Pench national park, day 2

Another 5.30 am alarm call and by 6.15 we were wrapped in layers of clothes and a blanket along with a hot water bottle for the ride to the park gates. Sitting high in an open vehicle may be good for wildlife spotting but it doesn't half make it cold when driving!

After showing our passports as usual at the park gates we were one of the first vehicles into the park when it opened at 6.45am. we spent the next few hours tracking tigers and managed to see some fresh pug marks and hear alarm calls but this time were unsuccessful in spotting any of the elusive creatures! However we did see an Indian Gaur, plenty of deer and monkeys and also spent a lovely time at a lakeside which has some beautiful views and loads of birds. The water was so still and the reflections were really pretty.

At around 9am we stopped for breakfast before resuming it quest but at 11 we had to call it a day and we headed back out of the park and back to our accommodation.

After a coffee on the balcony, we showered and changed, packing up our dusty safari gear, and then went to lunch. We spent the afternoon relaxing and starting to relook at some of our holiday pictures. We also had a walk around the paths within the grounds, mindful of the fact that last November a female tiger had spent three days within the grounds devouring a kill that she had made.

We watched the sunset from the balcony above the restaurant and then after watching another tiger documentary on the library area we went downstairs for dinner, outside but warmed by an open fire pit.

Another early night after all of the excitement of the day and being full of food!Les mer