It Took Me A Decade of Trekking to Run Into My Friend’s Worst Fear

While most fears you harbour of the wild are irrational and imaginary, many are not

Photo by Nivedh P on Unsplash

As most outdoor enthusiasts are well aware, it is incredibly hard to come across wildlife in the jungle. With their sharp senses, quick reflexes, and natural instincts, wild animals tread the jungles as silently and discreetly as possible without bringing attention to themselves as a mechanism to stay safe from predators and prevent themselves from turning into their meal for the day.

While there are many ways of exploring the wild and spectating wildlife, few put you in close proximity with the mighty beasts of the jungle the way trekking does.

When trekking, one needs to be quiet, stealthy in their movements, and keenly observant of their surroundings if they ever intend on spotting wildlife. However, since most treks are recreational in nature, this is seldom the case. On the majority of treks, my team and I have come within sniffing distance of wildlife only to see them scamper or slither away from us, what with the stomping of 12 different sets of feet (your average trekking group size) and constant yapping that is the trademark of every trek that one embarks upon.

There’s a saying amongst many wildlife groups and trekking circles: “For every tiger you see, a dozen…