Ranthambore National Park

What a Ranthambore safari is like

Safaris run twice a day, starting around sunrise and again in the mid afternoon, in open vehicles with a forest department guide and driver. Each vehicle is given one of the park's numbered zones and must stay on its route, so the zone you are given makes a real difference to what you see.

Tigers here are used to vehicles and are often seen walking along tracks or resting near water. Even on a day without a tiger, the park is full of life: sambar and spotted deer, langur monkeys, crocodiles basking by the lakes and a huge variety of birds.

Jeep or canter?

• •Jeep (gypsy). An open vehicle for up to six people. Quieter, quicker to reach a sighting and the better choice for photography. Most private tours include jeep safaris.
• •Canter. An open truck for around twenty people. Lower priced and fine for a first look at the park, but busier and less flexible.

Safari zones

The park is divided into ten zones. Zones 1 to 5 are the original core of the park and the ones most people hope for, with lakes and open views. Zones 6 to 10 lie further out, are often quieter and some stay open during the monsoon when the core closes.

Zones are allocated when permits are booked, and the most popular ones sell out first, which is one reason to book a tour well ahead for the busy months from November to April.

Wildlife you can expect

• •Bengal tigers. The reason most people come. Ranthambore has one of the best documented tiger populations in India.
• •Leopards and sloth bears. Present but seen far less often, usually in the outer zones and rocky hills.
• •Deer and antelope. Sambar, spotted deer and nilgai are everywhere and often give away a tiger with their alarm calls.
• •Crocodiles and birds. Mugger crocodiles live in the lakes, and more than 300 bird species have been recorded in the park.

Ranthambore Fort

The fort on the hill inside the park was built around the 10th century and is part of the Hill Forts of Rajasthan World Heritage site. It can be visited on foot outside safari times, and its Ganesh temple draws a steady stream of pilgrims. Langurs and the occasional leopard are often seen on the climb up.

Tips for your safari

• •Book early. Safari permits are limited per zone and per drive and the best dates sell out months ahead.
• •Do several drives. Sightings are never guaranteed, and three or four safaris give you far better odds than one.
• •Bring layers. Winter mornings in an open jeep are cold, while April to June afternoons can pass 40 degrees.
• •Carry the ID you booked with. Passport details are checked at the park gate against the permit.
• •Choose neutral colours and keep your voice down. Bright clothes and noise make animals move away.