We were off to the National Park on the bumpy road. It was chilly, even my climate cheater was not helping but i was ignoring the cold and hunger pangs for what was ahead. This time after the series of procedures we were off to a different zone Zone four. Ranthambore is divided into five zones; Zones are assigned randomly and so are the guides.There are high chances that u can get the same zone more than once so blame it on your luck. Well we were excited to get into this zone particularly as there had been many easy spottings in this zone.
As we entered the zone it was very different from the previous one it was hard to believe that they were both parts of same jungle; there were vast bodies of water and golden colored grass patches it was beautiful. Also the morning light was spelling its magic. Also our guide was quite optimistic and he kept saying " lets not stop to click wild boars and peacocks; lets go for the tiger!" I had a good feeling instantly! Terrain was much smoother than the back breaking one in zone one. I was admiring the landscape views and copying it in my head so that i remember to click them on my way back as my hands were too cold to even hold my camera.
After a while we saw two canters holding up the way and the guide started to whisper "they are waiting for something" It was exciting we huddled with them and the guide on other vehicle said "Machli is lying down in the bush". I went like wow Machli!! the most photographed and oldest tigress that would be legendary to watch her. we were waiting with baited breath any movement, any noise, any rustle all eyes would dart in that direction, necks would crank. No one was in there seats anymore i was perched precariously on the side bar of the canter to just get a better view. It was so exciting we were in the middle of this huge jungle just couple of meters away from a napping tiger. Then we heard some footsteps and i turned about and looked down; no no it was not a tiger but a forest officer called Nepalji who was leisurely walking along the well trodden path. He shoted out "O Bhai Ganesh kiska intezaar kar rahe ho?? " our guide told him that Machli just went behind the bush and is sitting there. Nepalji gave out a whistle and said "Bhai log aage jao ab woh nahin uthegi" in his haryanvi or rajasthani accent it was hard to place it; he was confident Machali would take at least an hour to come out as it was her siesta time.
We took off again disappointed, five minutes on the road ahead a gypsy was on its way back they stopped and said that they spotted a tiger ahead. Our driver put his feet to the floor; after few minutes we saw a fork in the road, our driver and guide were contemplating which side to go when another canter came from left and the guide shouted that T -17 has crossed over from zone three to this zone. With their superior sense of the jungle our guide told the driver to swerve the canter to the right. Suddenly the terrain had changed there were trees and treachrous road like zone one; few minutes on the road the canter before us braked our driver braked too and i glanced to the left. I could see the stripes in the trees i knew it was there. I couldnt believe i was seeing a tiger. It was walking straight and i was trying hard not to blink or else i will miss it ; But then it digressed and came right out of the bush like right out walking towards our canter i was on the very same side. The very air was charged adrenaline running high, hearts were beating fast and loud and for some had momentarily stopped beating, my friend had to be gagged so that she could stop shrieking with excitement and drive the tiger away. It was a two year old tigress, one of the few collared tigers in the jungle. She walked with such grace she held all of our eyes. She leisurely walked onto the the road and started walking ahead of us.I did not know should i click or take it all in; i did not want to miss even a single nano second of this.
It is the most magnificient creature i have ever seen and i was instantly in love; It just crossed my mind that if there was one species we can save, tigers should be it; what a shame it would be to let them pass in the oblivion and in the world of legends, stories and coffee table books.
T -17 walked as if she owned the place and we were just there, she had every human soul in the vicinity tied to her at that moment. She was not at all perturbed by the presence of the monster like vehicles and helpless creatures on top of it. Our guide started reversing when all of us piled on to him telling him to follow her like the other canter did, but he said No point blankly and told us that "aapne tiger dekh liya na ab usse pareshaan na kijiye" as soon as i heard his concern for T -17 i kept quite and agreed we did not have to act like the paparazzi.
I was dazed i couldnt get over the fact i saw a tiger in wild those few minutes are finely etched in my memory with all the intricate details.
We were smiling all the way back; i saw baby crocs, clicked landscapes but my mind kept going back to T -17.
It was a one of those memorable first times; back in the room we three kept talking about the experience and what was going on in our minds. Well we were lucky to spot one tiger but not super lucky to spot one in our next safari but no regrets and complains as we had seen a tiger in the wild.
It is not just about the tiger we have seen them in zoos, on Nat Geo and discovery but to see them in their realm, in their element is an experience worth having at least once in a life time. But i ain't stopping at this i am insatiable now i am already planning my next tiger safari.
