Tanda Dam Wildlife Park, Kohat

In February 2002 I managed to visit the Tanda Dam Wildlife Reserve in Kohat District. Tanda Dam is a man-made water storage reservoir which has been fenced off now a wildlife park.
We set off from Peshawar and then headed over the Darra pass. Darra Adam Khel is home to the AdamKhel sub-section of the Afridis and they manufacture weaponry in this area. Thr rise up is astounding but scary as one continuously sees trucks crawling up this snake like road. At the top of the pass one can see the Kohat area below and then the road dips on to the plains. The government has now made and opened the Kohat Tunnel - a 2 mile long tunnel passing under the mountain into Kohat. The dip down into Kohat by passes Kotal wildlife Park, where one can see various species of Ungulates for captive breeding purposes. It is possible to see them even as the road meanders down.
The journey to Tanda Dam is through the rural areas of Kohat. The Dam has started attracting winter visiting waterfowl as they are also protected. I managed to spot Grey Herons, a pair of Black Stork - my first sighting off this bird, Lapwing, other waders and ducks which were to far to recognise. The far end was preserved for the captive breeding of Ungulates. The fenced reached high up the hillside and a number of vital habitats were created for a number of different species. The forest and scrub was quite thick too. We were told by the game guard there were about 50 Hog deer which preferred the waters edge. There were about 20 Chinkara which were found in the scrub forest and the hillsides. There were also about 20 Nilgai which were found in the scrub forest too. There were also about 10 Urial which were found on the hillsides.
We took a walk in the scrub but did not manage to se anything. Right at the end the guard pointed something out to us as we watched from a roof top. From the vegetation a large dark animal proudl walked out - a Nilgai Bull. It was at quite a distance but an immense pleasure to see. We did not manage to see anything else but who knows maybe next time?