Ranthambore National Park

Possibly my last blog post from Ranthambore (until I go back!) so it's just a collection of photographs that I haven't shared on my blog yet. Although we only spent one week in Ranthambore National Park it was a magical place, that kinda reminded me of the Jungle book, which was topped off by some fantastic time spent with tigers.

The sun shining through colourful Saris at the Ranthambore fort. 

T-24 relaxing in a lagoon.

A peacock portrait.

Two of the guard sat on the top of a wall, looking as comfortable as monkeys.

Sultan looking down on up from the top of a hill.

The beautiful eyes of Sultan in Ranthambore National park.

A tiger playing in a watering hole

I've previously blogged about Noor and Sultan, Mother and Son but what about father? Ustad or T24 is a large male living with territory in zone 1 and zone 2 in Ranthambore national park. He is also Sultan's Dad. After our first encounter with Noor and Sultan we were just leaving the park when Ustad was walking down towards a watering hole looking magnificent in the late afternoon sun. He appeared to be limping, which confirmed a story told to us by some rangers earlier who had seen him walking on just 3 of his paws. When he reached the water he took a drink before splashing around with his injured paw as if to sooth the pain. Just as we had to leave he settled down in the water to cool off.

Ustad (T24) taking a drink from the watering hole.

Ustad looking as though he was about to pounce onto his own reflection.

Taking a drink while holding his injured paw off the ground.

Portrait of a tiger drinking in the watering hole.

Making ripples in the watering hole like a baby in the bath!

Ustad settled down in the watering hole to cool off.

Noor and Sultan, Mother and Son

Today's post continues on from Sultan of Ranthambore where we left young Sultan patiently waiting while his mother was defending her territory from another female tiger. Once the roars died down Noor ventured out from behind the outcrop of rocks to lay down in the drinking hole to cool down. Upon seeing his mother Sultan ventured out towards her looking like an embarrassed teenager when she greeted him with a big lick! They rest together for a while in the pool before walking along the bank, pausing to pose one last time, before disappearing into the grass.

Noor (T39) greeting her cub Sultan.

Sultan resting on his Mum's head as if she were his pillow. 

Sultan and Noor walking along the bank towards the shade of the trees together.

Peering through the grass. 

The setting sun behind a water tower in Ranthambore - India.

Sultan of Ranthambore

I've already blogged about the first time that we saw Sultan, a year old tiger cub, but 2 days later we came across him again. From behind the rocks we could hear the sounds of 2 female tigers fighting. As it was T39's territory we looked around for Sultan as T39, also known as Noor, was his mother. Further up the hill Sultan was spotted making his way down through the rocks towards the trucks on the path below. Un-perturbed by the tourists he made his way towards a shady pool to cool down.

Sultan turning to pose behind a red dragonfly

Looking back to check we weren't following him!

 

Cooling off in the shade

 

My first wild tiger!

After 4 fruitless days in Bandhavgarh Tiger reserve a few years ago my family vowed to try once again to go on the hunt for a wild tiger. After 2 days in Ranthambore, with the most experienced guide in the park, I was starting to think we were cursed. We had seen and heard all of the usual warning signs - footprints, alarm calls and other peoples tiger photos but we just couldn't seem to get any luck.. Until the morning of our third day on safari, when somehow my brother caught a glimpse of a cub, lying still in the forest about 80 metres from our Jeep. There was a young 1 year old male called Sultan and he was the most amazing animal we had ever seen. He curiously wandered over to us, crossing the road and looping around the truck. In the distance we heard the calls of his mother Noor (T39) and other trucks approaching from the track behind us. Sultan wandered off into the forest in search of his mother and we continued making our way through the jungle.

Noor (T39)

Noor (T39)

A Red-Wattled Lapwing, one of the many birds we photographed in the absence of tigers

Sultan of Ranthambore, patiently waiting for his Mum.

Showing off his teeth!

Sultan backlit by the early morning sun

A brief sighting but fantastic nonetheless, I don't think I will ever forgot my first tiger!

A local woman in a green saari taken on the way home,
 on the only road in and out of the National Park