Ranthambore National Park

I arrived at the train station in Sawai Madhopur just after the lunch period; a small town with some tourist facilities. After I have arrived and orientated myself, I walk into an office where they offer tours to the nearby national park of Ranthambore; the main or only reason I am here. They have jeep- and canter tours which means that you go with a kind of open truck.

Of course, the latter is a lot cheaper. There is still a spot free for this afternoon and I'm thinking about taking it. Also because you never know if there are enough people the next day. The only thing is that they are already departing. I drag my big bag into the truck and see a whole group of Indians arrive.

It is about three o ‘clock when we drive the first 10 km to the first gate through the buffferzone Here our papers are checked and we drive another 3 km to the main gate of the National park of Ranthambore.

Ranthambore is one of the largest national parks in northern India and is encapsulated between the Banas and Chambal rivers. It is named after the old fort that lies in the middle of the current park. In 1955 the park was founded, in 1973 the tiger park was taken into use while in 1980 it was designated as a national park.

Ranthambore is best known for seeing tigers, but also leopards, hyena, nile (antelope), bear (lock), wild boar and the sambar deer occur here. We drive through typical northern and central Indian landscape - many dry bushes that are perfect for spotting animals in between. People walk back and forth to the front of the truck to see everything in the right way. We see deer and small antelope but not yet one of the 25 to 30 tigers that can still be seen here.

The park is plagued by poachers we hear from somebody who’s working here I assume. We drive along one of the many lakes that the park is rich while our guide says that it was once a Maharaja hunting ground, the reason why tigers still occur here. Sometimes crocodiles are seen in the lakes here too. The park is also known for its large banyan trees. We pass an open grassland area where our guide is in contact with other tours (guides) that most likely spotted a tiger.

Full gas and a minutes later we stand still for some time while people look through their binoculars, in vain though. 

It starts to get a bit dark when we make an extra round through the park when the cantar-driver is suddenly stands on his brakes. Our guide comes forward and takes his binoculars. There appears to be a tiger in the stream ahead. Now it is important to keep your place; a whole group of people comes forward to spot the tiger.

It should certainly be about 400 meters, but I also see the tiger swimming in the water. Suddenly we see another head and it appears that a second tiger is there also. Unfortunately, they do not both come out of the water. We have to leave unfortunately but everyone is excited, relieved and happy that we have spotted tigers even though it was pretty far away. The story went that tigers here are so accustomed to people in these strange cars that they just keep walking next to the truck. 

Back in the town I walk to my intended hostel on the other side of the bridge. I do not do much, I am a bit sick (later I would find a stomach infection and I would have to stay in a clinic for days) and do not even see the center of Sawai Madhopur which is located about 2 km south of the train station. Two days later I leave for the capital Delhi, still sick.