First and foremost never go towards the forest on foot or in a vehicle if it is prohibited. There are gates from where all tourists vehicles enter. Use only the authorized gates to enter at the given time with a valid permit to enter the park. Do not even try entering from any other area in the protected areas. There are many precautions to take while staying near a national park. Some are listed below.
Caught in a national park without a valid permit will attract a jail term for you besides impounding of your vehicle. So please do not even think on these lines even if any local or a resort person tells you to.
Never leave the vicinity of the resort by yourself after sunset. Not even if you plan to just take a stroll around after your dinner. After sunset Leopards often tend to come close to the villages and resorts in search of food or the livestock. Tigers also move around in the night outside the protected areas. It is not worth the risk or adventure that you might want to experience.
If you must go out for some emergency work, and you must cross the buffer area of the forest, please do not go on a two-wheeler. Ensure you are in a car and take someone along from the resort who knows the area and do not forget to carry a torch for sure. Driving a two-wheeler in a forested area is a huge risk more so in the night. If it breaks down, or a flat tyre, you can be in for a tough time. Four-wheelers will at-least ensure your safety from the predators.
But if you happen to be in the Elephant country, then even a four-wheeler is not a good idea to travel in the night. It is best that you postpone all your work for the next day morning. Wild Elephants can treat your vehicle like a football. Hence it is in your best interest to stay in the safe vicinity of your rooms.
Please do not even consider carrying any weapon even if you have one. Caught with a firearm is a non-bailable offence and attracts a term of up to 7 years in prison. But yes, it is a good idea to carry a wooden stick while on foot. No weapons whatsoever even in a safari vehicle.
While moving out of your room to go to the dining hall please carry a torch. Normally the electricity supply in the remote areas is erratic. Though most of the resorts have power back-up it can take a few seconds for the power supply to resume, hence carrying a torch is a good idea. These days there are wonderful caps which have a solar light, it is convenient to carry the same to as well. While doing the safari if the cap is on it keeps getting automatically charged, and in the night you can use it wherever you are going within the resort. Please click on this link below to see a good quality cap which I have been using for the last 4 years.
Also be extremely careful not to go into the bush, as there are many varieties of venomous snakes in the national parks.
Solar cap, comfortable, and convenient
Stay safe and enjoy your safaris
Best Wishes
– Sharad Vats
