Saturday 12th April 2025

The second part of the grand tiger tour, this part at Pench NP.

Any hope we had of a lay in were dashed that wheels was at quarter to six, but if you were up even earlier, there was free coffee.

We made it up for the tour and coffee, so we climbed onto the jeep and made ready for the trip to the main gate.

Already the jeeps here were slightly smaller, and that would become an issue when the safety bars would dig into my knees, and there would be no comfortable position to sit.

But that is for later.

Pench felt different, dryer, more spaced out. I mean the trees were, so we drove for half an hour with seeing only a distant Jackal.

Unlike the previous park, there is no communication between vehicles allowed, so there is less crowding of the animals which is much better, but means you might miss seeing something.

Or so it seemed.

We saw a distant male tiger first, then rumours began of a Leopard.

So, off we went.

Somehow, a guide had spotted it at over 100m, lazing on a tree, so we got some distant shots. But then it climbed down, disappeared for a bit, but was then discovered sunbathing on a rocky outcrop, washing slowly.

We stayed ages, but time was getting away, so we drive the half hour to the safe area for a packed breakfast.

You might remember me saying out the interior space of the jeeps here is not so good as in Tadoba, well, three and a half hours of my knees being squashed against a rill bar, and also they being stuck at an acute angle meant they hurt.

As we had had a late breakfast, all that was left really was to drive slowly back to the main gate as our permit had expired.

It was hot, though we were not to know it, literal storm clouds were building. I spent half an hour chasing butterflies outside our cabin.

I told the tour leader over lunch that I would be bailing on the afternoon tour, as I could not face sitting in such cramped conditions again.

That having been said, I got an internet voucher and spent the afternoon uploading images and cut & pasting posts to go with them, then listen to a podcast.

Jools left for the tour at half three, and soon after, the storm arrived.

Claps of thunder, rain, though not much, and gusty winds had chased the butterflies away I wanted to chase, so lay on the bed.

Then in the bed.

And then snoozed.

Then came the first of multiple power cuts. Lights went out. Internet went out. And when the power came back, the internet didn't.

It was almost dark, and in the middle of another power cut when Jools came back. They had seen nothing new, but two more Leopards.

Dinner was the usual buffet, but the beer was welcome, even when the power went out, and two dozen candles lit the restaurant.