Have you ever, while packing for a holiday, looked at your pet and wished that you could take him(or her) along? We live in Bangalore and are always looking for places close by where we can take along our 3 year-old Labrador Retriever, Chip. So when we heard that Civet Creek Camp in Coorg welcomed pets we jumped at the chance to holiday with Chip.
One early Saturday morning we bundled Chip into our car and headed with some friends out of town. With a stop for breakfast near Mysore(and a couple of pit stops for Chip) we reached Madikeri in time for lunch at the iconic East End Hotel. From there it was about half an hour’s drive to the camp.
Civet Creek Camp is located in a beautiful clearing surrounded by coffee estates. On one side of the camp is the sleeping area where one can either stay inside large shacks each of which hold two Swiss tents or you can also ask for the Swiss tents to be pitched in the open. There is enough room in each tent for your pet to sleep with you. Just outside, there are hammocks for lazing around and enjoying the view and a lawn that Chip had a fabulous time bounding around. At the other end of the camp is a gazebo where all the meals are served, a volleyball court and a clearing for bonfires in the night.
We unpacked and decided to trek to a waterfall nearby. We took our cars as far as we could and trekked from there to the falls. It was a strenuous trek but we had a great time once we reached the falls. Chip dove straight into the cool water and had a blast swimming with and against the current. He seemed more sure footed than us and thoroughly enjoyed himself. We stayed there for a while taking in the beauty of our surroundings, the cool water and the sounds of the forest. Then it was back to the camp for a hot bath and a bonfire. It felt great to have Chip sitting next to us around the bonfire, sharing our delicious barbequed chicken and traditional Coorgi food.
The next morning after breakfast we had some free time, so we used the hammocks to catch up on our reading and just relax. We also tried our hand at a little target practice with an airgun that the camp provided.We left the camp late in the morning so that we could catch lunch at Madikeri and return to Bangalore by the evening.
Civet Creek Camp is a good option for a weekend holiday in Coorg, with or without your pet. But it was extra special for us because we could take Chip along. The camp is ready to organize a number of activities and excursions based on your interests and fitness levels. You can also visit spots like Talacauvery which are close to the camp. So if it’s your first trip to Coorg you might want to stay atleast for two nights.
You can get further information at: https://chilltrips.com/adventureCamping.html