No matter how many trips I take to Kabini, I am filled with anticipation and wonder at nature’s bounty in this unique Tiger and wildlife reserve. People have always recommended we visit Kabini in the summer when water sources are scarce and offer chances for spotting wildlife. So glad that we did.

Before you take off on your jungle safari, imagine a time when this hunting lodge belonged to the Maharaja of Mysore and was a popular shikar hotspot for the British elite. There are 120 tigers, more than 100 leopards, four types of deer, sloth bears, gaurs, and elephants in the Nagarahole National Park, part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.

The Kabini backwaters provide a serene spot for enjoying nature as you watch intently for the wildlife.

On another trip many years ago, we saw a majestic tiger walk past us on the jungle road. We were in awe but never took a picture. On this trip with the rarest of sightings, we were grateful to this tigress, the perfect model. She lounged in the water, yawned, relaxed, and basked in all the attention as jeep loads of people gawked at her. Then, after she had her fill of cool water, she walked away with a majestic swagger,leaving the awestruck humans behind.

The elephants are almost a sure sighting on all our Kabini visits, but the encounters are never dull. The lone elephant is a tad scary, especially when a Jeep driver lingers on for effect. On this trip, we saw many elephants, some of them in the water, and the best sight was them blocking our path as they crossed the road. The cute baby elephant was quite the star.

The sloth bear, intently foraging for termites, was blissfully unaware she had an audience as we watched the antics of her cubs in the tree. The cubs climbed up and down, landing on mama bear, almost reminiscent of Baloo the bear’s antics. She looked up, took one look at us, and ran off into the forest as we watched.

On the morning safari, we saw a pack of wild dogs (Dhole). Even tigers and leopards stay away from these fierce predators if they are in a pack. That morning, they walked menacingly towards us as if they owned the right of way.

On these safaris, a professional camera with the right lens makes a difference. I was thankful to our fellow jeep safari passenger who sent us these amazing photos. Down to each stripe, the zoom lens captured every detail of those eyes ‘burning bright’ in the Kabini daylight. We admired the beautiful birds, the chital deer, the mongoose that scurried away, all in glorious detail. Here’s a slideshow for you to enjoy thanks to the amazing pictures from Michael Wilde’s camera.

The only animal we did not catch on this trip was a leopard. There’s always the next visit.

We loved the experience of being immersed in the unique jungle world of Kabini–listening in the forest for the langurs’ warning calls when a big cat approaches, feeling the crisp breeze off the river in the morning. I’d love to hear your stories about wildlife safaris and sightings in these unique, precious places.