Tiger track? I think not. Our guide pointed it out to us. Only the stupid would believe a tiger made this track, and then drew a circle around it. Was he a one-legged beast?
I went to Ranthambor National Park, which is 14 km from the tiny village of Sawai Madohpour. The vegetation is simply tropical dry deciduous and tropical thorn forest. It’s very dry and water is limited to its narrow valleys and lakes.
I took a canter which sat about 20 people. A jeep or gypsy was my other option but since I was a single person it would have cost a mint to hire one. Besides in a canter, I could talk to others. I met a lovely Dutch woman who was alone because her husband was sick back at the resort. She was a really interesting woman who loves wildlife as much as I do. (I hope you’re reading, Maria!)
The tiger is the biggest attraction of the park. I admit that’s why I wanted to come. I have seen tigers before but it would be interesting to see one in India. At the very, very end of our three hour safari we saw one tiger walking in the distance. Unfortunately I don’t have a zoom lens so all you can see is an orange speck amongst the trees.
What we did see plenty of were wild boars, langurs, sambar, spotted deer, and many different kinds of birds.
Being out in the “wilderness” was definitely what I needed. The night before I met a Finnish guy who was the only other person staying at my hotel. We got smashed on cheap beer and I had a huge hangover when I woke up. Fresh air helped cured my woes.
Okay this goat wasn’t exactly in the park but he caught my eye literally. After I snapped a few pictures of the goats, a woman yelled at me for taking the pictures. She wanted money. Instead I sat down and drank some chai that her grandson poured for me. The whole time she muttered at me in Hindi. Tried as I might, I couldn’t get her to smile.
