Ranthambore Tiger Safari

Tiger Sighting
Sighting tigers in the wild is totally a matter of chance but these chances can be improved considerably. Before going in for the safari it is important to have some knowledge of movement of tigers in the park in the last few days. Almost all the local guides and drivers (who are excellent in finding tigers) have this information. They mostly get this information from their own observations in the last few days and from the observation of other guides and drivers. Once you know the movement patterns of tigers in the last few days then it is possible to predict the areas where the chances of finding tigers are better. For instance, if you know that a particular tiger has got a Sambar deer kill in a particular place, then the chances are that the tiger would be in the same area for the next 2 to 3 days.

Another sign that is worth looking out for are pugmarks of tigers. Tigers leave behind footprints or pugmarks when they walk on soft soil. In the dry and soft soil of Ranthambore these are relatively easier to find. A good tracker can roughly estimate how long ago these tracks were made. If the tracks appear to be recent or "fresh" the it is definitely worth while to follow them till where you can. Pugmarks are definitely the most important signs that show the presence of one or more tiger.

When predators like tigers move, some of the prey species of the predators, give out loud calls of alarms or "alarm calls" to warn of the other prey animals in the vicinity. The calls of Sambar deer, Spotted deer, Nilgai and Langur monkeys are the loudest and most often heard. Loud and repeated calls in an area indicate to the presence of a predator in the area. It is a good idea to stop periodically, switch off the engine and wait for a few minutes to listen to alarm calls. The prey species do not always give alarm calls when they sight a predator, so the absence of alarm calls does not mean that there are no predators near by. But it does indicate that the chances of a predator being close by are low.

So when you go your tiger safari, look out for pugmarks and keep your ears open for alarm calls. This would tremendously improve your chances of finding tigers. However, you must always keep in mind that finding tigers in the wild is still a matter of chance and that there are no guarantees of finding one.

Best time to visit
The park is open to tourists from the 1st of October to the 30th of June. Most of the tourists visit the park between November and March, mainly because the summers heat is unbearable.

The period between November and February is excellent for wildlife viewing, particularly for bird watching. A lot of migratory birds visit the park during the winter months.

During the summer months (April to June), when the temperature soars over 40 degrees Centigrade during the day, sighting tigers is relatively easier than it is in winters.

March is a great month for wildlife viewing and the temperature are not very high.

What to carry
During the cold season - from November to February - visitors are advised to carry enough warm clothing, jackets, gloves, mufflers etc. Due to the wind chill factor, it often gets very cold during the safaris and a jacket can be a welcome relief.

During the summer months - from March to June - it is very hot and loose cotton clothing is recommended. A wide brimmed hat is nice to have during summers. Sunscreens are a must in summers, when the sun is very strong. Mosquito repellents are required, particularly during October and March, even though Ranthambhore is not a malaria prone area.

Binoculars can add a lot of value to ones wildlife viewing. Photographers are advised to carry all the equipment that they would require, including batteries and film rolls (though both of these are also locally available, most of the time).

Time Table Ranthambore National Park
S.No.	Month	Morning Trip	Evening Trip
1	1st October to 31st October	7.00 A.M. to 10.30 A.M.	2.30 P.M. to 6.00 P.M.
2	1st November to 31st January	7.00 A.M. to 10.30 A.M.	2.00 P.M. to 5.30 P.M.
3	1st February to 31st March	6.30 A.M. to 10.00 A.M.	2.30 P.M. to 6.00 P.M.
4	1st April to 15th May	6.00 A.M. to 9.30 A.M.	3.00 P.M. to 6.30 P.M.
5	15th May to 30th June	6.00 A.M. to 9.30 A.M.	3.30 P.M. to 7.00 P.M.

Terms and Conitions

• Right of Admission is reserved with The Government of Rajasthan.
• Park may be closed without any prior notice to visitor in case of emergency.
• No refund / cancellation is permissible after confirmed booking.
• Bookings are non-transferable.
• Reserved seats cannot be resold / exchanged with any other visitor.
• Photo copy of the Identity proof is required to be submitted before entry into the park. Please note that the original ID proof will also be checked at the same time.
• Cost of Ticket and Accessories may change after booking and visitor will be liable to pay the difference at the time of entry into the park in case of any revision in rates.
• The visitor is required to positively report for boarding Gypsy/Canter 15 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time of any designated boarding point.
• There are no charges for Still Camera.
• Under unavoidable circumstances, the entry/ excursions, or the use of any route or place by any person or by all persons can be prohibited.
• No person shall destroy, damage or deface any writing or signs etc. on any tree, bridge, rock, fence, seat, notice board, trash box or any other article or place, in any national park or sanctuary;
• No conferences, gatherings, meetings etc. can be organized inside National Parks/ Sanctuaries except under specific orders of the Government This restriction shall not apply to the meetings of the Rajasthan State Wildlife Advisory Board, meetings of Forest Officers of Rajasthan, training programmes or workshops for forest officers and trainees belonging to institutions imparting training in forest and wildlife conservation and management.
• No person shall be allowed to use spot lights inside National Parks/ Sanctuaries by anyone unless permitted in advance by the concerned Director/ Dy. Director/ DFO. Detailed guidelines for filming, trekking, camping and use of watch tower/ hides etc. will be issued by the Chief Wildlife Warden in consultation with the Rajasthan Ecotourism Development Board. These guidelines will form part of these rules.
• The Field Director/Conservator of Forests can prohibit the use of mobile phones by visitors inside any national park /sanctuary.
• A minimum seat required for any canter dispatch in the park is 12 seats, in case the seats booked are less than minimum required quantity, Department reserves the right to cancel the booking.
• In case the passengers are less than the capacity of the vehicle than the difference of vehicle entry free applicable uniformly per person will be charged extra.