she had previously pulled down!"
Contact Details Morcha Village, P.O. Kisli - Kanha National Park, District Manda, Madya Pradesh - 481768, India.
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All
this, along with the knowledge that Kipling Camp is owned by some of
Indian's leading conservationist, makes a unique and delightful
experience. Over the past 20 years, the camp has maintained its "house
party" atmosphere. Kipling Camp provides the perfect place for peace and
tranquility in the heart of the India Jungles.
Kipling
Camp's in-house naturalists have an extensive knowledge of the wildlife
of Kanha, and they always accompany guests each safari drive into the
National Park. Selected volunteers from abroad are annually given the
opportunity to learn about Indian wildlife, while helping management
staff to look after guests.
He
was the approached by Anne and Belinda Wright who were visiting Sonepur
to purchase a pachyderm for Kipling Camp; having known them previously,
Mark decided that he would prefer Tara to have a happy home in Madhya
Pradesh rather than continue life as a begging elephant. She was
accordingly donated personally to Bob Wright and there followed a
certain amount of problems persuading her to board a truck for the
lengthy drive to Kanha.
