The Night Watch - Herping Edition

Our recent two-day Herping Trail with Wild Footprints was an experience that stayed with us long after the forest fell silent. Led by Jalmesh Karapurkar, the journey unfolded through shifting light, deep forest trails, and quiet moments of discovery — with one of the most magical highlights being the glow of bioluminescent fungi, scattered across the forest floor like stars fallen from the sky.

From the very first walk, the forest began revealing its hidden world. Each step brought new life into focus: the rare Slender Loris, the majestic Great Hornbill soaring above the canopy, the haunting call of the Brown Wood Owl echoing through the darkness, the colourful Malabar Flameback, the elusive Amboli Bush Frog, the mysterious ODKF, and the striking Purple Crab. Every encounter felt like a gift — a reminder that when we slow down and truly observe, the forest opens itself in extraordinary ways.

Life Between the Trails

After long hours in the field, we returned each evening to comfortable AC rooms and dormitories, offering the perfect balance between wilderness immersion and rest. Meals were a highlight of their own — delicious local food, warm, simple, and full of flavour, shared together as stories from the day flowed freely across the table.

Between herping sessions, the group explored the breathtaking heights of the tree-top viewpoint and spent unhurried hours roaming inside Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary, soaking in its towering trees, quiet forest paths, and timeless atmosphere. These moments of stillness and wandering deepened our connection with the landscape just as much as the wildlife sightings themselves.

Why These Journeys Matter

This trail was not just about spotting species — it was about learning to move gently through wild spaces, listening to the forest’s rhythms, and understanding our place within it. In those two days, many discovered that nature does not demand excitement; it offers something far more lasting — perspective, calm, and wonder.

As we left the forest behind, the silence stayed with us, along with the glowing memory of fungi on the forest floor and the quiet joy of being truly present in the wild.

🌿 Experience the Wild. Follow the Footprints.