Travel & Food

Discovering the Raw Beauty of Wildlife: An Unforgettable Adventure!

By Pooja Fernandes

June 5, 2024 5 Min Read

1.2K 1

The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness. — John Muir

This summer, we decided to break away from the mundane vacation spots and embarked on an offbeat thrilling adventure deep into the jungles of Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve. It was one of the best decisions as our lil’ one was delighted being in the wilderness and spotting the wild in their natural habitat. It was a journey filled with awe, excitement, and unforgettable moments that we will cherish forever.

14-16 month old Cub of Tigress Vera and Tiger Xylo

Fascinating Facts About Tigers:

Tiger Population: Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve is home to around 115 tigers including the famous ones-Tiger Xylo, Matkasur, Chota Matka, Tigress Veera, Zarani, Roma, Zunabai, Maya and more.
Naming Tigers: Usually tigers are named by the forest officials after they complete two years of age. Until two years they are cubs.
Lifespan: The average lifespan of a tiger is approx. 15-16 years.
Survival Challenges: Most of the cubs die after birth due to varied reasons – hunger being one of them. Tigers starve for weeks if they don’t find a prey. This is one of the reasons for their diminishing population.
Cub Development: Until two years, the cubs stay with the mother tigress and she provides the hunt for them. Cubs usually learn hunting after two years and separate from their mother’s territory.
Territory Marking: Every tiger has its own predefined territory which they mark through scratch marks on the trees, peeing across the boundary or any other way best known to them.

Getting There:

Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve is a Tiger Reserve having a dense forest area, and is located in the Chandrapur district in Nagpur in Maharashtra. It is accessible from Mumbai by road, rail or air.

Road: The drive from Mumbai to Nagpur covers approx. 850 km and takes around 12 hours with short halts.
Train: The Duronto Express runs daily between Mumbai’s Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) and Nagpur Junction, departing at 7:15 pm and arriving at 7:15 am the next morning.
Air: Daily flights from Mumbai to Nagpur are available. However, landing timings may not always coincide with hotel check-in timings.

The Reserve has six gates offering open gypsy safaris with an experienced guide alongside the driver. Wildlife safaris can be pre-booked for either core or buffer zones for any of these six gates. However, spotting in either of these gates is a matter of timing and luck. The tourist are usually picked up from the hotel and dropped back to their hotel in the gypsy.

Safari Timings:

Morning: 5:00 am to 9:00 am

Afternoon: 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm

We did multiple safaris to increase our chances of spotting the wildlife. Our adventure peaked with a close encounter with three tiger cubs, just 20-30 feet away from our Gypsy. In the Belara buffer zone, we spotted the male and female cubs of Tigress Veera and Tiger Xylo when they came to quench their thirst at a small water body, and in the Alizanza buffer zone, we spotted the female cub of Tigress Jharni. These 14-16 months old cubs, are still unnamed. As informed by the guide, it was fascinating to know that Momma Tigress still provides the hunt for her cubs, a responsibility she will uphold until they turn two years old. After two years, the cubs usually leave their mother’s territory and establish their own.

The jungle’s rich biodiversity amazed us. Along with the tiger cubs, we spotted herds of deer (sambar and chital) gracefully grazing, the elusive sloth bears mating in the bush, Indian and wild boars foraging, and playful langoors leaping from tree to tree. The sky and trees were alive with the vibrant colors and calls of exotic birds (storks, kingfisher, Asian green bee-eater, egret and many more), and the majestic peacock, India’s national bird, graced us with its presence while eagerly waiting for his peahen. That was truly alluring!

Cubs enjoying their spa time

Bears mating in the bushes

Sambar Deer

One of the most rewarding aspects of this trip was seeing our child’s eyes light up with wonder and excitement. The jungle safari was not just a thrilling adventure for her; it was an educational experience that brought her closer to nature and wildlife, far beyond the pages of any book. Watching her curiosity as she observed the animals in their natural habitat was a priceless experience!

Accommodation:

We stayed at the ‘Seven Tigers Resort’, known for its luxurious stay amidst the forest. The resort offers a tranquil oasis, a huge swimming pool and indoor gaming area that kept us engaged when not on a safari. The hospitable staff packed picnic baskets for our safaris that included breakfast, fruits, light snacks and water bottles.

All set with the picnic basket to embark on the adventure:)

Totally in love with this huge pool at Seven Tiger’s Resort

Things to carry and remember before embarking on Wildlife Safari:

A good DSLR with sharp lens as cellphones are not allowed.
Cellphones are deposited in an aluminum box which is kept with the guide in the gypsy.
It’s advisable to dress in camouflage or earthy shades.
A cap (avoid bright colour caps) and goggles is a must to avoid the heat and dust. A scarf/bandana is advisable if allergic to dust.
Apply a generous amount of good quality sunscreen to avoid sun tan.
Carry a picnic with you. Usually it’s packed by the hotel staff but you need to inform them about your safari timings a night before. In the picnic basket, the hotel staff usually packs breakfast/fruits/light snacks and water bottles.
You aren’t allowed to get out of the gypsy except for designated breakfast and washroom spots.
On spotting the wild, one should stay calm and avoid screaming, imitating or chasing animals.

Choosing this off-beat vacation turned out to be one of the best decisions we’ve made while immersing ourselves in the raw beauty of the jungle. It’s an adventure that promises not just excitement but also a profound appreciation for the wonders of the natural world.