Bandhavgarh
After an early flight to Jabalpur then a long road transfer it’s time for safari.
Bandhavgarh National Park, known for Royal Bengal Tigers, is spread over the Vindhya hills in Madhya Pradesh and consists of a core area of 105 sq km and a buffer area of approximately 400 sq km. The topography of the whole area varies between steep ridges, undulating forest and open meadows.
The density of the tiger population at Bandhavgarh is the highest known in India as well as in the world. The national park was the former hunting preserve of the Maharaja of Rewa and at present is a famous natural hub for the elusive White Tigers.
Besides tigers, it supports a diverse range of fauna, including leopards, sloth bears, gaur (Indian bison), nilgai, sambar, barking deer, wild boars, and over 250 bird species.
Below are a couple of highlites of each drive over the 5 days and below longer versions.
In Bandhavgarh mobile phones and radios are banned so sightings aren’t particular easy. But with a combination of looking for prints, listening to warning calls and a little help from elephants we got there. First photographs of tigers weren’t the easiest though…….
The sightings did get better……….
So did Lynn’s video skills
Then it was challenging again
Bath time
Tiger and three cub
Tigers crossing
Masters of disguise
Tiger in dried up river bed
I’d always thought that seeing a big cat coming along a dried up river bed towards me would be cool. Last day didn’t disappoint.
Arrived at raised area to hear a lot of alarm calls then a tiger came up the river bed. There were a few other cars there and weren’t keen to give up their positions.
I still got some nice pictures of the tiger but then it decided to have a bathe where none of us could see him.
I realised if he went back same way it would be an “ass shot” but if he decided to go up the bed towards the bridge it would be head on. I persuaded the guide to go to the bridge.
Isn’t karma a funny thing, he came straight up the river bed towards me and all the vans that wouldn’t let us in missed out on those shots/ videos and despite their protestations our driver had an attack of deafness.
What goes around comes around.
Tiger in dried up river bed
Tiger chilling
Tiger Cleaning herself
The monkeys here were so cute
Plenty of birds….
The best of the rest!