Few years back one afternoon during safari at Ranthambore zone 4 we spotted a tigress within ten minutes of our entering the reserve and headed towards her. By the time we were in proximity she had sat down behind a tree and stared at us as we got closer.
The guide informed us that this tigress was known as Arrowhead. Unlike lions’ tigers stay alone. They mark territory which is usually 10 square kilometres for a female and about 30 kilometres for a male. The male covers the territory of three females. Cubs stay with their mother till they are about two and half years old, thereafter they are pushed out by the mother from her territory and must establish their own. Arrowhead soon felt disturbed and walked away.
We kept driving on the dirt track adjacent to her and she kept walking alongside as if we did not exist. Then she spotted a waterhole and turned towards it. Month of June is blazing hot at Ranthambore and the tigers take to the water holes to cool off. This makes it easier to spot them during the summer months. Best time to visit Ranthambore is between end March to Mid-June. Arrowhead gave us company for almost about an hour till we got fed up of shooting her and drove away.
This was the longest I have ever been so close to a tiger. During the safari for next few days we sited a tiger every day but never so close.
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