The Last Safari

Day 7.

May 19, 2012

Week 1

Today had already been exciting with the spotting of T28 in the morning and a visit to the women's Co-Operative.

The last safari took place on the Saturday evening, the Saturday being a special day, as it was my partner, Jay's Birthday! 

Happy Birthday Jay!

Jay & I in Tilba Tilba on Easter Sunday, 2012.

On the way into the park we saw more monkeys, as usual. But missed seeing T24 again. We had to drop an Indian man off at a Check point tower. These towers were scattered across the park. Just one room, brick shacks, with campfire cooking facilities, stretchers to sleep and walkie-talkeis. The man we dropped off was showing me a Pug impression, taken in the park. I tried to take it home but taking things out of the park is strictly forbidden....

A peek into the only room of the check point tower,

Olivers foot as a size comparison to the Pug impression.

We ventured to the top of the hill, where a large male Leopard livres. We didn't see him but we did hear some alarm calls made by a Peacock. Alarm calls are made by many animals in the park, when they are feeling threatened, which could mean a tiger is near!

We left and headed towards the end of the gully that we heard the alarm calls in. There were a few cars by a waterhole that stated they had seen the young tiger exit the gully and head toward that waterhole. Searching with camera zooms and binoculars - we still could not see her, after several minutes.

We headed back down the road past the gully and spotted a fresh pug mark! We sped off down the dirt road to an opening and wham! We were right on her til! (Not literally.) I was super quick to grab my camera and get this classic shot. we were very close but i didn't have time to zoom.

The chase is on!

The young female tiger, T41 was then chasing a Sambar. We watched her run across the plain and towards the shrubby hill. Where she lost track of the Sambar. It was very exciting to track a tiger and see a chase in the wild.

T41 chases a Sambar up the bush hill.

We later topped by the road - out of the sanctuary, Oliver took these photographs of m - and many more that he will send me.

One of the photos Oliver took of me. He worked in London for 5+ years as a fashion photographer!

Another photo by Oliver Sinclair.