2007-08-23T05:01:00.001-07:00

This was my second visit to Amboli, unlike my first visit I was carrying my newest obsession My Brand New Nikon D50 camera. I was just an observer in my first visit and this time I was excited about photographing the Frogs, the toads and all the lesser fauna (herps) for which Amboli is well know for.
We were a short group of three, (Devadatta Naik, Salil Sahani and myself) had planned this trip from 13th to 15th August 2007.

Tiger Centipede : One of the bright colour creature looks very beautiful. Beware!! There is a clear cut message from the orange and black strips. If threatened it can deliver a painful venomous bite. Check out the fangs just below the head in the above picture.

This picture is shear luck, as there are numerous stones on the forest floor and you never know what is hidden under them.

We were searching for Wrinkled Frog at night and it was raining heavily and at last Rohan Korgaonkar (Baba) found it. It almost took 45 mins. for us to locate this site.

Look at the innocence in the eyes of this non-venomous Banded Race.

Jumboo ready to leap in pond.

Golden Eye.... James Bond 007 of Amboli!!!!

Delicate Darling of Amboli

I happened to stumble upon is the specimen in a small stream. First I thought it was a eel as it moved very swiftly and disappeared. We were searching for 15 mins. and had given up. Accidentally Devadutta spotted some movement around his feet and were amaze to find this baby of checkered keelback.

This is a real Mugamboo of insect world.

Salil could not accompany us on one of the trails due to ill health. So he decided to venture around the resort where we had put up. And look what he found in a dead tree trunk.

One of the beautiful frogs I have ever seen. One can fall in love with those wine red eyes.

UUULLL...... I can tease too..........

Specialty of Amboli

I learnt about an active NGO in Amboli from Devdatta, Malabar Nature Conservation Club, founded by 7 active members who are passionate about wildlife, its conservation and educating people about its important.
Few activities conducted by this group:
• Environment protection awareness programs.
• Awareness about snakes and rescue operations.
• Collecting database of Flora, Reptiles, Amphibians and monitoring the impact on their population due to Deforestation, Tourist activities, habitat loss etc.
• Conduct Nature Treks, and provide information to the tourists about wildlife in Amboli.

We stayed in the beautiful Whistling Woods Resort own Mr. Hemant Ogale one of the members of Malabar Nature Conservation Club.

From Left to Right (Myself - Animish Mandrekar, Devadatta Naik and Salil Sahani)

How to Reach Amboli?

By Air: Nearest airport is Belgaum, 64 kms.
By Rail: The most convenient railhead is Sawantwadi, 28 kms on Konkan Railway.
By Road: Mumbai is 549 kms by road. Pune is 390 kms. State Transport buses ply
from Vengurla, Sawantwadi, Ratnagiri, and Belgaum.

Stay at Amboli:

For Whistling Woods Resort contact Mr. Hemant Ogale at 09423856724
For Vrundavan Hotel Conact Mr. Rohan Korgaonkar at 09423301768

The Route I followed was:
By railway from Mumbai to Sawantwadi Road.
From Sawantwadi Road railway station to Sawantwadi Bus Depot by local transport.
And from Sawantwadi Bus Depot to Amboli by State Transport Bus (this is one and half hour journey).

Photography Expedition in Amboli