It is getting somewhat frustrating -- still no tigers! We again find signs of their presence -- huge claw marks on the trees (at least an inch deep, draining fresh sap). Even though we've been through similar dry spells on other trips, am beginning to worry about not seeing any of these elusive creatures. Our excellent guide, who has assisted multiple world-renowned photographers and cinematographers over the years, notes that this season has been a poor one for this usually reliable location ...
The terrain is similar to Mala Mala except for more mountainous areas. Deciduous trees and tall grasses. We initially planned on treks with elephants but as our search became more challenging, decided to cover more territories in customized Gypsy vehicles (like Samurai). Our backsides were pretty beat up after bouncing around on the rough trails for 7 hours a day -- black & blue sacrums and legs.
The highlight of the day was an encounter with a very rare sloth bear (a.k.a. Baloo from The Jungle Book by Kipling) -- came around a mountainous pass and surprised him on the trail. He briefly stood on his hind legs and then raced away. Unfortunately, no good photos but still incredible.
Hopefully, tigers tomorrow .....
