{"id":3376,"date":"2020-01-30T10:00:10","date_gmt":"2020-01-30T17:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/?p=3376"},"modified":"2025-02-01T05:27:01","modified_gmt":"2025-02-01T12:27:01","slug":"on-safari-in-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/on-safari-in-india\/","title":{"rendered":"On Safari in India in Search of the Bengal Tiger"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"3376\" class=\"elementor elementor-3376\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-9a37a49 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9a37a49\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-55e11d0\" data-id=\"55e11d0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b87054e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b87054e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">INDIA<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-84465ae elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"84465ae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fc3a6bf elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fc3a6bf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Exploring India&#8217;s grassland and jungle in its beautiful nature preserves<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-27f24960 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"27f24960\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-23086002\" data-id=\"23086002\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-16de444c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"16de444c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>There may be affiliate links within this post which provide me with a small commission, at no cost to you. More information at: <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/privacy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Privacy &amp; Disclosure<\/a><\/span>.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-eecab1b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"eecab1b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c8b1db7\" data-id=\"c8b1db7\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-91fabea elementor-drop-cap-yes elementor-drop-cap-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"91fabea\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;drop_cap&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>A tiger safari in India is the perfect bucolic contrast to the intensity of the cities. It promises diverse wildlife and colorful birds in beautiful natural environments.\u00a0 What is not guaranteed however, is seeing a tiger \u2014 the conservation parks are vast, and tigers can be shy.\u00a0<\/p><p>India has an estimated two-thirds of the world\u2019s wild tiger population just over 5500 at the end of 2023, and more than 50 conservation parks.\u00a0\u00a0<span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Cormorant Garamond; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-size ); font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight );\">The Bengal tigers found here are one of nine subspecies of tiger, three of which are now extinct.\u00a0 I would<\/span><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Cormorant Garamond; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-size ); font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight );\">\u00a0visit two\u00a0tiger reserves on a <\/span><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Cormorant Garamond; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-size ); font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); text-decoration-line: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jdoqocy.com\/click-100431838-11555299?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gadventures.com%2Ftrips%2Fdiscover-india%2F8372%2F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">15-day tour of India<\/a><\/span><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Cormorant Garamond; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-size ); font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight );\"> with <\/span><a style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Cormorant Garamond; background-color: #ffffff;\" href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/3E05kME\">G Adventures<\/a> so arrived very hopeful we would get lucky and see this majestic animal.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p><p>Soon enough I found India&#8217;s protected parks so captivating I almost forget we were here to spot tigers.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-edc7b6f elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"edc7b6f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/khajuarho-temples-india.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3444\" alt=\"afternoon at khajuarho temples india\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/khajuarho-temples-india.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/khajuarho-temples-india-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/khajuarho-temples-india-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">The 10th Century Khajuraho Temples are  near Panna Tiger Reserve<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-58efac2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"58efac2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p1\">Our tour group was in central India visiting the incredible Khajuraho Group of Monuments, Hindu and Jain temples which date to the 10th century. They survived the Mughal Empire, when Muslim rulers destroyed many temples, only because they were hidden by overgrown jungle.\u00a0 They were accidentally discovered by a British surveyor in the 1830\u2019s.<\/p><p>The temples are located in Madhya Pradesh, also known as \u201cThe Tiger State\u201d, so we had the opportunity to add on a safari to nearby Panna National Park.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fe5e208 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"fe5e208\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Google Map -  India &amp; Safari Parks<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9a9a76f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9a9a76f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/embed?mid=1Kk-kI3vjxW6UT5kFtfvIeqV8i22tJR31\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"><\/iframe>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9c9f521 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9c9f521\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pannatigerreserve.in\/\" target=\"_blank\">On Safari in India<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-42f50b8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"42f50b8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pannatigerreserve.in\/\" target=\"_blank\">Panna Tiger Reserve<\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d173ae4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d173ae4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>It was cool and dark when we got into the open-air jeeps at 5:30 am. I had a jacket and gloves but wished I had a wool hat. Northern India can be very cold in winter.<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our passports were checked as we entered the park to confirm our names against the reservation. I am not sure why the high security on this, but they were quickly returned to us, and the jeeps were waved through the gates.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c2389bf elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c2389bf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/safari-panna-national-park-india.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3449\" alt=\"safari in panna national park india\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/safari-panna-national-park-india.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/safari-panna-national-park-india-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/safari-panna-national-park-india-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">There are more than 50 tiger reserves in India, but no guarantee you will see one<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-42d8636 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"42d8636\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>We made our way into the park as the inky night sky lightened, and soon the sunrise turned everything to pale gold. The sunlight shone on waves of honey-colored grass blowing in the breeze.\u00a0<\/p><p class=\"p1\">Birds appeared in the cool morning air. There are close to 300 bird species here and I was grateful I had a camera with a zoom lens, as several posed on nearby branches, including an Indian Roller with a striking turquoise head and tail feathers.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-796c1f3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"796c1f3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/panna-birding-indian-roller.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3446\" alt=\"an indian roller in panna national park\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/panna-birding-indian-roller.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/panna-birding-indian-roller-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/panna-birding-indian-roller-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Indian roller at Panna National Park<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b4a0586 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b4a0586\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>We turned a corner to see a group of Indian gazelles. They stopped as we approached, but now resumed running through the tall grass, their striped horns bobbing in and out of view. Known as chinkara in Hindi, they have lithe bodies and striking chestnut stripes on their head. They are also found in Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan.<\/p><p>They crossed the road in front of us and I was struck by their graceful movement and how fast they were &#8211; too fast for my clumsy attempt at photos. I snapped a few blurry shots and watched them disappear into the grass.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">We moved from grassland into misty deciduous forest. The\u00a0largest of the Indian deer, the sambar, appeared from between the trees. Unlike the chinkara, he\u00a0seemed in no hurry at all.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p><p style=\"line-height: 115%;\">\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e7497f7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e7497f7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/sambar-deer-india.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3447\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/sambar-deer-india.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/sambar-deer-india-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/sambar-deer-india-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Sambar deer - a tiger's favorite food<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b59f083 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b59f083\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p1\">We were able to get close enough to appreciate his coarse shaggy coat and immense antlers; the males can reach up to 550kg. He stood on its hind legs to munch on a branch overhead. Although we saw many sambar, they are considered a vulnerable species due to hunting and habitat loss.\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We also saw chital or spotted deer, which looked especially pretty grazing in the dappled light of the forest.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of our guides pointed outside the jeep\u2014a huge paw print was visible in the sand about a meter away. The size of the tiger print was remarkable and I felt a nervous excitement. A discussion followed as the guides debated where the tiger might be. Bengal tigers are most active at dawn and dusk. We were in the grassland but tigers are more often found in the forest, so we moved on to continue our search.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-75d0350 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"75d0350\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/spotted-deer-panna-park.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3450\" alt=\"spotted deer panna national park\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/spotted-deer-panna-park.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/spotted-deer-panna-park-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/spotted-deer-panna-park-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">The chital or spotter deer<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e634d80 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e634d80\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pannatigerreserve.in\/\" target=\"_blank\">The Indian Nilgai<\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-81ffde3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"81ffde3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p1\">It wasn&#8217;t a tiger we saw next, but a strange animal that might be described as a cross between a cow and a horse\u2014 a nilgai, a large Asian antelope and she was hurrying through the grass with her youngsters zig zagging around her. Nilgai can range in color from beige like these ones, to a grey-blue color, hence the nickname blue bull, which they are commonly called.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p><p>We continued to see birds throughout the morning. The parakeets played above us, streaks of green tagging each other as they swooped between the tree tops. A large vulture appeared as well, appropriately imposing, perched on a dead tree. We also saw a crested serpent eagle which surveyed the scene.\u00a0\u00a0<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><br \/><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c7f2778 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c7f2778\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/nilgai-and-babies-panna-park.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3452\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/nilgai-and-babies-panna-park.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/nilgai-and-babies-panna-park-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/nilgai-and-babies-panna-park-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">An Indian Nilgai and her babies, on safari in the grassland at Panna National Park<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-349269d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"349269d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The thrill I felt about the birds caught me by surprise. I knew I loved birds, but seeing them in such a stunning wild environment was beyond what I expected. <\/span>It wasn&#8217;t the first thing to surprise me in India.\u00a0<\/p><p class=\"p1\">I was here without my husband and kids and the whole trip felt like a sort of rendezvous with my former self.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">I was remembering things I used to love but had forgotten: the fun of meeting new people with totally different lives than my own. How much I enjoy time to myself. I had spent a few days on my own at the beginning of the trip and I felt so free and happy, it was delightful to only have to think about myself.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-31c08e1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"31c08e1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/crested-serpent-eagle-india.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3445\" alt=\"Spotting a crested serpant eagle on safari in India\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/crested-serpent-eagle-india.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/crested-serpent-eagle-india-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/crested-serpent-eagle-india-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Crested serpent eagle<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fa43e28 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fa43e28\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The light changed and we headed toward the park entrance,\u00a0 stopping to watch a troop of langur monkeys and their antics. Panna was a lovely park and a wonderful experience, but a paw print in the sand was as close as we came to a tiger.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8439c57 elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon elementor-view-default elementor-widget-divider--element-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-global elementor-global-2074 elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"8439c57\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon elementor-divider__element\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-globe-africa\" viewBox=\"0 0 496 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M248 8C111.03 8 0 119.03 0 256s111.03 248 248 248 248-111.03 248-248S384.97 8 248 8zm160 215.5v6.93c0 5.87-3.32 11.24-8.57 13.86l-15.39 7.7a15.485 15.485 0 0 1-15.53-.97l-18.21-12.14a15.52 15.52 0 0 0-13.5-1.81l-2.65.88c-9.7 3.23-13.66 14.79-7.99 23.3l13.24 19.86c2.87 4.31 7.71 6.9 12.89 6.9h8.21c8.56 0 15.5 6.94 15.5 15.5v11.34c0 3.35-1.09 6.62-3.1 9.3l-18.74 24.98c-1.42 1.9-2.39 4.1-2.83 6.43l-4.3 22.83c-.62 3.29-2.29 6.29-4.76 8.56a159.608 159.608 0 0 0-25 29.16l-13.03 19.55a27.756 27.756 0 0 1-23.09 12.36c-10.51 0-20.12-5.94-24.82-15.34a78.902 78.902 0 0 1-8.33-35.29V367.5c0-8.56-6.94-15.5-15.5-15.5h-25.88c-14.49 0-28.38-5.76-38.63-16a54.659 54.659 0 0 1-16-38.63v-14.06c0-17.19 8.1-33.38 21.85-43.7l27.58-20.69a54.663 54.663 0 0 1 32.78-10.93h.89c8.48 0 16.85 1.97 24.43 5.77l14.72 7.36c3.68 1.84 7.93 2.14 11.83.84l47.31-15.77c6.33-2.11 10.6-8.03 10.6-14.7 0-8.56-6.94-15.5-15.5-15.5h-10.09c-4.11 0-8.05-1.63-10.96-4.54l-6.92-6.92a15.493 15.493 0 0 0-10.96-4.54H199.5c-8.56 0-15.5-6.94-15.5-15.5v-4.4c0-7.11 4.84-13.31 11.74-15.04l14.45-3.61c3.74-.94 7-3.23 9.14-6.44l8.08-12.11c2.87-4.31 7.71-6.9 12.89-6.9h24.21c8.56 0 15.5-6.94 15.5-15.5v-21.7C359.23 71.63 422.86 131.02 441.93 208H423.5c-8.56 0-15.5 6.94-15.5 15.5z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d72f6ff elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d72f6ff\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ranthamborenationalpark.com\/ranthambore-national-park-detail.html\" target=\"_blank\">Safari in Ranthambore National Park<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-01037da elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"01037da\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ranthambore National Park is the most visited safari park in India due to its proximity to India\u2019s Golden Triangle, the popular cities of Delhi, Jaipur and Agra. I would recommend visiting Jaipur if you get the chance, and a few days in Ranthambore is a lovely addition. It is also one of India&#8217;s largest parks and has the most well-documented tiger population in the world;<\/span>the latest census reports around 70 resident tigers.<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Again, we set out early, hoping to see the tigers when they were most active.<\/span><\/p><p class=\"p1\">The terrain felt more diverse than Panna; Ranthambore has many lakes and ponds scattered throughout the jungle, and we saw a crocodile sunning itself on a muddy riverbank. The ruins of a 1000 year-old fort also give Ranthambore an exotic flavor. This was the private hunting grounds of the Maharajas of Jaipur until Indian independence in 1947.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0aa37ff elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0aa37ff\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/ruins-ranthambore-park.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3456\" alt=\"ruins at ranthambore park india\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/ruins-ranthambore-park.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/ruins-ranthambore-park-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/ruins-ranthambore-park-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Ruins at Ranthambore National Park<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9eee991 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9eee991\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ranthamborenationalpark.com\/ranthambore-national-park-detail.html\" target=\"_blank\">Hunting Grounds of the Maharajas<\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-245fcf0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"245fcf0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u00a0<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The park is divided into ten zones with each jeep assigned a single zone for the safari. This ensures visitors are spread evenly through the park and cause the least disruption to the wildlife.\u00a0 Ranthambore guides accompanied us, that was also the case at Panna, and they were very knowledgeable about wildlife and bird species.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9613937 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"9613937\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/indian-nilgai.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3455\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/indian-nilgai.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/indian-nilgai-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/indian-nilgai-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Indian nilgai or blue bull are commonly seen in both Panna and Ranthambore parks<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-11fede2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"11fede2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The safari guides also had the latest tiger intel,; they knew where the animals had most recently been spotted.\u00a0 Because of the zone system however, even if a tiger is strutting her stuff in zone 3, you will have to keep looking in zone 9.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p class=\"p1\">My excitement over the birds continued at Ranthambore, where there is a great variety due to its abundance of lakes. I saw a gorgeous orange and turquoise kingfisher perched on a rock in the water. Most of the 12 species of kingfisher in India are brightly colored and easy to recognize because of their striking beaks. We also enjoyed watching the peacocks strut through the jungle.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-135623c elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"135623c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/kingfisher-birding-india.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3453\" alt=\"river kingfisher spotted birding in india\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/kingfisher-birding-india.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/kingfisher-birding-india-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/kingfisher-birding-india-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">River kingfisher, Ranthambore National Park<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e07240 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5e07240\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As we drove through the park in search of tigers, I thought about leopards. I knew they were here, and that it was extremely rare to spot this reclusive cat. I imagined seeing one and its incredible coat of rosettes, <\/span>but\u00a0decided it wasn&#8217;t prudent to be greedy, so put leopards out of my mind.\u00a0<\/p><p>I was fascinated by the parakeets that I saw all over India. I liked the way they sit together and peck at each other&#8217;s beaks, and then one takes off and the other follows. I was peering at the trees, wondering whether I might get lucky and see a plum-headed parakeet when the ruckus began.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-93537b6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"93537b6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/see-parakeets-india.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3518\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/see-parakeets-india.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/see-parakeets-india-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/see-parakeets-india-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">India has 12 native species of parakeets <\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-35c9221 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"35c9221\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ranthamborenationalpark.com\/ranthambore-national-park-detail.html\" target=\"_blank\">Monkeys Sound the Tiger Alarm<\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c06449a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c06449a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The monkeys had begun howling . They were sounding an alarm, the guides said; a tiger was nearby. We sat quietly, watching and waiting as the monkeys continued, on and off, on and off, like some sort of jungle alarm snooze button. The guides occasionally murmured to each other. How long to wait, this seemed to be the question.<\/p><p>I pondered the chances that we were stopped in the exact right spot, that a tiger would appear out of the jungle right here. It seemed so unlikely. But apparently it does happen. We remained in the cool shade until the monkeys finally went quiet.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fbc08bd elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"fbc08bd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/grey-langur-monkey-ranthambore.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3448\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/grey-langur-monkey-ranthambore.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/grey-langur-monkey-ranthambore-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/grey-langur-monkey-ranthambore-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Grey langur monkeys at Ranthambore Park<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8d1e7ae elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8d1e7ae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>We returned to our hotel for lunch and in the mid afternoon, got back in the jeep. Our <a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/3E4Xx00\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">G Adventures<\/span><\/a> guide, Raghu, told us we had been assigned a new zone and he seemed optimistic. Once in the park, we headed in a different direction than earlier and our Ranthambore guide, Mr. Singh, said something to our driver. Raghu told us to hold on. The jeep lurched forward beginning to climb, bumping up sandy hills and around tight turns.<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This ride felt very different from the terrain that morning. And unlike the morning, we didn\u2019t ask to photograph birds or stop and watch deer graze in sunlit forest. This felt like all business. I found out later that when Mr. Singh instructed our driver where to go he added: \u201cDon\u2019t stop until you get to the tigers.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-219a9ca elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"219a9ca\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/safari-guides-ranthambore-park.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3460\" alt=\"small group tour guides in India\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/safari-guides-ranthambore-park.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/safari-guides-ranthambore-park-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/safari-guides-ranthambore-park-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Our safari guides, Raghu Rathore (left) and Mr. Singh (right)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e0b2a97 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e0b2a97\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When we finally stopped, it was at the top of a ridge alongside a deep canyon. One other jeep was already here, its occupants looking out over the canyon, cameras clicking.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We were told that two tigers were resting in the grass next to the river on the canyon floor.\u00a0 They were far enough away that we needed a zoom lens to see them. Luckily, we brought a few of those. I looked through my viewfinder and rotated my lens.\u00a0 Two tigers, sisters, lay together in the grass. Even on the other end of a lens, it was thrilling. It sounds funny to say, but I was\u00a0 startled by their colour and the perfection of their stripes.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e2685f1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e2685f1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/tiger-safari-india-ranthambore-park.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-8626\" alt=\"Two tigers rest in the forest, seen on safari in India&#039;s Ranthambore Park\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/tiger-safari-india-ranthambore-park.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/tiger-safari-india-ranthambore-park-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/tiger-safari-india-ranthambore-park-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/tiger-safari-india-ranthambore-park-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Even seeing tigers through a zoom lens is thrilling<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ff77edb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ff77edb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To see an animal in the wild that you have seen hundreds of times, in photos and books, is oddly surprising in both its match of your expectations and the ways that it surpasses them. It was the middle of the afternoon so the tiger sisters were doing as tigers do in the heat of the day, chilling.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now that we had found them, we did the same. We settled into a happy contentment happily chatting, taking photos and enjoying the scene, with the pretty afternoon light shining on the river below.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>Eventually the guides decided we should return to the valley floor. We arrived at an open clearing with a small lake and I took a photo of a crocodile sunning himself.\u00a0 With the water here, there were more birds to see, and the guides hoped the tiger sisters might stop by for a drink.\u00a0\u00a0<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-447cf55 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"447cf55\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/tiger-ranthambore-park.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3459\" alt=\"tigers ranthambore park\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/tiger-ranthambore-park.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/tiger-ranthambore-park-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/tiger-ranthambore-park-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e0fc945 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e0fc945\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The tiger sisters did not appear again however, <\/span>and as the\u00a0afternoon sun sank lower, the jeep turned toward the park entrance.\u00a0 We stopped to see a family of wild pigs and a mongoose.<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We continued on and suddenly, Mara, a woman in our group, shouted to the guides and pointed at the forest.\u00a0 The jeep skidded to a stop. At first we only saw branches rustling, and then a large dark shape emerged.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was a black bear with a pointy beige snout \u2014 and I know Baloo when I see him. (Baloo, which means bear in Hindi, is the name of the fictional bear in Rudyard Kipling\u2019s &#8220;The Jungle Book&#8221;.) I also know that seeing the sloth bear is rare, so it was an exciting moment for everyone.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-260405a elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"260405a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/indian-crocodile-ranthambore.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3457\" alt=\"indian crocodile ranthambore park\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/indian-crocodile-ranthambore.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/indian-crocodile-ranthambore-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/indian-crocodile-ranthambore-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Ranthambore park has lots of water, good for spotting crocodiles<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c3b7a11 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c3b7a11\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We watched as it ambled through the woods, partly camouflaged by the shade and trees.\u00a0 Capturing a good photo was difficult. I took a few blurry shots, but Baloo was not cooperating, so I set down my camera and watched until he disappeared.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As we left the park, I thought about why <\/span>my safaris in India had been so thrilling: I think it&#8217;s because not knowing what&#8217;s around the corner gives you the feeling that anything is possible. When\u00a0I looked through my photos later, the good ones and the blurry ones, I realized I wanted more of that feeing in my life. I want to feel like anything is possible, that at anytime,\u00a0something unexpected and wonderful might be around the corner.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-77139e6 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"77139e6\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-77026ed\" data-id=\"77026ed\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e9c0c8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4e9c0c8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">More India!<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a65615d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a65615d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong><em><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Learn more about the National Geographic\/G Adventures India tour I took: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jdoqocy.com\/click-100431838-11555299?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gadventures.com%2Ftrips%2Fdiscover-india%2F8372%2F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Discover India!<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p><p><em><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">If you are considering travel to India, you might enjoy these posts: <\/span><\/em><\/p><p><em><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/plan-a-trip-to-india\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Planning Your India Dream Trip <\/a><\/span>or<a href=\"http:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/delhi-historical-places\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"> Historical Places You Must See in Delhi, India.<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-65e5f87c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"65e5f87c\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6bc862f3\" data-id=\"6bc862f3\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-66579d41 content-align-cta-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-eael-cta-box\" data-id=\"66579d41\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"eael-cta-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"eael-call-to-action cta-basic bg-lite cta-preset-1\">\n        <h3 class=\"title eael-cta-heading\">Subscribe!<\/h3><p>Join Midlife Globetrotter. Receive a monthly newsletter with travel ideas for women, planning tips, midlife stories and living-well inspiration!<\/p><a href=\"http:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/subscribe\/\" class=\"cta-button cta-preset-1  \">Subscribe<\/a>\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-80e4a65 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"80e4a65\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c528d20\" data-id=\"c528d20\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-34b3eae elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"34b3eae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/scenic-panna-national-park.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3451\" alt=\"scenic panna national park\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/scenic-panna-national-park.jpg 900w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/scenic-panna-national-park-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/scenic-panna-national-park-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Morning at Panna National Park &amp; Tiger Reserve<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6fc2b97 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6fc2b97\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Tiger Conservation in India<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-14a0099 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"14a0099\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For a deep dive on conservation efforts, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.toftigers.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Toft Tigers Conservation<\/a><\/span> is a great resource.\u00a0 Their free Wildlife Travel Guide also profiles more than 300 eco-friendly safari lodges.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p class=\"p1\">Threats to the tiger include habitat loss and fragmentation and declining prey populations; some poaching still exists as well. Yet there is much to feel optimistic about as tiger populations continue to grow along with India&#8217;s commitment to protect them.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>INDIA Exploring India&#8217;s grassland and jungle in its beautiful nature preserves There may be affiliate links within this post which provide me with a small commission, at no cost to you. More information at: Privacy &amp; Disclosure. A tiger safari in India is the perfect bucolic contrast to the intensity of the cities. It promises [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2635,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,36],"tags":[350,11,79,100,220,92,102,44,45,368,111,106,110],"class_list":["post-3376","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-solo-travel","category-travel-stories","tag-adventures","tag-asia","tag-conservation","tag-favourite-places","tag-favourite-travel-stories","tag-g-adventures","tag-guided-tour","tag-india","tag-safari","tag-south-asia","tag-tiger-safari","tag-wildlife","tag-wildlife-tourism"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/jeep-safari-india.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3376","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3376"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3376\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2635"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3376"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3376"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/midlifeglobetrotter.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3376"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}