High on the list of our things to do in India was “See Tigers in the Wild”. There are several National Parks and Tiger Reserves in India where the Tiger roams free, so based on the weather, time of year and our route, we chose to see Wild Tigers at Ranthambore National Park.
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In fact, in our research, we identified 11 possible Indian wild tiger reserves, so there is a lot of choice. If you do get to visit Ranthambore, then you should also take a separate trip to Ranthambore Fort, like we did. It’s a super example of one of the Rajasthan Hill Forts.
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Book a Tiger Safari at Ranthambore Here
Book ahead and get your Tiger Safari in Ranthambore booked here. Head out for a fabulous time – but book early.
We were lucky enough to be in India during the best time to spot tigers in the wild. February, March and April are generally cited as the best spotting times, as the land is drying after the monsoon, and the foliage decreases. Our journey was taking us in the direction of Ranthambore National Park and Tiger Reserve, so we looked to spend a few days there and see if we could spot tigers in the wild.
Where is Ranthambore?
Ranthambore National Park is 180 kilometres south east of Jaipur. The closest town to the park is Sawai Madhopur, where the closest railway station is also located. There are two main entrances to the park, and safari’s go through one of these entrances. All jeeps will start from Sawai Madhopur and will collect you from your hotel.
Ranthambore Tiger Safari Options
There are two types of safari you can take at Ranthambore National Park. They depend on the size and type of vehicle that you travel in. There’s the cheaper, large vehicles, which are called canters, then there’s the smaller jeeps, called gypsy jeeps.
Canter Safari Jeeps at Ranthambore
Canter safari jeeps take 20 guests, plus a guide and a driver. It’s like being on a bus without a roof. The BEST seats are the front two seats next to the driver, so nab them if you can. Usually though they seem to be allocated for the folks at the more expensive hotels. There are two seats on either side of the aisle, but don’t worry, everyone stands up when there’s the potential of a tiger sighting. There is NO roof on these vehicles, so be sure to take a hat and some water.
Gypsy Safari Jeeps at Ranthambore
The gypsy safari jeeps take 6 guests, plus a guide and a driver. Guides and drivers don’t always work together, and are randomly allocated. The gypsy jeeps are set up so there are two rows of guest seats, the back is slightly higher than the middle row (as the driver and guide are in the front). There’s also a removable canvas roof that you’ll be glad of with the sun. Take a hat though! And water.
These jeeps are similar (but way less comfortable) to the jeeps used in Yala, Sri Lanka, where we took a Yala National Park Safari.
Times of Safaris at Ranthambore National Park
Morning Safari Time at Ranthambore
Safari’s into Ranthambore go twice a day. For the morning safari you’ll have to be ready and waiting for your transport, by around 06:15. The safaris usually start at around 07:30, so the rest of the time you’ll be waiting, or being driven around the area picking up the other folks on your safari. We were told to be ready at 06:15, were collected at 07:00, and entered the park at 07:30. We left the park at 09:45.
Afternoon Safari Time at Ranthambore
We were collected at 14:30 and returned to the hotel by 18:00. It’s definitely hotter in the afternoon!
Ranthambore National Park Zones
There are 8 zones to Ranthambore National Park. We had no choice when we bought our tickets as to which zones we would go into. At the time of our visit, Zones 1 through 5 were most popular. 6 through 8, less so. The most popular zones vary over time, depending on the current tiger population, the time of year, and where the most frequent recent tiger sightings have been. If you get a choice, check with your tour organizer at the time of booking.
How to book a safari at Ranthambore National Park
We attempted to book our safari on the official online government website. It was a frustrating disaster. Their site did not accept foreign cards and was virtually impossible to figure out. Emails to them went unanswered, phone calls met with zero assistance or answers. They’re currently redeveloping their online site, which will make it possible (apparently) for EVERYONE to book online.
When ready, it should be at- https://fmdss.forest.rajasthan.gov.in/
In the meantime, here’s how to get to see those wild tigers at Ranthambore without the aid of technology!
- Find a good place to stay. We stayed at the Green View, which we highly recommend – for the comfort, the amazing food and the superb manager who is also a National Park Guide. However, if your budget stretches further than ours does, then there are some seriously nice places to stay here, like the Vivanta by Taj for instance.
- Book your accommodation in advance, and let them know that you’ll be wanting them to book you a safari, and what type you’d prefer- either gypsy or canter.
- You can also arrive in Ranthambore, and turn up at 04:30 at the booking centre and try and book a ticket on the day. You may save a few rupees, but honestly, stay in bed the extra hour and support the local economy. However, if you REALLY want to, here’s how to buy your own safari tickets at Ranthambore.
How to buy your own safari tickets at Ranthambore
If you’ve failed, like us, to buy a safari ticket online, and you decide that you don’t want to buy through your hotel, then you have the option of joining the ticket window lines to buy your own ticket. The ticket windows are at the Ranthambore Forest Booking Centre.
This is where any remaining tickets for the day are sold. On the day of the safari only. You cannot book ahead here. And note that I’ve said, “any remaining tickets”. You’re lining up on the off chance that there are any left.
The gates open at 5am, but the line starts at 4am. And this is India, so a line doesn’t necessarily mean an actual line. Once the security guard has opened the gate, you’ll want your best sprinting shoes on to make it to one of the two ticket windows. One ticket window sells tickets for the gypsy safaris, the other is for the canters.
Tickets for the afternoon safaris go on sale at noon, but buyers will start to line up mid morning, gates are NOT closed after the morning selling session.
Where we stayed at Ranthambore
We booked into the Green View Hotel in Sawai Madophur, based on previous reviews, paying 823 INR for a two night stay in a big room with a private bathroom. It was a 20 minute walk from the railway station, although there are auto drivers there who will tell you it’s impossible to walk. You can also pre-book a transfer with the hotel for 200 INR.
Wild Tigers at Ranthambore – Our Experience
We took two safari’s into Ranthambore National Park, one in a canter and one in a gypsy. You definitely have more flexibility, speed and can go further in the smaller jeep, but I’m glad we experienced both. We paid – through our hotel, the Green View, 1150 INR per person for the safari in the canter and 1450 INR per person in the gypsy. We took the safaris on the same day, the canter in the morning and the gypsy in the afternoon.
Our Canter Safari in Ranthambore
In the morning we drew zone 4, which if you believe everything you read on the web, is a GREAT zone for spotting tigers. The canter wasn’t uncomfortable like some suggest, but there was a definite sense, that we were going round a predetermined route.
There were a few comments from the guide of “there was a tiger here earlier this morning” and he and two people out of the 20 in the canter spotted a tiger. They were using high powered binoculars. There were lots of deer, birds, wild pigs. It was a good trip, but I wouldn’t say it was great.
Some of the birds are very tame at Ranthambore National Park.
Our Gypsy Safari in Ranthambore
On our afternoon trip – after a snooze and a fabulous early lunch at the Green View Hotel, we were picked up by our gypsy driver, Tej. He drove like a bat out of hell initially, as we six guests bounced around mercilessly, heading towards zone 6.
Our collective hearts all sank, because, from what we read on the web, this meant we were just going to look at more birds and deer. Don’t get me wrong, birds and deer are cool.
BUT WE’RE HERE TO SEE THE TIGERS!
We went to zone six
On picking our guide up it was clear that these two have worked together a lot, they were a definite team and it was great to see them communicate so easily and well.
The landscape in zone 6 is very different to zone 4, it was much drier, there was much less foliage, so it was a lot easier to see animals. After 10 minutes driving and after spotting a few deer, there was a “hold on” from the front.
Tej swung the gypsy round and we raced off. It’s a “deer bark”, our guide explained, “a warning sound that there’s a tiger. Hold on.” And hold on we did, now willing on Tej to drive faster.
Eight minutes later we were parked in a clearing and there she was.
Ladali. Just lying majestically under the trees.
And 30 metres from us, two huge male sambar deer stood on guard, looking closely at the tiger just like us.
We watched, they watched, in silence, for 30 minutes until she rolled over, got up and walked away.
It was just the eight of us, the two deer and Ladali and it was the most incredible experience.
Later in the trip we spotted Ranthambore’s most famous tiger Ustad or T24* – just laid asleep in the road.
Ustad was totally relaxed blocking the road, just lazily swishing a tail.
As we were stuck behind two gypsies and a canter, our view was from literally standing on top of the jeep.
(*update – T24 – or Ustad has been moved to a zoo, after killing a man.)
There were more deer, there were glorious birds and they were great.
Where to Stay in Ranthambore
There are some great places to stay in Ranthambore– here’s our pick of the luxury places to stay in Ranthambore, mid-range places to stay in Ranthambore, and budget accommodation in Ranthambore.
Ranthambore Regency, Ranthambore: The Ranthambore Regency hotel is located in the Sawaimadhopur part of Ranthambore. Each room at this luxury hotel in Ranthambore is equipped with air-conditioning, a balcony, a private bathroom with a shower and hairdryer, complimentary drinks, a seating area, and a mini-bar. Enjoy a hearty meal at the on-site restaurant, refreshing drinks at the bar, and freshly brewed coffee at the coffee shop. Barbeque facilities are also available along with an outdoor pool, a garden/lounge area, and a games room. The Ranthambore Regency hotel is a great location and accommodation option in Ranthambore. See room rates and availability here.
Sawai Madhopur Lodge, Ranthambore: The Sawai Madhopur Lodge is situated within the wilderness of Ranthambore, one of India’s most renowned National Parks. The rooms at this fabulous Ranthambore lodge feature a 32-inch flat-screen TV, air-conditioning, a mini-bar, a private bathroom, a coffee/tea maker, and a complimentary WiFi connection. Sawai Madhopur’s Dining Room serves guests varying cuisines, royal family recipes, and local delicacies; the lodge also has Tiger Bar for drinks and games of billiards. A fitness center is also open 24/7 and comes complete with treadmills, cycles, and free weights. The Sawa Madhopur is a fantastic place from which to explore Ranthambore. Check rates and availability here.
Ranthambhore Heritage Haveli, Ranthambore: Located just 500 meters from Ranthambore National Park, the Ranthambhore Heritage Haveli is located within the lush green nature of Ranthambore. This luxury haveli features rooms with a flat-screen TV, air-conditioning, a private bathroom with a hairdryer, and a small seating area. This super Ranthambore accommodation has a multi-cuisine restaurant, a swimming pool, a spa, and a lush green garden. The Ranthambore Heritage Haveli is a comfortable accommodation nestled within the rich nature of Ranthambore. Read more reviews, check room rates, and see available dates here.
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Final Words on Seeing Wild Tigers in Ranthambore
You can kid yourself all you want, that the monkeys are cute, the deer are cool and the peacocks are incredible, but you know we’re all here to try and spot tigers. We did – we found our wild tigers at Ranthambore National Park and it was an amazing experience.
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