Our alarm goes at 05.30, again! We are up and having a cup of tea and a muffin by 6.15, then it's on to the cantor for our first safari of the day. The cantor is an open topped, 22 seater truck, but has surprisingly comfy seats, all covered in Indian army khaki fabric. The National Park is run by the government, and has strict limits on when tourists can go in, and where they can travel.
We are allocated to zone four, and set off with our guide and driver, through about three security checks, into the park.
It's wonderful to be out in the open air, even though it is extremely cold. We all huddle in blankets and jumpers on slightly damp seats. Out first spotting is, appropriately, spotted deer. We also see sambu deer, many birds, wild bore, monkeys (mainly on the road out), a jacket and a crocodile, but no tigers!!
Our return trip is delayed by a stone which has decided to get wedged between two rear trees. We limp back, and eventually find other drivers and guides who help to remove the offending item. It's nearly 11 before we get back out hotel for breakfast, so some opt for a good breakfast and light lunch at 1 o'clock; others for the reverse.
There's time for a quick walk round the hotel grounds where we are delighted to see the fruit bats are more active than we expected and are all rousting in trees just outside the entrance. It's now beautifully hot, and there are people on the pool and sitting on the lawns reading.
We leave again after lunch for our second safari. This time we are sent to zone two, a hilly area below the ruins of the Ranthambore Fort. Considering the park is 1700 sq. kms., and there are only 65 tigers in it, who are each very territorial, the chances of us seeing a tiger are small, but we do!! A quick glimpse of a tiger walking into the undergrowth, then we play spot the tiger for the next hour or so. You can play your own version with the photo below.
The guides know there is no point looking elsewhere for another tiger, so they hope this one (a female called Arrowhead) will start moving around again. She decides to spend the afternoon sleeping, so eventually we move on and see more sambu deer and monkeys. There's a moment of excitement as we take the return route when animal alarm calls are heard near a rocky cliff area. It's suggested that there might be a leopard around, but we fail to see one!
By the time we get back to the hotel at 6.30 it's cold and dark, and there's just time for a very hot shower before our evening talk about tigers. The talk is good and accompanied by some excellent photos and videos. We learn that makes have territories of around 60 sq kms, and females about 8. The tigers are identified by their paw prints and their facial markings, and there are currently over 65 tigers as three females have recently been seen with cubs. They don't use chips or radio collars as there would be a risk that poachers could also locate the animals.
We have dinner, and are in bed just gone 9pm ready for our next day.
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