Ranthambore Rendezvouz

rav.9999 · Jul 24th, 2009, 14:17

The Rendezvouz

Like every one else, we too had gone to Ranthambore in search of the king of the Indian jungle-the tiger.No jungle safari can ever be complete without a look at at this elusive cat.And meet him did we indeed! And in full measure, too.

It had not started off propitiously, though. We had set our hearts on a jeep safari- for freedom of movement and oppurtunity for photography- but had to settle instead with a bus full of other tourists.And then we were late by almost an hour into the four hour safari. So when our guide showed us some pug marks and said that a tiger must have passed that way not very long ago, we knew that we had blown it. Firstly, one is allowed to visit a restricted area only and secondly the probability of two tigers sharing the same area at the same time were remote. We consoled ourselves with treepies, fly catchers, sambhars, cheetals, langurs and the like.

But as they say every dog has its day.We had our's too.There was a jeep parked near a water hole. So we stopped by to see why they were waiting there. They said there was a kill nearby and a tiger was expected to come for a drink. We waited, with baited breath and with excitement mounting in our hearts. Will it come or won't? It is for nothing that guides are known for weaving a good story to create atmosphere. Ours also contributed his mite towards heightening the tension. And then it came and perched itself on the edge of the pool. No, not the tiger. But a crow. And it had a morsel from the tiger's kill in its beak. We knew then that the guides were not wrong about the kill. But would the tiger emerge? It must surely have heard all the commotion at the pool. And are they not supposedly shy of company.

And then some one shouted-there it is-and all hell broke loose. Where? I can't see it! People started jostling each other for a vantage position. For some time I thought that some one may actually fall off the bus in that mad scramble. But, it was supremely indifferent to all this as if mocking us for our childish behaviour.For some reason, it walked into the pool backwards! It lazed there for almost ten minutes, watching the throng of curious onlookers contemptuosly and flicking off a fly from time to time. It must have then got disgusted with our antics and walked out of the pool to lie down among some bushes nearby for a long and satisfying siesta.

And we too were off. Contemplating what the beast must have been thinking about us. Seriously, the hulla balloo around that water hole could have awakened the dead! There were people shouting, jostling each other in the bus for a good look , perched at impossible angles and bent into grotesque shapes for that perfect photograph, vehicles manouvering around-general mayhem, if you ask me.

But people had their money's worth. Wild life be damned.

OceanTragic · Jul 24th, 2009, 14:29

Great to hear that you got to see a tiger but apart from that it doesn't sound like an ideal safari. I hated the canter for just the reasons you listed and was glad this was just for 1 out of 6 of my safaris.

I wouldn't agree that you need to see a tiger for a complete safari experience as Ranthambhore has so much to offer. I did six safaris, saw one tiger and I wouldn't say that the safari we saw the tiger on was the best one at all.

kartikp · Jul 26th, 2009, 16:54

Good going on the sighting, though you might have enjoyed it more if not for the mayhem which envelops such sightings. :-)
Nevertheless you had a better time than someone who is trapped in four walls called office (*me*)..

Cheers,
Kartik

robinsparrow · Jul 26th, 2009, 17:15

Surprized everyone made so much noise....when my husband and I went a few years ago...everyone knew to be very very quiet....and we were very lucky to see a mother and her 2 cubs..we must have seen them for a good half hour right next to us almost at the drinking hole and then she walked on the road and crossed over. This was absolutely unbelievable..we had always wanted to see a tiger after going to Jim Corbett Park and not seeing any. The tiger is indeed beautiful...and longer then I had imagined.

robinsparrow

rav.9999 · Jul 27th, 2009, 14:11

Hi Kartikp and robinsparrow

It was not the first time we had been witness to such cacophony. Last year when we went to Tadoba national park, the situation was almost the same. Actually, there was a sort of a traffic holdup due to jostling by every one for a vantage position on a narrow trail and it took quite a while before every one could move on. And Tadoba is not as popular as Ranthambore or Corbett and is not so crowded.

Jul 24th, 2009, 14:17	#1
rav.9999 Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Rajasthan Posts: 35	Ranthambore Rendezvouz The Rendezvouz Like every one else, we too had gone to Ranthambore in search of the king of the Indian jungle-the tiger.No jungle safari can ever be complete without a look at at this elusive cat.And meet him did we indeed! And in full measure, too. It had not started off propitiously, though. We had set our hearts on a jeep safari- for freedom of movement and oppurtunity for photography- but had to settle instead with a bus full of other tourists.And then we were late by almost an hour into the four hour safari. So when our guide showed us some pug marks and said that a tiger must have passed that way not very long ago, we knew that we had blown it. Firstly, one is allowed to visit a restricted area only and secondly the probability of two tigers sharing the same area at the same time were remote. We consoled ourselves with treepies, fly catchers, sambhars, cheetals, langurs and the like. But as they say every dog has its day.We had our's too.There was a jeep parked near a water hole. So we stopped by to see why they were waiting there. They said there was a kill nearby and a tiger was expected to come for a drink. We waited, with baited breath and with excitement mounting in our hearts. Will it come or won't? It is for nothing that guides are known for weaving a good story to create atmosphere. Ours also contributed his mite towards heightening the tension. And then it came and perched itself on the edge of the pool. No, not the tiger. But a crow. And it had a morsel from the tiger's kill in its beak. We knew then that the guides were not wrong about the kill. But would the tiger emerge? It must surely have heard all the commotion at the pool. And are they not supposedly shy of company. And then some one shouted-there it is-and all hell broke loose. Where? I can't see it! People started jostling each other for a vantage position. For some time I thought that some one may actually fall off the bus in that mad scramble. But, it was supremely indifferent to all this as if mocking us for our childish behaviour.For some reason, it walked into the pool backwards! It lazed there for almost ten minutes, watching the throng of curious onlookers contemptuosly and flicking off a fly from time to time. It must have then got disgusted with our antics and walked out of the pool to lie down among some bushes nearby for a long and satisfying siesta. And we too were off. Contemplating what the beast must have been thinking about us. Seriously, the hulla balloo around that water hole could have awakened the dead! There were people shouting, jostling each other in the bus for a good look , perched at impossible angles and bent into grotesque shapes for that perfect photograph, vehicles manouvering around-general mayhem, if you ask me. But people had their money's worth. Wild life be damned.

Jul 24th, 2009, 14:29	#2
OceanTragic More Of A Leecher Than A Seeder Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Southampton,UK Posts: 954	Great to hear that you got to see a tiger but apart from that it doesn't sound like an ideal safari. I hated the canter for just the reasons you listed and was glad this was just for 1 out of 6 of my safaris. I wouldn't agree that you need to see a tiger for a complete safari experience as Ranthambhore has so much to offer. I did six safaris, saw one tiger and I wouldn't say that the safari we saw the tiger on was the best one at all. __________________ . My 2009 Trip Journal..... Information about planning a trip around Rajasthan (with kids).....My photo gallery

Jul 26th, 2009, 17:15	#4
robinsparrow Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Massachusetts,USA Posts: 66	oh woow Surprized everyone made so much noise....when my husband and I went a few years ago...everyone knew to be very very quiet....and we were very lucky to see a mother and her 2 cubs..we must have seen them for a good half hour right next to us almost at the drinking hole and then she walked on the road and crossed over. This was absolutely unbelievable..we had always wanted to see a tiger after going to Jim Corbett Park and not seeing any. The tiger is indeed beautiful...and longer then I had imagined. robinsparrow

Jul 27th, 2009, 14:11	#5
rav.9999 Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Rajasthan Posts: 35	Hi Kartikp and robinsparrow It was not the first time we had been witness to such cacophony. Last year when we went to Tadoba national park, the situation was almost the same. Actually, there was a sort of a traffic holdup due to jostling by every one for a vantage position on a narrow trail and it took quite a while before every one could move on. And Tadoba is not as popular as Ranthambore or Corbett and is not so crowded. __________________ .....and now I travel mostly in spirit.

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Jul 26th, 2009, 16:54	#3
kartikp Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: UAE Posts: 51	Good going on the sighting, though you might have enjoyed it more if not for the mayhem which envelops such sightings. :-) Nevertheless you had a better time than someone who is trapped in four walls called office (me).. Cheers, Kartik

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