“A tiger sighting requires patience,” Bitto, our safari guide, assured us. Our group of six had been driving around India’s Ranthambore National Park in an open-top four-wheel drive SUV, keeping our eyes out for one of the 515-square-mile wildlife sanctuary’s approximately 71 tigers. So far we’d seen a wild boar meandering past a herd of spotted deer and a marsh crocodile resting lakeside, but no big cats. However, our luck was about to change.
India is home to more than 3,600 wild tigers, and Ranthambore—a 515-square-mile wildlife sanctuary in the northern India state of Rajasthan—is one of the best places to see them. Especially for visitors of the country’s “Golden Triangle” tourism circuit, which connects Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, just a few hours’ drive from the park.
From South America to the American West, travelers are embarking on wildlife spotting excursions that would rival any in Sub-Saharan Africa. Some you can do on foot; others require the protected safety of a game drive vehicle—and all are much more rewarding with the knowledge of an expert guide. Plus, they offer wildlife and landscapes remarkably diverse from what most people think of when they hear the word “safari”. Below, seven safari destinations outside Africa—based on the wildlife you want to see.
Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan, India
Best for: tiger sightings
Ranthambore is divided up into 10 zones, with those in the park’s core area—zones one through five—tending to have the most tiger sightings. Although the zones are allotted randomly to the limited number of SUVs and larger, open-top Canter minibuses allowed into the park each day, rest assured these majestic beasts can really be anywhere (in the end we saw six tigers between zones three and four). Sometimes they’re even seen walking among the ruins of the imposing 10th-century Ranthambore Fort, a hikeable hilltop fortress in the park’s center brimming with langur monkeys. Along its 1.8 mile trek is one of the few places in the park where visitors can explore the jungle setting on foot.
Ranthambore is a part of Project Tiger, an Indian Government initiative launched in 1973 to protect the country’s Bengal tiger population and its habitats. Actions include implementing anti-poaching measures, and mitigating human-wildlife conflicts.
Additional wildlife: jackal, sloth bear, and striped hyena
Outfitters: Goway Travel (the outfitter that I used) arranges both custom and small-group trips to India’s Golden Triangle that include a trip to Ranthambore. Travelers can also book visits directly through the park’s website.
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