Ranthambore national Preserve India, A Tigers Haven

I always try to support an animal reserve or two when I travel. I love animals and support organizations that work to protect animals from abuse, poaching and habitat destruction.  Something that I always say is that a human can at least ask for help and tell us how sad they are and how much they are suffering. Unfortunately for animals, they suffer in silence and live in confusion as to why they are being treated a certain way or why they are being hunted for no reason.

That is why when I read this post on from Akila of The Road Forks, I just knew that it had to be a part of our Giving Back Series.  Visiting a wildlife preserve is one of the easiest ways that a traveler can contribute to a destination having a very high impact.  By supporting wildlife sanctuaries, local people can learn that they can make money out of protecting their wildlife rather than destroying it, your money goes directly to helping the wildlife and you can easily inform the world about the plight of the endangered animals and what you can do.

I so enjoyed this post. And even though we have a long way to go in this world protecting our endangered species, it is good to know that there are places out there like Ranthambore that are working to make it a better place.

Ranthambore National Preserve in Sawai Madhopur, India

Despite my years watching nature shows on tigers and living in a football town where no animal bests the “Tiger,” nothing prepared me for my experiences seeing two tigers in the wild at Ranthambore National Preserve in Sawai Madhopur, India.  We stayed at Sher Bagh in Sawai Madhopur, a luxury permanent tented campsite managed by two leading tiger conservationists.  At the obscene hour of 6:00 a.m., a server routed out of our warm, comfortable bed, bringing us steaming cups of chai, and we bundled ourselves under thick blankets in our open-air jeep for four people.  For an hour, we drove around the park, watching the sun rise, hearing the birds lift their voices into the air, and glimpsing chital deer frolicking through the fields.  Around 7:30 a.m., two lordly nilgai antelope held themselves erect as our jeep drove by their path in the 390 square kilometer park.

And, then, we saw our first tiger.  I still get chills thinking about that first glimpse.  She lay about 40 feet before our jeep on the dirt path; our guide slowed the vehicle to a halt and then she began walking toward us.  She moved gracefully and elegantly across the path, with the swaying step of a house-cat, but with speed and power behind every step.  Within 30 seconds, she had come within 10 feet and the guide began driving in reverse.

After driving in reverse and watching her for ten minutes, we began to feel complacent and secure in our jeep.  Suddenly, we heard rustling leaves in the forest and the tiger gave a sudden pounce and vanished into the woods.  Only then did we realize the immensity of the strength she had within her; she crossed the dirt road in a matter of three seconds and, within a minute, we saw birds hastily flying away from the forest.

Today, only 2,000 Bengal tigers survive in the wild.  Thirty-eight tigers were recorded in Ranthambore in 2008, making it one of the largest population centers for this endangered species.  The tigers are less threatened today by poaching than they were twenty years ago because demand for tiger skins and bones has decreased.   The more immediate concern of tiger preservationists is the lack of prey.  Sawai Madhopur, like many towns in India, is a poor village in which farmers make their living and provide sustenance for their families by tending cows.  Farmers bring their cattle onto the lush Ranthambore preserve to graze, endangering the eco-system, and leaving less grass and foliage for the chital deer and nilgai antelope that would otherwise be the tigers’ natural prey.

an animal lover, I always wonder whether going on safaris does more harm than good to the wild environment.  In the case of Ranthambore, I think tourism has helped boost the Sawai Madhopur economy and led to an expanded park area.  We were lucky to see two tigers on our safari; most leave without seeing any.  But, even if we had not seen a single tiger, we were happy to help support a park dedicated to the preservation of these majestic animals.

Note: Sher Bagh is expensive but entirely worth the expense and we highly recommend this hotel.  Unlike many of the cheaper hotels in Sawai Madhopur, they guarantee that you can go on as many safaris as you want so we were able to go on one safari each day.  The tents are simply gorgeous; I want one of their granite and sunken stone showers in my own bathroom.

For more great parks to see Tigers in India check out Approach Guides at The Best Parks to See in India

I am Akila, a just-turned-30-year-old who once at a party, where I began the evening discussing cheesecake with one person and ended by proclaiming the best fast food french fry as   Arby’s Curly Fries to another, was asked by a federal judge whether I “talk about anything other than food.”  In fact, I do: I also talk about travel, dogs (especially my own), Lost, literature, and legal miscellanea that puts most people to sleep.  On our site, I am the writer, head cook, food photographer, and compulsive travel planner.

Akila and Patrick are two travelers who are cooking and eating their way around the world. Visit their website The Road Forks to find stories of unique places, delicious food and sub-standard restaurants across the globe. You will also find ramblings on writing, cooking, travel and any other tidbits that their brains churn up.  Currently they are in Sydney Australia exploring and eating their way through the first leg of their round the world trip.

• follow them on Twitter at twitter.com/theroadforks
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Previous Articles from our Giving Back, Travel the World and Make a Difference Series;

Volunteering Global, A Valuable Resource by Sarah Van Auken.

Villas Tranquilas: A Vacation Property Gives Back by Courtney and Tom Marchesani of  Villas Tranquilas

Make A Difference With The Global Volunteer Network by Erin Courtenay of Global Volunteer Network

Nicaragua, A First Time Volunteer Experience by Teresa Wilson of The Wellness is You

This Global Citizen is Making a Difference by Rebecca Sweetman of The Paradigm Shift Project

Teaching Monks in Nepal by Shannon O’Donnell of ALittleAdrift

ARCAS Guatemala – a One in an Only by Marina Villatoro of TheTravelExperta


Support Local Art and Help Communities Thrive Keith Jenkins of Velvet Escape

Giving Back, Travel the World and Make a Difference

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