Ranthambore National Park is home to tigers along with a variety of birds, monkeys, sambars, but the tigers are the big draw. Tiger safaris leave in the morning or the afternoon. It was back on safari schedule – 6 AM wake up with coffee and tea, quick showers and off to the NP. We knew we’d be in a 6-person vehicle but we had no idea with whom. The first morning we ended up with 3 other people – a couple from the UK and Abeget, an Indian from Cupertino who works for EA Entertainment Arts.
The safari vehicles have no top; they are completely open air. Khem Villas provided a wool blanket with hot water bottle, 2 bottles of water and 2 sandwiches. We laughed when we read this but, when we hit the road, the blanket with the hot water bottle came in mighty handy!
The driver drove fast, making our heads and faces even colder. First stop was at the main gate of the National Park so the hawkers could try to sell hats and gloves and fleeces. For some reason, they didn’t bother Abaget!
The park is divided into zones and each vehicle is assigned a zone never to be violated by entering another zone! Zone 2 was ours with the road following along the bottom of the hill with the Ranthambore Fort which is high and VERY large. Pictures can’t do it justice.
The walls of Ranthambore Fort
A tiger paw print in the road.
Victory! We saw two tiger “cubs”. This guy is only about 18 months old.
The tigers blend into the background quite well.
Hawkeye spotting! A lady in a passing vehicle in the National Park saw Mark’s shirt and said “GO Hawks!”
This lake was full of birds and Sambar deer during the afternoon safari
Our afternoon National Park Guide. She is the ONLY female guide in the National Park.
Naturalists are freelance and work on a rotation basis. She tried really hard to find a tiger for us in the afternoon but to no avail.
These sambars had some afternoon delight.
The birds were spectacular even if the tigers are in hiding.
The guide spotted two owls nestled in the tree.
Fruit bats hanging around in the trees!
So excellent that you saw tigers. India isn’t high on my list to visit… except for the tigers!