Ranthambhore trip report - (Dial up warning)

PeakXV

I loved Zone 1. It's your best chance to see the Sloth Bear. We saw where the bear had recently dug up some ant hills and scat that was still (well almost) steaming. Sometimes it's your imagination & thrill of the hunt that makes the day. The light in the late afternoon especially in winter along that mountain road is very nice. Sun rays stream in pockets, and bright colored birds dart in and out of sight. We stopped somewhere near the top and watched Sambar eating in an Jujube orchard - this fruit a favourite lure for the sloth bear. The sambar left and the we all got out and gorged on the fruit. I climbed up the tree a bit too far and the guide & driver played a trick on me by yelling excitedly that '3 bears were now entering the orchard' .... Geesuz I climbed down lickitysplits!!

Anyway, sometime it's what you don't see that makes the day - so give it another try OT. I've heard that 80% of the tiger sightings are in zone 4 though - so if that's what you're main prey - then angle for that area only.

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Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

OceanTragic

I suppose I don't travel well when I'm feeling ropey and I wasn't on top form the day I went to zone 1. The bumpy track at the start just did me in.

But zone 1's got the best Banyan Tree I've ever seen - the one you drive through at the start. It also had the best sighting we had of a mongoose and the only sighting of Gazelle.

didindia7

After several times at Ranthambore since 1996, I hate (yes it's possible) this part of the park, I have never seen something interesting. I "love" zones 2,3 and 4. This year was poor for me, but I will come again, a national park is not a zoo (hopefully) so I will or should have more chance last time.
I only saw slothbears in zone 2...

OceanTragic

It sounds stupid but I like that fact that I didn't get a really good look at lots of tigers because it proves your point.

Yeah, I'd love to have come back with the memory and a couple of killer photos but I'd to have come back thinking that we saw a tiger only by means of a GPS tracker or something.

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navinkurian2002

I hated the lottery system to choosing zones.You do not have a choice which zone you can visit and if you get zone 1 or 5 you are in for a long 3 hours drive .

Zone 1 and zone 5 are a no no (april 2009) we were told about sloth bear but didn't see anything (probably they are sighted in another season). And if you check the Ranthambhore Google Maps it is obvious why the tiger in this season is always around zone 3 and 4. This was confirmed by the guys at tiger watch.

Also i guess it is what you pay ( better access to tigers ).
Also if you are from the government or a conservationist you seem to get unlimited access and can go anywhere (cross zones) which normal tourist cannot.

@OceanTragic loved your site very comprehensive with maps and screen shots . keep it up!

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OceanTragic

I know what you mean but I can't see much of a better solution. If you were able to book a particular zone there'd be a hudge rush for zones 2, 3 and 4.

Thanks, I'll try and update it some more soon but I need to get the hotel reviews and pictures on IM first.

kartikp

I am not sure what it means when one says that one did not see anything interesting there :-) but I guess a major part of that depends on your guide. If your guide is good and can do the tracking or is well versed with various birds, it will be a breeze to see something interesting on every drive :-)

But the point, as other have stressed as well, is that it is not a zoo. Wildlife have their own time table and is not dependent on our schedule. A bit of patience will go a long way when you are interested in "wild" life.

For seeing the sloth bear, I have heard good things about Tadoba Andhari Reserve in Maharashtra. As I grew up in Rajasthan, I have had many chances of seeing them in Kumbhalgharh as well (practically my backyard). I am in the process of seeing and capturing all the wildlife hotspots in and around Rajasthan (a very long process) along with making contacts with local guides. By this year end I will have Kumbhalgarh, Bharatpur and hopefully Siana range (leopards) in my books. :-)

Cheers,
Kartik

OceanTragic

I guess everyone has different expectations sometimes based on where else you've been and what you've seen. My guide was very excited about the Gazelle in zone 2 but I've seen a gazillion of them in Tanzania and Kenya - yes I know they're different - so I wasn't that bothered with Ranthambhore I hoped to, but was quite prepared to not to, see a Tiger and/or a Leopard.
That was until our first meal in the hotel the night before the first safari. The waiter told us that for the last few weeks the hotel's clients had seen tigers on each trip.

There's nothing better than waiting quietly and absorbing the sounds and the sights. I spent ten minutes just watching a crocodile's head get closer to a bird, wondering if he was actually after it or not.

I loved Keoladeo, totally blew me away just how good it was. When went in at 10am - too tired after a Taj sunrise the day before - and if you believed everything you'd think we'd have never seen a single thing. But we saw loads, it was excellent and we stayed there til 6pm.
I never knew I liked watching birds (blog article here if you're interested) - the ones with feathers before anyone cracks a joke - but I know I do now.

So have you done Sariska too? Another wonderful place.

ppinks2000

Dear Kartik,

I read thru your article on ranthambore and the enjoyed the amazing pictures. I will be travelling in the month of November. Can you please confirm the full name of the Bagh accomodation you mentioned in the article. When I surf for that name there are so many in the list like ranthambore bagh , sher bagh --- and any contact for the guide Salim.
It will be of great help.

Cheers

kartikp

Hotel's name is The Ranthambhore Bagh. It is run by Aditya Singh and Poonam Singh. Their site is : http://www.ranthambhore.com/

Cheers,
Kartik

kartikp

Oh and you can contact Ranthambhore Bagh for Salim. I had his contact but my phone contacts are wiped out, I have to restore from backup.

Regards,
kartik

sama.om

Hi Kartik,
I was very impressed with your Ranthambhore trip report and photographs..Thank you very much for shearing it.
I need a help from you.. We too plan to visit Ranthambhore in early December. Can you give us contacts of the people/organization who arranged accommodation and safaris as I’m also going with a toddler.
Thanks a lot in advance
sama

kartikp

Sama,

http://www.ranthambhore.com/ is the site for the hotel. The owner is Aditya and Poonam Singh. Just shoot them a mail or call them on the number listed on the site and they will ensure everything. If you are going in early Dec, I suggest you take some warm clothing for your toddler. Early mornings and late evenings can get very chilly there.

Cheers,
Kartik

lathish

This is really a beautiful report with photos..You are lucky to get those sightings.

Prachs

Awesome photography, a bit nostalgic for me as I'm from Sawaimadhopur & used to go to Ranthambore so often and now It's been more than 5 years that I am away from India and I miss it a lot.