[Nempuguru]

Yugadi weekend was free without any pre planned events. Was thinking better not to plan anything and stay indoors. Holiday rush and soaring temperature were the reasons.

Sister and BIL planning Mysore escapade with kids. To spice it up, I told them why not include Kabini bus safari if time permits? They agreed only if I joined them. Reluctantly agreed for the safari part with my elder daughter.

We booked a Sunday morning 7.30 to 9.00 slot. Even though the sightings are great at this time of the year, we set ZERO expectations as it was just a 1.30 hours ride. People normally book multiple safaris of 3 hours and spot the predators in one or two trips. Last year we did 2 JLR safaris in Kabini and one jeep safari in Bandipur within two days. There were many sightings of various beautiful creatures, but without the big cats.

Saturday night we stayed in one of the hotels in Mysore. Sunday morning started at 5.30 and reached the Dammanakatte ticket booking counter by 7 AM.

Not much crowd, cool weather, even the forest was silent. 6 AM buses came back after the safari. Passengers' faces explained it all. "Just some random deer saaar!" the driver answered before I completed the question. "Hey! we are here just to see the forest" we consoled ourselves!



Morning sunshine, the weather, the silence of the forest all were great. Really a beautiful setup for the predator to appear and give "darshana" to us.





But there were plenty of other beautiful creatures sighting too. Hundreds of deer, countless varieties of birds... We encountered 3 peacocks, our national bird, dancing in full glory one after the other. The setup with morning sunshine was picture perfect. It was as if someone instructed them to dance welcoming us.





Actually it was due to the lone peahen and the 3 peacocks situation, kind of competition among themselves to attract the female!

http://youtu.be/EjC3XDwo5wE

Nevertheless a beautiful moment to witness our national bird dancing one after another. Ours was the only safari drive to witness this. Even the many JLR safari Jeeps circling around missed it while busy searching for the cats!

Next 30 mins went on without any surprises, just some calls followed by the wait! Near a lake, the driver stopped after hearing a call. He is certain there is a predator nearby. Another 10-15 mins wait without any luck. Other vehicles arrived and joined the mela to try their luck. Our driver decided to move on, the time was 8.45.

After a couple of kilometers, mostly we were heading towards the exit. Suddenly one of the safari team members whispered ti.......rrrrr!!! Driver applied the brake and stopped. Pin drop silence for a moment, followed by continuous camera shutter sound. Ours was the only vehicle around. And there SHE appeared, out of the bushes, with the majestic grandeur.







Crossed the road in front of our vehicle, totally ignoring it and the passengers inside. That was exactly what we were dreaming during the start of this trip. "The forest, the silence, the sunshine and the big cat".

It was the national bird dancing some time ago and now it is the national animal! Sheer coincidence and luck.





Tigress was in a hurry, marching towards some preplanned, very important task. Within minutes it disappeared inside the forest.





We thought that's it and we are lucky. But the driver had other ideas, he reversed the vehicle parked in a corner and turned off the engine. It was the "picture abhi baaki hai" moment. We were all holding our breath, waiting and expecting a miracle to happen. Expecting her "the Queen" to return!

Miracle indeed happened, the Queen reappeared in the distance this time with her two lovely little cubs. I just can't explain that moment in words!







The sighting info was shared to others. Now there were atleast 5-6 vehicles parked in a safe place, providing the passage expecting her to return. Slowly she returned towards the same path where she crossed the road earlier. Occasionally analyzing the surroundings for any potential threats. It was a treat to see the cubs waddling around and following her mother.





Now we could clearly see the lovely little cubs.



Without any second thoughts, not even caring a damn for the vehicles with awestruck passengers, she calmly crossed the road and disappeared inside the forest with her months old cubs.

Indeed a brain freezing moment for all of us!

http://youtu.be/7jy53EwLVic

[Nempuguru]

Some more photos:

Tigress and it's two cubs crossing the road - mobile version video captured by my daughter:

http://youtu.be/yjxglj_9gmo

~o~

[Rudra Sen]

Mod note: Thread moved to Travelogues. Thanks for sharing.

[pd1108]

Thanks, Nempuguru for the excellent pictures. It was a really wow moment for you. Kabini never disappoints

[Nempuguru]

Thank you "pd1108". Prior to the trip our expectation of sighting was so low that we didn't even carry any bulky lens, just the regular zoom lenses under 300 mm.

Originally Posted by pd1108

Thanks, Nempuguru for the excellent pictures. It was a really wow moment for you. Kabini never disappoints

[Torque123]

Superb sighting & images. Definitely one of the best sightings in the recent past from Kabini. Enjoyed reading the travelogue and videos too. Thanks for sharing.

[motor_breathing]

Beautiful pictures.
You seemed well prepared for the sighting.
Thanks for sharing.

[shashanka]

Great photologue, the cubs taking centre-stage with ease! A real treat.
Thanks again

[dingolphie]

Great pics. Stayed at JLR the same weekend on a completely impromptu trip. Blessed with two tiger sightings, dhole, leopard, spotted deer, sambhar, peacock etc - amazing experience. Missed the cubs. Great pics!

[Nempuguru]

Thank you "Torque123". It is threads like yours and Stryker's with valuable info and great pics motivates one to plan such trips.

Originally Posted by Torque123

Superb sighting & images. Definitely one of the best sightings in the recent past from Kabini. Enjoyed reading the travelogue and videos too. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you "motor_breathing". We were so under prepared that we did not even carry a decent lens (just a couple of below 300 mm lens). Instructed the kids to record using mobile as this spotting was special due to the cubs.

Originally Posted by motor_breathing

Beautiful pictures.
You seemed well prepared for the sighting.
Thanks for sharing.

Thank you "shashanka". Yes, soon these cubs will be a major attraction in this part of the forest, once they grow up.

Originally Posted by shashanka

Great photologue, the cubs taking centre-stage with ease! A real treat.
Thanks again

Thank you "dingolphie". That's really a great sighting. Indeed an amazing experience!

Originally Posted by dingolphie

Great pics. Stayed at JLR the same weekend on a completely impromptu trip. Blessed with two tiger sightings, dhole, leopard, spotted deer, sambhar, peacock etc - amazing experience. Missed the cubs. Great pics!