Stealthy, scarce and spectacular

Viewing tigers in India

Going on safari to India to photograph tigers in the wild is an unrivaled experience. These are the world’s largest cats. They are stealthy, solitary, spectacular and scarce.

But sighting one in its natural habitat is never a sure thing. “All wildlife viewing is opportunistic and needs a certain amount of luck,” said Toby Sinclair, an expedition leader with Natural Habitat Adventures in Delhi.

Here are some things to know when considering a tiger safari.

WHEN TO GO

You can tilt the odds in your favour by arriving when the escalating heat of late spring drives tigers from the thick jungle scrub to more visible waterholes. Some national parks and wildlife sanctuaries are especially rewarding for visitors during the hot months of April to mid-June, Sinclair said.

“This is when the water is limited to a few pools and the animals, both prey and predator, have to come to drink water at least twice a day,” he said. “It is also the time when much of the grass and undergrowth has died back so the areas of view are generally better.”

VIEW FROM AN ELEPHANT

Five of India’s national parks (Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Kaziranga, Periyar and Corbett) offer visitors a unique option: searching for tigers from the back of an elephant. It’s a popular way for photographers to access remote park corners.

“Getting on elephants in these parks is critical in getting close to tigers,” said Joseph Van Os, owner of Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris.

AP PHOTO One-year-old tiger cubs are shown roughhousing with one another in a shallow stream in Ranthambore National Park in northern India in this May photo.