Travels on my Elephant

On a whim, Mark Shand bought an elephant called Tara and rode 600 miles across India. He describes parts of the country in the east that tourists do not frequently visit, and the small team are around him are colourful characters. He is a witty storyteller.

Shand falls in love with Tara and is effusive in her praise throughout the book—occasionally, it feels a little over the top. It did not surprise me to learn that he spent the rest of his life campaigning to provide vital migratory corridors for elephants. In 2004 he established a charity called The Elephant… show more.

As much a love story as a traveller’s tale, the wonderful book is more about the relationship between Mark Shand and his trusty elephant, Tara, as it is about India. A truly heart-warming adventure sees the author buy Tara and ride her 600 miles across dusty back roads, through jungle paths, and along state highways, to the world’s biggest elephant fair in Sonepur. Tara, who found a home at Kipling Camp in Madhya Pradesh is still alive today, which is more than can be said for the poor author, Mark, who died in a freak accident stepping off a sidewalk… show more.