Dubare : Elephant Camp

Overview

The Karnataka Forest Department has about 150 Elephants in various camps and Dubare has been historically an important camp. The Elephants for the famous Mysore Dassehra were trained at Dubare elephant camp. But presently after logging operations have ceased, the Forest Department does not really know what to do with all its elephants! They (elephants) have been practically retired except for giving some rides to odd tourists. At the same time, the Forest Department spends quite some money to maintain them and their mahouts.

With this as a background, Jungle Lodges & Resorts (JLR) has struck upon a unique idea to utilize the Elephants at Dubare Camp to provide the tourists with ‘an intimate experience with Elephants’. JLR seeks to build upon the un-ending fascination that man has for Elephants! At the Dubare Elephant Camp, a visitor can spend hours simply watching Elephants and of course, learning more about them. A trained Naturalist is at hand to explain the various aspects of Elephant history, ecology and biology. The visitor can not only observe and learn but also participate in various activities involving Elephants.

Guests would leave our camp feeling enriched and enlightened about Elephants and hopefully they would become sensitive to their plight in the wild and join the lobby to save them from extinction. JLR is acutely aware of its role of spreading awareness about conservation and takes its responsibility seriously about converting its visitors into ‘ambassadors of conservation’.

Dubare Elephant camp would be a unique project not only for JLR but in the whole of India. JLR seeks to be a trend–setter in this niche area and create an eco-tourism product which would be an invaluable contribution to the cause of understanding and conserving these amazing creatures, the Elephants.

Accomodation

This Camp has 14 luxurious cottages with attached bath. Located on the other side of the river the Dubare camp offers complete peace and tranquility. 

Activities

We offer our day visitors a 3 hour experience with Elephants consisting of the following activities:

• Elephant Grooming:  Visitors can watch Elephants been given a scrub-bath in the River and also watch how oil is applied on their forehead, tusks and other aspects of Elephant grooming. 
• Elephant feeding: Visitors can watch the food being prepared for the Elephants and how they are fed.
• Commands: The Mahouts will then demonstrate the various commands the Elephants can obey. This can be vividly portrayed by making Elephants perform some mock logging operations.  
• Elephant Ride( Subject to avaialbility): Finally, visitors will be taken on a 10 to 15 min Elephant ride into the Dubare Reserve Forest. Before, they get on to the Elephant they can watch how the Howdahs is actually tied etc.
• Coracle Ride: Visitors have an option of going on a coracle boat ride (native boats, circular in shape made of bamboo and hide) on the River Cauvery.
• Monsoon River Rafting: During the months of July, Aug and September, JLR river rafts on the River Cauvery along the stretch adjacent to the Elephant Camp.

      While visitors are going through all these activities, a Naturalist will explain to them about all aspects of Elephant ecology, history, conservation etc. The visitor’s interaction with Elephants will be as participatory as possible. Further, a leaflet giving interesting information on the same will be given to visitors. 

Wildlife

The moist deciduous forests of dubare are home to many wild animals and a plethora of birds. Sighting of wild Asiatic Elephants are regular and so is spotting the sambhar and the spotted deer. With a little luck one can spot the elusive leopard and the gregarious wild dogs. The Indian Bison or Gaur and bears are also seen in these forests. Visitors also get to notice many crocodiles in the waters of River Cauvery at Dubare. The forests are also home to many reptiles non-venomous snakes. Birdlife in Dubare is wonderful with peacocks, patridges, kingfishers and woodpeckers topping the list.

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Location

Dubare Elephant Camp is located in the popular district of Coorg (Kodagu) and is easily accessible from Bagalore. The route from Bangalore is via Mysore, Kushalnagar, Gudde Hosur (4km from Kushalnagar on BM Road), then a left turn towards Siddapura. About the 15 kilometer on the Siddapur Main Road visitors would find a JLR Dubare Camp board. A left turn at the board and about kilometer drive would reach you bank of River Cauvery. Cross the river by a boat and you would be at the Dubare Elephant Camp.

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