Staying in a jungle resort while on wildlife holiday is always a great fun, however for a comfortable and hassle free experience one must take care of himself and his group. There are numerous safety measures to take while staying near a national park. Some are listed below.
First and foremost – Avoid going towards the forest on foot or in a vehicle if it is prohibited area. There are gates from where all sightseer’s vehicles enter. Utilize just the approved entryways to enter at the given time with a valid permit to enter the park. Avoid entering from any other area in the protected areas.
If you get caught in a national park without a valid permit, you will attract a jail term and your vehicle will be seized. So kindly don’t think on these lines regardless of what local or a resort person instructs you to.
Never leave the vicinity of the resort alone after sunset. Not even if you plan to just go for a walk after your dinner. After nightfall, Leopards frequently tend to approach the villages and resorts in search of food or the livestock. At night, Tigers also roam around the protected areas. It is not worth taking the risk for little adventure you want to experience.
If you need go out for some urgent work, and have to cross the buffer area of the jungle, don’t go on a two-wheeler. Make sure you are in a car and take someone from the resort or village who are familiar with area, and always carry a torch & communication device for sure. After sunset, driving a two-wheeler in a forested area is a huge risk, especially if the forest has animals like Sloth bears. If it breaks down for some reason, you will be in a trouble. Four-wheeler will at-least offer some protection from the aggressive animals.
In case, if you are in Elephant dominated area, then even a four-wheeler is not advisable at night. It is better to postpone all your work for next day. Wild Elephants can kick your four-wheeler really hard. Hence it is good idea to stay in safe boundary of your resort.
Please do not even consider carrying any weapon even if you possess one. Getting caught with a weapon in forested area is a non bail-able offense and attracts a term of up to 7 years in prison. You can carry a wooden stick while on foot but not any kind of weapons whatsoever even in a safari vehicle.
Be careful when you go in to the bush, there are many species of venomous snakes and scorpions in and around the national parks.