This blog is about my Dhela Zone Safari on a Winter December afternoon which marks my second trip of the day in the hope of spotting a tiger. I went for the Jhirna Zone Safari in the Morning and that was truly a wonderful experience. Although I wasn’t able to spot one, I decided to make the best use of the day and went on another afternoon safari.
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Started the Dhela Zone Safari Trip by Spotting the Great Hornbill Bird
The Great Hornbill is a truly unique bird commonly found in the wilderness of the Dhela Buffer Zone of Corbett Tiger Reserve. I spotted this bird sitting on the bark of a tree, and it was very colorful and vibrant. It was beautiful and very charming to the eyes, and it’s quite difficult to spot one.
But, it was our luck that we spotted one right at the beginning of our trip.
Two types of Hornbill birds are found across Dhela Zone in Jim Corbett which include Great Hornbill and Oriental Pied Hornbill. There is a specialty about the female ones that distinguishes them based on the way they reproduce and lay eggs. They wrap themselves up in the dense branches of the trees and the male ones protect them and bring food for them for many weeks till the new babies are born.
Continuing the Dhela Zone Safari on a Clear Sunny Winter Afternoon
We got to know from our Dhela safari guide that a tiger was spotted in the morning in this area and that made us really excited for the upcoming journey.
The scenery right in front of us was truly magical and soothing to the eyes.
The clear blue sky, sunny day, lush greenery everywhere and tall mountains of the Himalayan range at a far distance. I also spotted a Jackal on this road on which I was driving this morning while returning from the Jhirna Zone Safari.
As I was moving ahead, I suddenly observed a dead bird lying on the side of the road. That made me really sad seeing that but that’s the nature of jungle. Weaker birds and animals get killed by the ones above their food chain.
We started analysing what could have happened to the bird and understood that an eagle might have killed the bird and brought it from somewhere else. It might have fled seeing tourists coming in their jeeps on the road.
But my anticipation became certainty when after couple of minutes I saw a Hawk Eagle sitting at a far-off distance on the branch of a tree. We became sure that the eagle killed the bird, and because of frequent oncoming of safari jeeps it was unable to eat the dead bird.
Some interesting facts about Hawk Eagle:
It stays alone, and is an aggressive attacker and hunter. It’s known for keeping tight vigilance on its area and nothing can escape its sharp eyes. Therefore, it becomes difficult for the weaker animals to protect themselves from its deadly attack.
After a While, We Resumed Our Safari & Started Crossing the Grasslands
As I mentioned earlier that a tiger was spotted in the morning across the grasslands, and that made me excited to search for it on this afternoon Dhela Zone Safari. I was very hopeful that I might end up spotting the tiger today since it could be anywhere around this region.
A Quick Back Story About The Dhela Buffer Zone
It used to be a proper village few years back, and people used to reside and do farming here for daily livelihood. But then, the Dhela Zone got Converted into a wildlife habitat by the authorities, and since then it’s been a safe haven for many animals such as tigers, leopards, elephants, and various unique bird species.
We were the only jeep in this region and I thought to myself, “How nice and amazing it would be if I end up spotting a tiger in this region.” But then a thought suddenly crossed my mind that even though these tigers live in such a large area in the jungles, still they struggle with survival due to many unwanted scenarios, and that makes it necessary for them to hide in safe areas.
Entering the Main Dhela Zone Grassland Area
As we started going through the core areas, all that I saw was vast expanse of lush green grasslands everywhere with the mountains alongside elevating the overall scenery. There were bulbul birds everywhere and were making loud chirping sounds. Even though the Dhela zone falls under the buffer zone, but it’s still a mass zone and is known for the many tigers spotting in this region.
We were hoping to hear any alarm call from somewhere but since it was sunny afternoon, nothing could be heard. Many a times it happens that the tiger comes out from the grasslands once you cross your jeep and go a bit ahead, and that has happened with me many times in the past.
Elephants are also found in large numbers in the Dhela Buffer Zone. It’s one of their favourite places in the summer and monsoon for grazing. Lush greenery attracts them, and one has to be careful while navigating these pathways.
The Elephant Corridor of Dhela Zone in Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve
The Dhela Zone has a famous pathway somewhere in the jungles which is the main corridor entry of the elephants into this region. The elephants have been using them for quite some time and it often spans many generations back.
We then decided to stop our jeep and enjoy the environment of the jungle. We stopped at the intersection of two pathways and roads were going in all four directions. This is one of those spots majorly known for tiger spotting and we were hoping that maybe we could see one today.
Then, We Spotted a Baya Weaver Bird Sitting Deep Inside a Tree nearby
As I continued with my Dhela Zone Safari, I was constantly looking all around with my binoculars to spot unique wild birds and animals. I then spotted a beautiful baya weaver bird sitting deep inside the branches of a tree nearby. The bird was a unique one and almost camouflaged from the outside.
Nests were hanging from the tree branches made by these beaver birds to lay eggs and provide a safer place for them. It’s constructed very differently and protects the eggs from any external harm.
An interesting fact about these nests is that the male beaver bird makes them, and the female ones choose the stronger one for laying the eggs.
As we proceeded further, we were starting to feel the brightness of the sun but it was pleasant weather due to a bit of chilliness in the air. We were vigilant and kept a close eye everywhere around in the hope of seeing a tiger.
After exiting from the main grassland area of the Dhela Zone, we tried to enquire about any alarm call or animal movement from the locals nearby, but to our luck nothing.
Spotted a Cheetal after Moving ahead a bit
As we started moving ahead a bit, we came to a rest stop which had many stones lying on the ground surface. Suddenly, we saw a spotted deer also called as Cheetal. It originally belongs to the Telangana region but can be found across almost every national park across India. I spotted many cheetals roaming around.
We decided to proceed with our safari, and came back into the main jungle area. It was very silent and peaceful everywhere but it’s hard to say when this can turn into an adventure suddenly due to sudden appearance of any wild animal residing in the vicinity.
Then, our Dhela Safari Guide told us that few days back he had seen a leopard in this region. He started telling us about it and how he came across the leopard and why it was a beautiful sighting.
After a while, we spotted a jeep parked on the roadside. There’s a water hole in this region and tigers often come here to drink water. Maybe they were standing in the hope of seeing one and we also decided to stay there for a while. But to our disappointment, nothing. So, we decided to proceed further.
It was Approaching Evening and We Decided to Head Out of Dhela Zone
It’s not an easy task to spot your preferred animal or bird in these dense jungles and requires a lot of patience and persistence. We didn’t have any luck spotting a tiger but were still hopeful to see one maybe at the end of our Dhela Zone Safari trip. We then spotted many jeeps behind us and all of them too were eagerly waiting to spot a tiger.
Our experienced guide continued telling us many past exciting experiences of wild animal spotting, as we were navigating the Dhela Zone in the evening hours of the day. It was completely different sight as the sun was coming down and birds were starting to prepare to head back to their nests. As it was winter season, so the air started to feel a bit chillier too.
Spotted a Beautiful Brahminy Starling Bird Sitting on a Treetop
The Brahminy Starling Bird has a black hair region on its head and a yellow beak which gives a unique identity to this bird. Not only that, after moving ahead for a while, we spotted many yellow-footed pigeons.
As the evening was drawing closer, the jungle could be seen in a totally new form and environment. The pigeons were sitting peacefully over the tree branches and their chirping was truly music to the ears in the beautiful evening hours.
As the evening was getting darker, we decided to move, and came onto the main road of the Dhela Zone. We then came across many jeeps and started chatting with them. Another Dhela Safari Guide told us that a tiger was spotted in morning hours of today, and started telling us all about it.
He told us that the tiger movement was significant today but it was very difficult to track one. That’s the nature of the jungle. Even though you see and hear people telling you about the presence of a tiger nearby, it’s very difficult to spot one without proper luck and timing.
Approaching the End of our Afternoon Safari Trip
We were then approaching the end of our Dhela Zone Safari as the time was about to get over and the sun was almost down. All of us were trying our best till the last moment to spot a tiger even while returning towards the Forest Rest House.
As we were returning, we enjoyed the natural beauty of the Dhela Zone Jungles during the dusk hours. Then we came to a spot and there were jeeps standing on the opposite side of the road. There was a beautiful peacock standing on the roadside in front of us at a distance. It was truly beautiful and vibrant in colour.
With this view, we completed our Safari and headed back to our guest house.
I hope you enjoyed my safari experience of the Dhela Zone in Jim Corbett and understood the amount of patience and persistence it takes to spot your favourite wild animals and birds in these wild jungles. But it’s all worth it in the end once you come across them and your trip feels fulfilled. But otherwise too, you get to experience a different side of nature which you cannot experience in busy city life.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the duration of the Jungle Safari in Dhela Zone?
The Dhela Zone Safari lasts for about 4 hours. It takes you through the entire circle of this buffer zone. You can spot various wild animals and birds during your trip. This includes tigers too with a perfect combination of luck, timing, patience and persistence.
Is photography or videography allowed during the Dhela Zone Safari?
Yes, you can do photography and videography but must avoid using flash on your camera. It may disturb the wild animals and birds. You should be silent and not make any noise while capturing your unique wildlife moments.
Can I spot a tiger easily during my Dhela Safari Trip?
ANS: As of recently till a few days back, the Dhela Zone has seen a lot of tiger sightings this year. As compared to other Jim Corbett Zones, the numbers are high. This year, we have seen more number of male tiger sightings. They have been more active in the dhela zone grassland and jungle areas. So again, the probability of spotting a tiger is good. You must follow alarm calls and wildlife movement carefully too. It’s a wildlife sanctuary and not any type of containment area like a zoo.
What are the Major Spots in Dhela Zone known for Tiger Spotting?
Areas like –
- Grasslands
- Water holes
- Water crossings
- Road crossings
These are prominent spots where you can spot tigers in the Dhela Buffer zone.
Can we do Night Safari in the Dhela Zone?
No, only morning and afternoon safaris are available in this buffer zone. It’s mainly due to visitor safety and wildlife protection. Also, night safari would be very challenging, and hence you cannot do that.
