A Taste of India, Part 3 – Ranthambore National Park and Tiger Reserve

Apr 18, 2011

We arrived yesterday at our “hunting lodge” (photo safaris only) and after a bite to eat, we went out for our first safari.  The Bengal tiger has been nearly extinct for the past several years, and after a program to reintroduce them back into the wild, the Reserve now has 34 tigers.  Each female roams an area of approximately 25 square kilometers, and each male roams in three different female’s areas. So it’s not too easy to see this elusive animal who is solotary and likes to hang out alone.   When you enter the park, the Parks Department gives you a specific area in which to roam — in search of the tiger who makes this area her home.  We entered Area #1, and after our tracker found the female tiger’s footprints on the road, we went to her favorite watering hole to look for her.  There she was – just waiting for us to arrive!  She soaked in the water and enjoyed the hot sunshine, before a yawn and a stretch and she was up and coming toward us!!! 

With 10 jeeps there to observe her, she came right towards our jeep and got within three feet of us!  Barry was snapping away with super-sonic speed and got some fabulous shots.  The tigress took off walking down the road, followed now by about 15 vehicles.  She walked into the woods and we waited patiently.  She returned to the road and choose our jeep to walk in front of and again, she came right towards us, this time within about a foot or two.  Look at the awesome photos Barry got – just like a National Geographic professional shot!  

Today’s safari did not bring us as much luck.  We were sent to Area #4 today and had hopes of seeing the tigress there, as some of our group were there yesterday and did spot the tiger.  This area houses the oldest tiger in the Reserve.  Just before we went to leave the park, I thought I saw a tiger and had our tracker head down the road to spot her.  Our tracker was convinced that what I had pointed to was real, and so instead of using his cell phone to call the other trackers, he used monkey calls (the monkeys use a warning call to say that tigers are in the area).  After sounding like a monkey for 5 minutes, and having 6 jeeps surround our area, the other guides told him it was a rock!  Oooops!  He should have had binoculars before he used his monkey calls to get the others to come to see.  That was a typical Malori Wilderness Moment. Sorry! My bad.  The tracker felt pretty foolish.
 
We leave early tomorrow morning by train for Agra and the Taj Mahal.  Stay tuned…