Tigers galore at Ranthambore

Ranthambore National park is one of India's most famous wildlife reserves, and is the place to go when tigers are on your list of thing to see.

At the centre of this fantastic national park is Ranthambore Fort, which dates from the 10th century. From there it sprawls to create a wildlife haven that is a massive 1334 square kilometers in area, as it now also includes the adjoining Keladevi Sanctuary in the north and Sawai Mansingh sanctuary to the south along with other forests. Historically the area was the royal hunting grounds of the Maharajahs of Jaipur, but it is now a protected area for all wildlife, the main attraction being the majestic tiger.

Located in the Sawai Madhopur area of Rajasthan, the park landscape is mainly made up of wild jungle scrub, containing old hunting lodges, temples, and lakes. The parks location also means it's an easy add-on to the traditional Golden Triangle route, either on the way to, or once you've left, Jaipur.

Ranthambore National Park is one of the best places to see Bengal Tigers in India. You should plan time for at least two game drives to give yourself maximum chance of spotting one, but once you do you will be blown away.

Whilst tigers are the main attraction at the park it does offer a lot more. Leopards, Sloth Bear, Striped Hyenas, Samba Deer, jungle cats, and many more also reside at Ranthambore. The bird life in the park is also a major draw for visitors due to a staggering 272 species being recorded in the main area of the reserve.

The best time to spot the elusive tiger is between November and May. Normally you can enter the park between 06:00 to 10:00, and 14:30 to 18:00, but times do vary slightly depending on the season. Until recently the park was only open between the 1st October and 30th of June, but a new change means that they are now open all year.

There are two main types of safari vehicle on offer in the park. The larger Canter vehicles can take up to 20 passengers, and the smaller jeeps take 6 passengers. Both vehicle types tend to be 'open-top' so careful consideration needs to be taken when deciding what to wear. During the summer months it can get very warm, so make sure you're wearing light weight clothing, hats, sunglasses, and plenty of sun cream. Sometimes when leaving early in the morning, or coming home in the late evening it can feel chilly so do bring an additional layer to keep yourself warm. In the winter the mornings and evenings will be cooler so bring more layers. In the middle of the day it will still feel comfortable.

All in all Rathambore National Park is a wonderful place to spend a couple of days whilst in India. The chances of seeing tigers are high, and there are some great lodges, and hotels nearby. There's also so much more to the park then just tigers. That said, nothing makes the heart pump more than being a few strides away from a wild tiger. Fantastic experience.

For your chance to see them call and speak to our India expert Nathan. I'll happily tell you about my India experience too!