Tiger Safari #3 - (morning 8 March) - What can we say, we’ve found our calling. We’re in the process of starting a tiger whispering service where, for a modest fee, we will sit in safari vehicles with other people and gather tigers around us like moths to a flame. It’s not to say that we actually saw the 2 cubs today... or a leopard doing the Can-Can. Or even the rare hyena (with a kill) or a sloth bear. The hyena and the bear were definitely seen today, just not by us. But we did see 2 fabulous tigers - both ‘quality’ sightings.

The first happened about 5 minutes after the initial gate leading into zone 6 (admittedly one of the best zones and our second visit). The first sighting happened so fast, even before going through the arch and fence secondary gate, that no-one had their cameras out! Ours was very handy indeed though and when we came across a Canter (that’s the 18 seater) with everyone standing up and exhibiting classic tiger-spotting behaviour, we had it out within seconds.

The first tiger of the day was a big, young male known as Kumbha. Or T-34 - though that doesn’t have the same ring to it. We looked him up online when we returned to the hotel and he is apparently 9 years old (roughly). He is resident in zones 6, 7 and 8 and is believed to have fathered all three litters for the dominant tigress in the area, Ladali/T8. So quite a father figure in these parts.

Our companions in the jeep (one couple on their first safari and one on their second) were ecstatic to see their first tiger so quickly. We really were making the tiger whispering business look easy (and viable).

We continued on... spotted deer/summer deer/peacocks/antelopes/mongeese etc etc. All very nice. But the tiger bug had bitten and we were rewarded once more when the word was passed from another jeep that a large female was chilling out along the top of the fence. And off we went - The Ranthambore Rally rode again!

We slammed along and reached the gate with no major bumps or bruises then the driver hauled the jeep up a steep and rocky slope (road would be a strong word). From that vantage point we had a clear view of Tiger #2 - just relaxing. Stretching. Eventually she got a bit tired of all the chatter and noise from the vehicles below her and she climbed the steps very photogenically before disappearing into the brush. Ahhh!

Our guide (who was doing no tracking at all incidentally), then suggested they could take us back to the hotels an hour early. We think he was already counting his tiger tips. We all said ‘No!’ - so back into the park for another cruise around until it was a respectable time to return.

In the end two tigers sightings was the bag for the day - incredibly successful and we have one more safari to enjoy. Tomorrow we will be heading out in the afternoon - 2 pm until 5.30 pm or so. Fingers crossed for the cubs as we’ve been so incredibly lucky so far (or a leopard or sloth bear... don’t want to be too demanding...)

PS - tiger total is sitting at 7. Yippee!