15 Searching for crocodiles!

Helen writes,
Very early - 4.45 am - we woke up to go to the Uda Welewa Game reserve. It had been raining hard all night in this very rural area and we wondered what the roads would be like that we’d travelled down the day before. Then everything had been so dry and dusty.
On our way to the Centaurus Tourist Hotel on the edge of the Game Reserve and on the banks of the lake, we had stopped to feed wild elephants with pieces of fruit along the road. Fortunately, there had been an electrified fence between us or we might not have been so brave.

Going along the pre dawn, darkened roads we saw the early morning activities of the locals; people taking food to market on little tractors pulling trailers or by bike or tuk-tuk.
Few homes had electric light so the roads were very dark. Gradually, though, it started to get light and we transferred from our car to a 4 wheel drive jeep. It really did feel now as though we were on Safari!

We picked up a warden from the game reserve en route and he chatted to us about what we would be able to see.
I explained that Roshan was getting a bit desperate to see a crocodile. He was uncertain about our chances as apparently they are very shy creatures. Not an adjective I’d previously ascribed to a croc!
We entered the game reserve and picked up our guide. He was very knowledgeable but had problems explaining all he knew in decipherable English.
He had really sharp eyes and pointed out lots of beautiful birds; eagles, kingfishers, Indian rollers and storks.

There were lots of elephants wandering around in herds and smaller groups. They weren’t shy and came quite close to the jeep. They were all busy chomping away at the long grass and throwing dust onto their back to keep cool and deter insects.

We headed towards the large lake and slowed down.
The moment of truth approached. Would the shy and retiring crocs make an appearance?
Yes! In the distance sitting in the mud were 2 crocodiles; one large, one small. They lay unmoving, like logs in the sun.
Roshan was so pleased to see them. He’d begun to think that stories of croc infested rivers were untrue.
We are always amazed that local people swim in the lakes but I suppose they know where these fearsome creatures are likely to be and keep well away.

We visited the elephant orphanage where the babies are prepared for release into the reserve.

In truth, after a good 2 hours of hard safari-ing we were ready to go back to the comforts of the hotel. We’d seen lots of wildlife and we’re not really huge fans of the great outdoors at the best of times, and especially not when the going gets arduous.
The hotel pool and all its enticements beckoned!