EBC Trek Overview: The Everest Base Camp trek (EBC) has to be the most beautiful adventure in the world. Trekking in the foothills of the highest mountains is something you must do at least once in your life. But the wonder of the Himalayas is also not only due to the dramatic landscapes. The area also provides habitat for several species of animals, some of which were derived from high altitudes. After the rare snow leopards and colourful pheasants, there are lots of chances on the EBC to see truly beautiful beasts, for those trekkers paying the closest attention.
How, then, to make sure that you don’t miss such extraordinary encounters with the wildlife? So we’re going to deliver just the best of the best tips and tricks for wildlife spotting on your trek to Everest Base Camp – and how to maximise your time to take it all in.
Understand the Terrain and Habitat
The panorama of the Everest Base Camp Trek Itinerary vicinity adjustments drastically from one area to the other. From the dense, rhododendron- and pine-forested forest at the lowest elevations to the barren, rocky panorama at the very best points, the natural world populates the extraordinary habitats at each elevation. If you realize which particular animals want to stay and what type of metropolis they prefer, it may significantly increase the chance of seeing an animal.
Sub Alpine Forests (2,800-three- 500m): these forests are colorful, and the presence of muntjac, wild boar, and Himalayan tahr may be observed right here.Appearance of those animals within the forests and grasslands as you hike along the path, especially near villages like Phakding and Namche Bazaar.
Mid-Elevation (3,500,500m): higher up, the panorama turns rocky and alpine, the habitat of the Tibetan snowcock and bharal. The more you’re up, the more likely you’re to stumble upon the animals that have adapted to this harsh environment: the Himalayan tahr and the snow leopard (though the latter are not likely).
Excessive-Elevations (4,500m and above): The maximum far-off and desolate place of the trek, the excessive-altitude pastures and sheer cliffs are domestic to even the more elusive animals like the snow leopard and the Himalayan vulture.
Start Early and Stay Alert
The time to see wildlife is usually after dawn and about an hour or two before full dark, when it’s cooler and wildlife goes out to eat. You’ll want to aim to be on your hike early in the morning when the wildlife is most active for this very reason.
Tip: Try to get to your accommodation well before sunset to increase your chances of seeing critters, in particular pheasants, deer, and monkeys. Monitor your eyes and ears for any of those calls or noises; an animal could be present in the area, or a food source is there.
Tip: Later this afternoon has value, too. You will get to see a lot of animals throughout the park, marmots, pikas — darting around the rocks, especially the warmer parts of the day.
Hunt for Traces and Signs of Wildlife
The best way to find wildlife isn’t to look for wildlife at all, but for signs of wildlife. Tracks, scat (animal poop), and the very sounds animals make can help track where the animals might be.
Footprint: The print made by an animal’s foot in soil, snow, or earth. Snow leopard footprints are similar to those of big cats, paler and hairier, but generally cat-like, while the hoofprints of the Himliayn tahr resemble those of the goat.
Scat: An animal’s poop can tell you lots about what it’s been consuming and what it’s been eating lately. You’ll discover scat along streams, on properly-tread trails, and in wooded regions.
SOUNDS Wildlife makes noise before it’s ever seen, so keep quiet and listen. The cluck of a Tibetan snowcock, the whooping cry of a Himalayan vulture, or the crash of game through the underbrush could signal that they’re here.
Be Quiet and Move Slowly
Remaining as quiet as you can is also crucial when you spot wildlife. All living beings, in the Everest region too, are highly sensitive to the noise that prevails in their habitat. They can be spooked away by sudden sounds or quick movements, so fast you’ll barely see them.
Tip: As you approach a potential wildlife sighting, it should be with slow, soft movement, no sudden moves, and little voice. The more often you halt and train the ear and the eye on the credible presence, the more you may hope to catch some winking clue that a tail gives, a bird’s wing, some quivering filament or pollen mote.
Bring Binoculars
maximum of the flora and fauna you may see whilst completing the EBC trek may be found with the naked eye, however, having an excellent pair of binoculars allows you can see flora and fauna coming from miles away and see them in their natural habitat without the natural world seeing you. Birding: Binoculars are remarkable for searching for birds, and for tough-to-see creatures like snow leopards or Tibetan wolves.
Tip: suitable binoculars for trekking inside the Himalayas weigh a pound and are 10×42. Not only will they let you appreciate wildlife from afar, they’ll also let you appreciate landscapes in all their grandeur, in glorious beauty and detail.
Respect the Wildlife
It might be tempting to get in line for a more in-depth appearance, or to take some images of the wildlife, but practicing precise wildlife etiquette means you allow those creatures to perform their incredible shows naturally, and you’re not costing them and their environment. Don’t ever technique any animal, and don’t forget to get too at ease. Naturalworld species, consisting of the greater timid ones, inclusive of snow leopards or Tibetan wolves, are effortlessly disturbed by human presence.
Tip of the licking paw: whilst you do encounter one of these rare creatures, like the snow leopards, keep a (with a bit of luck discomfiting) distance and observe in silence to not disrupt its natural behavior.
Finis: Flip the Wild there back. The EBC Trek is the wild side that is.
The Everest Base Camp Trek is not just a trip to the most popular place in the world, but also a trip to the most wildlife-rich mountain in the world. If you study and believe and tread with a little respect for the land, you will find up-close encounters with an astonishing array of beings that live here. Whether it’s getting a glimpse of that Tibetan snowcock flapping overhead as you make your way along the trail or spotting a musk deer in the forest, the creatures you meet along the way will fill your hike with wonder.
Watch out, keep your camera charged, and your awe at the magical world you’re passing through turned up to 11 on one of the world’s truly great walks. Then, of course, there are the Himalayas — teeming with life, beauty, and unique wildlife experiences.
