Emotions during a Wildlife Safari
Ever been a part of an animal or Wildlife Safari? Remember, it is the only place where we are visitors in the animal territory and not the other way around. So, while we were always on our best behavior during the safari in Sariska Tiger Reserve, I soon realized that there were myriads of emotions going through my head at different points in time. This blog is a tiny attempt at describing some Wildlife Safari.
The Journey Begins
Normally the safari is taken by six people, bringing the Sariska Tiger Reserve safari cost down for every individual. Unfortunately, at the designated time, my wife and I were the only two, which meant a higher cost. Nevertheless, the safari began at 3:45 pm, with weather that was neither rainy nor too sunny. Even the forest guard told us that the tiger should be very comfortable roaming around in such territory, which excited us even more.
As we went further into the jungle, there were several moments when we saw nothing but wild trees all around. This dampened the excitement a bit for us, testing our patience in the bargain. However, on the emotional side, a voice inside me kept telling me, “Look, you are inside their territory now. It’s just a question of time before you see their true colors”.
Crocodile on the Rock
Speaking of colors, I was absolutely fascinated by a crocodile sitting right on top of a large rock in a nearby lake. It was blending so well with the rock’s color that it took quite some time to recognize the reptile’s presence, especially when it hadn’t moved a muscle for hours together.
Have you ever been on a wildlife safari where everyone else is able to notice an animal in the distance and you seem like the only one who can’t? Well, speaking of emotions, the level of frustration experienced at such times is an entirely different level altogether. Though it did take me a little longer to see the crocodile than the others in our Gypsy, I was happy at being able to spot it eventually!
As soon as we got into tiger territory and our Gypsy kept jumping up and down in the difficult rocky terrain, our excitement levels went up again. Sure enough, after about 20 minutes, we heard deer calling to each other for safety against the wild beast, and we started moving in an appropriate direction. There was a time when the engine was killed and we all sat silently together, not moving a muscle. Both our driver and the forest guide tried to decipher the direction of the call. For more than what seemed like an hour, we kept moving around the area where the call came from, but couldn’t spot the tiger. Disappointed yet again, the optimistic sides of us begged us to go ahead.
Peacocks and peahens were just about everywhere en route. We also saw partridges, sambhar deer, male and female spotted deer, and wild boars. We stopped in the middle to film a peacock mating dance, with all its glorious feathers in full visibility.
The Rocky Terrain
Towards the last 5-6 km of the journey, when we had almost given up hope of seeing any big cats, we saw a Gypsy returning towards us, with the driver stating that the leopard was sitting on the sides after making a kill, at the same place it was seen the previous day. Man, the way our driver accelerated through rocky terrain to get us to the viewing point was really something! And yes, this time the excitement was truly genuine. At the designated spot, we spotted 6 Gypsies already there, with people using their cameras for the best possible shot. Seeing this now, my wife and I truly felt satisfied with the entire safari in Sariska Tiger Reserve.
Normally, what happens is that we tend to build high expectations about seeing tigers, lions, and other members of the cat family. Unfortunately, due to a variety of factors, if we do not see any of them, we return disappointed from the entire tour, not realizing what we actually saw and learned throughout the entire trip. If only we try to learn, leave a little to luck, and try to be less demanding, I feel that our safaris in wildlife safari parks will be highly enjoyable.
