The Tiger Safari 2013: Day 6

An absolutely amazing bit of luck saw us face to face to with a (very difficult to find) sloth bear!   This fantastic bear was going about its business when it noticed us, and to the extreme joy of the cameras, stood up and had a good look at us.  Great shots of the sloth bear were the definite highlight of the day, and a very entertaining hour with a large family of langur monkeys was a close second.

Major sightings of the day:

  • Sloth bear
  • Nilgai or blue bull
  • Spotted deer
  • Wild boar
  • Crested serpent eagle
  • Many species of birds

The Tiger Safari 2013: Day 5

The tigers were playing the game again today, giving us a brief, but wonderful sighting.  As usual, the day was also filled with the regulars, but we did manage to get a good look at a nilgai, or blue bull – the largest of the antelope in this area.

Major sightings of the day:

  • Tigress
  • Nilgai or blue bull
  • Samba deer
  • Spotted deer
  • Wild boar
  • Many different bird species

The Tiger Safari 2013: Day 4

Fresh pug marks (tiger tracks) had our senses tuned in, but to no avail – the tigers did not come out for us today.  We did have great sightings of samba deer, which until this point have not been very co-operative.  We also saw and photographed close to fifty different bird species, including the fantastic plum headed parakeet.  Even without the tigers about there is such diversity in India that the cameras are clicking throughout the day!

Major sightings of the day:

  • Samba deer
  • Spotted deer
  • Peafowl
  • Osprey
  • Many different species of birds

The Tiger Safari 2013: Day 3

We picked up exactly where we left off on day 2, with an amazing sighting of a female tiger in a new section of the reserve.  We spent an hour with her, as she marked her territory and casually walked alongside our vehicle.  The highlight of the sighting was when she approached an old tree which had fallen down – she framed herself perfectly beneath the tree allowing us to take some lovely images, and then jumped up and started scent marking the tree with her face!  Absolutely brilliant.

Major sightings of the day:

  • Tigress
  • Indian gaur
  • Spotted deer
  • Wild boar
  • Samba deer
  • Peafowl
  • Many different bird species

The Tiger Safari 2013: Day 2

This is what we came for – tigers, tigers and more tigers!  Day 2 produced four different tigers and allowed us a fantastic three hours in the company of these magnificent cats!  To make it even more special, the first tiger we saw stalked and chased a spotted deer, nearly catching it.  All this action was right in front of us and out in the open, so the cameras were going crazy. The (nearly two year old) cubs we saw in the afternoon were equally obliging for the cameras, playing in the water and then with each other.  Not a bad day at all…

Major sightings of the day:

  • Female tiger hunting spotted deer
  • 3 Tiger cubs (around 2 years old)
  • Spotted deer
  • Barking deer
  • Peafowl
  • Many species of birds