Tadoba – Jewel of Vidharbha
Part 2 - Day 3
It is 05.54 am, and you have reached the Junona gate at Tadobe,15 minutes before the Gates open for the morning safari. We also know Tadoba as the Jewel of Vidarbha.
As you meander between the tracks endeavoring to locate the big cat, they informed the driver that one female Tigress has just crossed the road towards the other side, across the main road.
With alacrity, the driver then turns the steering towards that direction and parks the jeep near the backwaters of Ambbideri lake.
His experience suggests that the Tigress is bound to show itself here. And he is not wrong.
Minutes later, you feel some animal movement under the tall dry grass.
The excitement has obviously ratcheted. You are getting increasingly optimistic about seeing the Tigress sooner than later.
And there emerged from within the thin blades of grass this beautiful Tigress named Choti Madhu.
She watches you watch her as she sits down in the grass, while keeping a hawk’s eye on your actions.
She then gets up and walks majestically towards the direction of the lake.
Sitting in the jeep, you then follow her assiduously.
Soon she is seen wading through the waters of Erai Lake in the Junona Buffer Zone, quietly ignoring the large Buffalo in the vicinity.
She has now reached the banks of the Ambbideri lake. Then cruises swiftly, as if in anticipation, towards the opposite bank of this lake.
Your guide informs you she has three cubs possibly waiting for her on the opposite side. The reason for her to be in a visible hurry.
With thoughtful assumption, you now speed on the road that leads to the opposite side of this lake.
Once here, you park the jeep at a propitious place and wait to welcome Choti Madhu from this side of the lake’s bank. On reaching here, known as parti area and Irrai Dam Back waters, she gets partially hidden within the tall grass.
Soon you are delighted to watch her come in your direction, not her, but with her 3 amazing Cubs along. (These Cubs, approximately 15 months old, look sufficiently big yet smaller in size than their mother.)
They now cross the path from in front of you, one after the other, albeit monitoring your actions.
The cubs then follow their mother and swim across a small water body nearby. You, with alacrity, capture their stunning images.
Once all of them have crossed, they vanish into the forest, and beyond your view. You, therefore, decide to leave the place and drive towards the Deva zone.
On reaching the Deva Zone, you are thrilled to see a huge male tiger, ‘Taru-Paras‘ at Padegaon Pazer, a small water body.
As you continue to capture his pictures, he gets up, looks at you, and walks deep into the woods.
You then leave to search at Kala Pani Ya Zandt ka Nala to see if you can find some more tiger activity there. But unfortunately, there was none.
Later in the Gurina Zone, at bawdy no 2, you find yet another huge male Tiger by the name Bahrangi.
Bahrangi seems to have had a good bath in this water body and is now enjoying the sun-bath at its lake’s shore.
Regular Tiger sighting at Tadoba has arguably ratcheted visitors’ interest in visiting this place.
Practically everyone who comes here seldom returns disappointed.
Soon, right ahead, you see a queue of Jeeps standing. Without hesitation, you too join the queue, comprehending some interesting sightings to be occurring here.
This is the Tadoba Water called ‘N-body’.
In a little while, you are excited to watch the iconic tigress of Tadoba Maya, emerge from within this ‘N-body,
After coming out of this water body, she coolly walks, understanding this crowd as a routine impediment as well as enjoying the adulation of watching these many visitors watching her.
Standing within their parked jeeps, each one is in complete awe watching her pass by.
She finally finds a place between two parked jeeps and quietly crosses over to the other side without harming or even intimidating her admirers.
6th Safari
You are now coming to the end of this exciting tour. During this penultimate safari, you primarily come across various amazing avian(birds) that include:
Crested Honey Buzzard, Brown Fish Owl at Lakdi Machan, White eye Buzzard, Crested Serpent Eagle, Pide Manya, Indian Wild Dogs. (DHOLE}, Lapwing, Indian Roller, Parakeet, Shikra, Black Hawk Eagle, etc
Finally, as you prepare to return home and towards Nagpur Airport, the final destination is a secluded area that is not much experienced by visitors. It is the ‘Nimedla Gate’.
Coming under the Navigon Zone and Nimdela Buffer, you are extremely delighted to watch Zarni Tigress come out of the woods, and followed by her 3 cute cubs. All three obediently walk behind her and finally relax in Kumbhai water hole nearby.
It’s getting really late to reach the airport on time. However, you stop briefly in between to capture a few pictures of Crested Serpent Eagle, who has descended towards the water body to quench her thirst.
And there you see an outstanding sunset as you bid an ultimate adieu to the eventful Tadoba. A true Jewel of Vidarbha.
