30/07/2026
Four safaris. That’s all we had. The first three gave us nothing more than frustrating, split-second glimpses of stripes hidden way too deep in the dense woods.
Then came our fourth and final safari.
We spotted a tiger sleeping completely camouflaged against the granite rocks. For 30 solid minutes, we sat in dead silence. It didn't budge. Not an inch. Meanwhile, the clock was ticking, and our final safari was rapidly coming to an end.
Just as doubt started creeping in, something disturbed its sleep. It slowly turned, giving us a brief glimpse of its face—only to drop its head and go right back to sleep.
We stayed put. We waited, held our breath, and played the long game.
And then, right as our time was nearly up, the magic happened. The jungle gave in:
💤 A heavy stir
🥱 A massive, slow-motion yawn
🐾 A quick paw-to-face groom
🐅 And finally, rising up to reveal its full, magnificent frame right in front of us.
Hours of dusty roads, three failed attempts, and 30 minutes of motionless waiting—all paid off in a matter of seconds. Pench really saved the best for last.
Swipe through to see the entire wake-up routine, and let me know which frame was worth the wait! 👇
📍 Pench Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh
