2017 Grand World Voyage, Day 170, Ranthambore, India Safari

Up very, very early for our first game drive to Ranthambore National Park.  The park is known for its tigers and is one of the best places in India to see these animals in their natural habitat.  Luck was not on our side this morning, no tigers to be seen in Region 6 of the park.  Actually, there was very little wildlife available for photographing, we did see chital (spotted deer), sambar deer and southern plains grey langurs (monkeys).  Our second game drive of the day did not start out too well, we had a delay due to the driver of Mike and Pauline's safari vehicle hit a van in the hotel parking lot. It was after 3pm before we left the hotel for Region 10 of Ranthambore National Park, the farthest section from our hotel.  The game ride was absolutely horrendous...we went up and down the mountain over red sandstone rocks, stuck in the rocks at one point, fish tailing and sliding...with no sign of a tiger or any type of wildlife...we were pretty beat up from the extremely rough ride, disheartened and just wanted to go back to the hotel. Then we heard the warning call of an antelope and our driver drove towards the sound.  To the right of the jeep, we spotted the largest of the species, the dominant male in the park.  This was my fourth tiger safari attempt and finally a huge success.  It was such a thrilling experience for all of us...for 40 minutes, the tiger followed and lead us for a couple of miles through the bush...the adrenaline was pumping...at some points, the tiger was less than 2 feet of our vehicle.  This was a very long day but it was worth every moment to see the tiger in its’ own habitat. Tomorrow, we are off again before day break for our third game drive of this safari and on to Jaipur.  Another absolutely spectacular day in India…..