Travel India – Ranthambore National Park Safari

Who doesn’t love the thought of spotting tigers in the wild?  My partner and I had heard that Ranthambore National Park was one of the best places in India to discover these incredible creatures so we made a beeline for this mysterious place in Rajasthan. An Indian safari sounded so tempting and we couldn’t wait…

Travel India - Ranthambore National Park

Sadly, we ended up on a tour that was cursed with bad luck and the elusive tiger remained just that.

Travel India - Tiger in Ranthambore National Park

We had booked through our mid-range hotel and braced ourselves for an exhilarating cruise through this sprawling and beautiful park.  From the outset there was a lot of whispering and apprehension but Mr Tiger never made an appearance. Only after returning, disappointed, we heard from some tourists in our evening restaurant that there is in fact six sectors to the park and we happened to take the tour in the worst sector. Hardly any tigers had been spotted in this section and it was cheaper for the tour guides to take us there.

Travel India - Ranthambore wildlife

As you can imagine, this was pretty infuriating to hear so I thought I’d give you some top tips to ensure you don’t make the same mistake as us.

Travel India – Top Safari Tips

• Do your research. Don’t just turn up like we did and expect to get on the best tour. Check out forums, speak to the guides at the official park office and suss out which sector is best to visit
• Give yourself a day or two.  We were on a budget and chose not to attempt the park again but if you have the time and a few spare rupees, take two or more tours (sunrise and sunset) to maximise your chances of seeing these glorious creatures
• Safari etiquette – I’m convinced that one of the reasons for us not seeing as much as we’d hoped was the sheer noise of the other safari vehicles.  We frequently ended up parked up next to a jeep full of loud Indian or foreign tourists that had babies and chatted loudly.  Safari’s should be peaceful and if other people are disturbing you and disrupting your experience, speak up! Don’t be afraid to tell your safari guide to move on to a quieter place

Travel India - Ranthambore birdlife

Where to stay

Seeing as I missed out seeing these endangered species, I have every intention of going back and let me tell you, I know exactly where I’m staying!

India is such a romantic country and what could be more enchanting than combining nature and some of it’s most striking creatures with a bit of romance in a fabulous resort?!

Khem Villas has captivated my imagination since I first heard about it.  Beautiful cottages or tents stylishly designed lie right next to the park.  This luxury campstead has such charm and I honestly can’t think of a better place to stay.

Travel India - Khem Villas Tent Bedroom

Of course there are budget, mid-range and many other luxury hotel options around Ranthambore so go for whatever suits you best, remember my few tips above and enjoy another fabulous part of incredible India.

Travel India - Khem Villas Tent Bathroom