Seeing elephants in the wild can be a magical experience. The chance to see these majestic animals up-close in their natural habitat is not something the majority of people are lucky enough to experience.

However, if you are fortunate enough to be in the position of planning a trip to see elephants in the wild, there are certain places in the world that will give you a great opportunity to do so.

The following 5 destinations are some great places all around the world to see elephants in the wild:

Udawalawe National Park, Sri Lanka

Located approximately 200km south-east of Colombo city in Sri Lanka, the Udawalawe National Park is widely recognised for the fairly large numbers of elephants that currently reside there (said to be around 400).

With so many elephants living in this 119 Sq mile National Park, anyone wanting to see elephants in the wild should certainly have a Sri Lanka holiday at the top of their list.

Visitors are recommended to take an open-top safari in a 4 wheel-drive vehicle to explore the area, where they can expect to see whole herds of elephants young and old either feeding or bathing or generally playing around!

The park isn’t exclusively home to elephants as there are a huge number of other animals living there including water buffalo, leopards, Sambar deer’s and jackals so you will see a diverse range of animals should you visit the park that was first established in 1972.

Bandipur National Park, India

Part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, the Bandipur National Park is home to over 5000 Asiatic elephants, a fifth of the world’s total population.

The park is located 80km south of Mysore on the Ooty Road and was first created in the 1930s. Covering 337 Sq miles, it is renowned for being home to both Asian elephants and Bengal tigers.

However, whilst visitors are likely to see elephants during their time at Bandipur National Park, only a select few are lucky enough to see the stunning Bengal tigers living in the area.

The best time of the year to visit to see wildlife including elephants is between March and April but people visit all year around and still manage see beautiful wildlife throughout the park.

If you are planning on visiting the park, it’s worth noting that the wet season is between June and September. Those who visit during this period should carry a raincoat as the breeze during these months render umbrellas useless.

Chobe National Park, Botswana

As Botswana’s second biggest National Park (4500 Sq miles) and perhaps its best known, the Chobe National Park is home to some of the greatest concentration of wildlife in the whole of Africa.

Best renowned for its elephant population of 120,000, the Chobe National Park is undoubtedly one of the best places in the world to see elephants in the wild.

The elephants that live within the Chobe National Park are Kalahari elephants which are characterised by their short tusks and huge size.

As well as these elephants, there are also buffalo, antelope and other stunning wildlife to see.

The best time to visit Botswana’s first National Park (established in 1967) tends to be between April and October although you can visit all year around.

If you are planning a visit to Chobe National Park, one thing you should be sure to consider is the malarial mosquitoes that are found throughout the park. With this in mind, you are strongly advised to take anti-malarial prophylactics before, during and after your stay.

Khao Yai National Park, Thailand

Thailand’s oldest and most visited National Park is located in the Sankamphaeng Mountain Range, 180km north-east of Bangkok.

Covering 835 Sq miles and home to 200 plus wild elephants, the Khao Yai National Park was established in 1962 and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005.

As well as being a great place to see elephants in the wild, visitors may also be lucky enough to see Sambar deers, Asiatic black bears and leopards amongst other wildlife.

The best time to visit in the year to see elephants is between December and February which is also the coolest part of the year so if you’re planning on heading out for a night time safari it may be worth taking a jumper with you.

Many people who plan a Thailand holiday choose to travel around the country during their visit. If you are currently in the process of planning your trip, Khao Yai National Park is one place that you should be sure to include on your holiday itinerary.

Tembe National Elephant Park, South Africa

Home to 220 of the biggest elephants in the world, the Tembe National Elephant Park is situated in Maputaland which is in the north-eastern region of KwaZulu Natal in South Africa.

As the name of the National Park suggests, the area is renowned for its African elephant herd which are Tembe’s main attraction. In fact, the park is home to South Africa’s only herd of indigenous elephants in the country.

The 115 Sq mile area is also home to the other animals that make up the ‘Big 5’; those being lions, leopards, rhinos and buffalos. There’s plenty of other spectacular wildlife within the Tembe National Elephant Park, making it a great place to visit for those hoping to see a diverse range of animals and birdlife.

Guest Post
This article was written by the team at travel supermarket

Below are a few of my personal experiences with the night vision binoculars on that trip, which I think really highlight just why I think that you should really consider taking a pair on your next safari holiday:

Viewing Elephants at Night with Night Vision

During my stay in Zimbabwe, I went on a houseboat on Lake Kariba. Located on the Zambezi river, by volume it is the largest artificial lake in the world and there is plenty of wildlife that lives in and around it’s shoreline and it is where where elephants are a very common sight, but it is not that often that you get to watch them at night:

Late one afternoon as the sun was setting, I watched and took photos of a couple of elephant bulls feeding on an island and just before it completely set, they swam across the small stretch of water between the island and the mainland. The water was deep and they became completely submerged, except for their trunks. This in itself was really great to see, but later on that night I was in for far more of a treat.

On the houseboat, I usually sleep out on the front deck under the stars instead of inside a cabin. I love it as not only do the stars seem to shine much brighter in Africa, but from here you get to hear all the sounds of the bush at night.

On this particular night I heard the breaking of branches not far from the boat and knew what it was – the elephants, tearing at the trees for food. Turing on the Luna Optics LN-PB3 Night vision binoculars, I was able to sit and watch them for ages.

For me it is always fascinating to watch these majestic animals at night and this occasion was no diofferent. What was also very interesting was to note just how good their eyesight must be as even though there was nothing but the light from the stars and the moon, they purposely walked over the large ropes that we use to secure the boat to the shore, being very careful so as not to touch them.

The Bat and the Hippo

Spending some time on a houseboat on Lake Kariba is a wonderful experience and is a great way to view animals like elephants, buffalo, crocodiles and a whole host of African birds. It is also a great place to go if you like fishing as lying within these waters is the mighty Tigerfish (Hydrocynus forskalii).

Obviously being on the water another very common sight during the day are Hippopotamuses, but like the elephants you rarely get the opportunity to observe them at night.

At night the boat is moored up against the land and shortly after going to bed one night, (I usually sleep out on the deck under the stars) I heard the unmistakable sound of a hippo coming out of the water onto the land to feed (Hippos usually feed on land at night because their skin is very sensitive to the sun and they can even get sunburnt.)

With so many hippos, this sight is not uncommon around Lake Kariba and I have often seen them eating at night, but never without using a light. So I quickly reached for the Luna Optics binoculars and what I saw was a complete revelation. Sure enough there was a large hippo munching on the grass only 20 meters from the boat, but what I also saw astonished me:

I could also clearly see a bat flying around it again and again. The reason for this I imagine is that it must have been an Insect-eating bat (Microchiroptera) that was taking advantage of the fact that the hippo was flushing insects out from the ground.

For me this sight was incredible and I just wonder if anyone has ever seen this behavior or even if it has been documented it before?

The Greater Bush Baby (Galago crassicaudatus)

During my safari holiday, I also spent a few nights at a Game reserve called Imire. This 11,000 acre game park is located about 105kms east of Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare and belongs to conservationists John and Judy Travers who have made it their lives’ work to give rescued wild animals a home.

At the heart of Imire is their black rhino conservation project and for over twenty years they have been breeding these critically endangered mammals and returning them to national parks at Imire. However as we learnt illegal poaching in Zimbabwe means they face a daily battle to keep their animals alive. So what I really like is that by visiting Imire, you can also feel good in the knowledge that the money you spend here is going to a great cause.

On my second night at Imire, I was woken by noise in a tree behind our lodge. It was a sound that I had never heard that close before, it was very loud and and sounded like a little like a human child crying and was rather scary!

Plucking up a little courage and taking my night vision binoculars with me, I decided to go and investigate. Using just the Luna Optics binoculars, I could make out that there was something fairly large in the tree behind our lodge, it was about the size of the cat, but because it was fairly high up, I could not positively identify it.

Turning on the LN-ELIR-1 laser illuminator (an extra laser illuminator that can be attached to the binoculars), I instantly recognised it as the Greater Bush Baby (Galago crassicaudatus). Worth mentioning here is that the laser illuminator is invisible to wildlife, but their eyes shine back at you, almost like cat eyes do on the road. This makes finding animals soo much easier than if you were not using it.

After watching “him” for a while, he moved out of sight and I went back to bed. I was thrilled to have seen the Bush Baby and to have been able to identify the animal that made the sound made going back to sleep much easier! Because I was using night vision, I was able to watch it in it’s own environment, acting completely normally without me having to disturb it with a spotlight or torch, which is what you really want.

Conclusion

Apart from these highlights, I had many other wonderful experiences with the night vision binoculars and it is why I highly recommend that if you are going to be spending a few nights on safari or anywhere in the wild that you get yourself a good pair.

I can’t speak for all Night Vision binoculars, but the Luna Optics LN-PB3 Night vision binoculars that I was using were excellent but I must stress that what really made them was the additional LN-ELIR-1 laser illuminator that you can buy as an accessory to add to it as it really does make a huge difference.

Please note: All of the images used in this article were taken by me, apart from the green night vision ones. Unfortunately I did not have the capability to take photos through a night vision device and they are only there as a guide, but what I will say is in terms of quality, they fairly accurately depict what I could actually see through the binoculars.

Cost & Where to Buy

UK Shoppers Buy in the UK:	US Shoppers Buy in the USA:
Luna Optics Night Vision on Amazon.co.uk	Luna Optics Night Vision on Amazon.com

More Information

• Night Vision for Safaris and Wildlife Observation
• Full Review of the Luna Optics LN-PB3 Night Vision Binoculars

India – an alternative safari holiday destination

When you think of going on safari, your initial thoughts may be of visiting African countries such as Kenya and South Africa.

However, nature lover’s keen to go on a wildlife safari may find a holiday to India to be an amazing alternative.

The Asian country is home to a number of national parks containing captivating creatures that you may have only seen on nature documentaries before.

A trip to India can change that, allowing you to see these amazing animals up-close and in person.

Some of the bets national parks to visit include:

Sariska Tiger Reserve Park

Tigers are one of many countries that are native to this part of the world and while these big cats can be spotted in a number of national parks, the aptly named Sariska Tiger Reserve Park could be a great place to look out for them.

Situated in the Alwar district of Rajasthan, the reserve is also home to several other species of large cats, including leopards.

The Sariska Tiger Reserve Park could also be an ideal destination if you’re something of an ornithologist. Not only is the park home to India’s largest population of peafowl, but you can also spot creatures such as quail and crested serpent eagles.

After taking a safari tour of the wildlife, you may want to visit the ruins of the medieval temples of Garh-Rajor, which date back as far as the tenth century.

Manas National Park

You can also look out for tigers – as well as the Indian elephant – on safari in the Manas National Park.

Located in the foothills of the Himalayas in northern India, creatures such as buffalo, the one-horned rhinoceros and pygmy hog can also be seen here, as can an array of reptiles.

During monsoon season – which runs from May to September – the park sees daytime temperatures reach as high as 37°C. If you’d prefer slightly cooler and dryer conditions, the spring or autumn may be a better time to visit.

Keoladeo National Park

Winter, meanwhile, could be a great time to visit the Keoladeo National Park. During this period, a large population of ducks migrate to the park to make their home for the winter.

Some 360 different species of bird have been recorded living in the park, from the oriental ibis and marbled teal to the Asian open-billed stork and red kite, so there should be plenty of creatures to spot.

The park is located 50 kilometres west of Agra and as you might also have the chance to see the rare Siberian crane, you should be sure to pack your digital camera with you!

Wherever you go it is important to stay safe. Make sure you book with an experienced and reputable safari operator and always follow the advice of park rangers you are out with while in the wild. Make sure you bring bottled water to keep hydrated and suntan lotion to protect your skin from UV rays.

Before your trip, check to find out if you will need any vaccinations or other medical treatment. Your travel operator should be able to advise you about this, as should your GP.

Safari holidays in India are a great alternative to some of the more obvious safari destinations in Africa and there is a huge variety of wildlife you can see there. Be sure to bear in India in mind if you are considering a safari holiday in 2011.

This article is a guest post, written by the team at travelsupermarket.com

Photo Credit: Photo of the Tiger by Paul Mannix

Safari Backpack

Something that often gets overlooked when going on safari, at least until the last minute, is what you are going to pack your camera, binoculars and other equipment that you may be taking with you in.

Obviously you don’t want to have to put your camera in the cargo hold with the rest of your luggage and whilst you are actually on safari you want to be able to comfortably carry your equipment around with you as well as have quick and easy access to it.

Best Camera Backpack
So to me it makes sense to have some sort of travel backpack: This is because they are easy to carry on your shoulders, freeing up your hands and so long as they are small enough, they can be taken on board the aeroplane with you. Depending on how much camera and other equipment you have you may decide to use a specifically designed camera backpack as opposed to just a standard daypack or safari backpack – this is because with the best camera backpacks you can be sure that all your equipment will be properly protected, your most used items will be easily accessible without having to dig down to the bottom of your bag and they have a whole host of features that will make travelling with your safari equipment that much easier.

Vanguard Skyborne 51 Camera Backpack with Laptop Compartment

I suppose I take quite a bit of equipment with me on safari, but in my opinion not an excessive amount – just the stuff that helps me enjoy my holiday as well as a few thing so that I can also do a little work. So this will usually include (In order of importance):

• Binoculars (Usually Compact or at least Mid-Sized)
• Camera (Bridge Camera not SLR)
• Telephoto Conversion Lens
• Tripod (Small Travel Version)
• Night Vision Binoculars (sometimes a scope rather than binos)
• Laptop (a small notepad)

(For a more specific list of the exact models take a look at this article I recently wrote: What Equipment I Take on Safari)

So because of all these things, I obviously need a fairly big bag. I took a look on the web to see if I could find the best camera backpack for my needs, but discovered that there very few really good (and impartial) camera backpack reviews and that is why I was very grateful when Vanguard offered to send me one one of their bigger Camera daypacks to test and review: the Vanguard Skyborne 51

So is this review impartial I hear you ask? Well yes, Like all my reviews, even though the manufacturer kindly lends me their product, I am in no way obliged to only say positive things about it – This review as all my others is my honest opinion. Besides I still don’t have my own Camera Backpack for my next trip and so I am honestly looking at it with the intention of buying it if I like it, or choosing another if I don’t.

Plenty of Space

The first thing I thought when it arrived was “This bag is Big” – I know I read it’s dimensions before asking for it, but seeing it for real puts those numbers into perspective. It’s Inside Dimensions are 12 5/8″ x 6 1/4″ x 10 5/8″ (LxWxH inches). Which means according to Vanguard (and I now believe them) that it will take One or even two Pro DSLR cameras with attached lens ( up to 70-200mm), as well as  3-4 extra lenses, a flash unit and accessories (memory cards, cables, battery and charger) plus a 15″ laptop. So plenty space for my specific needs, infact so much so, that it potentially gives me space to take a few other things for the journey.

Compartments
Space is one thing, but it is how the bag has been divided up into compartments that makes it far more useful for camera and safari equipment than if you were to just buy a standard big bag.

Remember that the Skyborne 51 has been specifically designed as a DSLR camera backpack and so what it nice is that the internal space of the bag has been split up and has loads of cushioning in the key areas (where you store your camera and lenses) – for excellent gear protection. This padding is so good that I had no worries by testing it with my camera in it and dropping the bag from shoulder height. The interior dividers can customised to suit your grear if you want, completely removed, should you ever need the bag for something completely different, like carrying clothes for example.

I especially like the quick access side compartment (pictured above) where you store your camera. It is long enough for me to keep my Raynox DCR-2025PRO teleconversion lens attached to my camera and is really quick to access via a zipped door on the side of the bag – Ideal for those times when you need your camera in a hurry (like that unexpected lion sighting!) – far quicker than digging through all your equipment to grab your camera.

Laptop Camera Backpack
A really nice touch is the front compartment that has been designed to take laptops or other notebook type computers up to and including 15″ ones and so I guess you could call it a camera backpack with laptop compartment! If you don’t need to carry your computer with you the big front compartment is also great for carrying a who bunch of other things that you may need – I used it to carry my notebook and other guides whilst out in the field.

A really good quality and well padded laptop cover also comes with the packpack…Nice!

Camera Backpack with Tripod Holder

As I tested it with the Vanguard Nivelo 204BK ultra compact Tripod, the Skyborne 51 is big enough to carry most small travel tripod internally. But if you were be taking an SLR camera, or like me a Bridge camera with a large teleconversion lens attached and you needed a larger and more robust tripod, then this is camera backpack has a tripod holder strap on the back, with a flap that unfolds from it’s own compartment to keep the tripod legs in place. It is fully adjustable and should be able to take most full sized tripods. I tested it with my Vanguard Alta Pro 263AT which worked perfectly.

Attention to Detail

Other nice little touches include the mobile phone case on one of the straps, a little magnetic flap that prevents the zip from accidentally opening on the side pocket and a handy pocket for lens caps, memory cards or any other small things that you often need that can be accessed from both inside and outside the bag.

I don’t think the bag is waterproof, but it does come with a rain cover that has it’s own storage compartment under the lower back support area, so will always be with you, should you get caught in a downpour.

Too Big For Hand Luggage?

One of my biggest issues with this bag is deciding if  this Vanguard bag is too big to take on board the plane with me, the last thing I need is to be told at the airport that I have to put it in the hold with the rest of my luggage.

The Facts: Outside Dimensions: 14 5/8″ x 15″ x 22″ (LxWxH inches)

British Airways Hand baggage allowance: All airlines have slightly different policies but on BA for example (hey.. it’s the “worlds favourite airline!”) you are allowed one piece of hand baggage plus a laptop or handbag. Your main piece of hand baggage max dimensions: 25cm x 45cm x 56cm (10in x 18in x 22in), including the handle, pockets and wheels.

So as you can see it is very close, just the depth of the Skyborne 51 (14 5/8in ) that is the problem – as BA say that you are only permitted 10 inches. If you were lucky you could possibly get away with it. I think where you would most definitely have problems is if you are also taking internal flights on smaller aircraft where they may be more strict.

Conclusions:

Best camera backpack for travel: Unfortunately No, whilst the Vanguard Skyborne 51 is an excellent bag, I feel that for travel and air travel in particular, it is just too big. You may get away with taking it on board on some airlines, but others may not be so lenient. So for me it is not worth the risk a far beeter alternative would be one of Vanguard’s smaller bags like the Skyborne 48 or even the Skyborne 45.

As a Hiking camera backpack: Due to how comfortable it is to carry, with what Vanguard call “air-infused cushioning” on the straps and back area this could be one of, if not the best camera backpack for hiking, especially if you have a lot of equipment to carry.

To test just how comfortable it was, I filled the bag up with a whole lot of stuff that I often take on walks and some more on top of that and went for a pretty long hike – this included binoculars, 2 cameras all my camera gear and two tripods, one Vanguard Alta Pro 263AT and the compact Vanguard Nivelo 204BK Travel Tripod, that once folded easily fitted inside the bag. (I needed two cameras and tripods to take the product photos of myself that you see on this page of me using the bag).

There was no denying that the bag, fully laden was heavy – but even after over an hour of walking I still felt pretty comfortable – the shoulder straps are as good as I have ever used and the support at the base of your back is excellent.

So overall the is definitely one of the best SLR camera backpack bags that I have ever tested and I highly recommend it to anyone who has a lot of equipment where size is not a major issue. If you need to take your stuff travelling like on safari where a plane journey is unavoidable, I would either go for one of the smaller Skyborne bags, one of the many other Vanguard photo bags or at least check with your airline before travelling.

Cost & Where to Buy

At about £190 / $290 they are not the cheapest Laptop and Camera Backpack in the world, but then again they are not the most expensive either. I think that considering all the great features, the quality of the construction and how well it protects your far more expensive gear, it makes them easily worth the money:

UK Residents: Vanguard Skyborne Camera Bags on Amazon.co.uk

US Residents: Vanguard Skyborne Camera Bags on Amazon.com

Promo Video: VANGUARD Skyborne Series Camera Backpack Bags

Related Articles

• Vanguard Skyborne 45 Laptop and Camera Backpack Review
• What Equipment I Take on Safari
• Safari Equipment
• Tripods for Travel & Safari