Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2010/04/04
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi Luggers, Shooting Tigers is accomplished with the help of a lot of people, principally your driver and guide. In Ranthambhore you could claim the same driver and guide for every excursion. In Bandhavgarh the driver came with the lodge and the guide was assigned by the park authorities. Jayanand and I were lucky to have quiet times alone with the tigers. The following photo shows the more likely situation. http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/TigerPeople/ http://tinyurl.com/ye94ynj Our driver in Bandhavgarh was Kunwar. He had a swagger about him, like an Indian Omar Sharif, and clearly was a leader among the drivers. He had great knowledge about the trails of the tigers and could drive like Michael Schumacher when he had to when intercepting the tigers - he was really magnificent http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/TigerPeople/Kunwarw.jpg.html http://tinyurl.com/ya288dt The guides in Bandhavgarh are assigned by the Park Authorities and some are good - some not. One day we had a drunk one who slept in the back of the jeep all through the safari. He didn't get a tip. Shankar was the opposite end of the spectrum, 31, married with one son, he has been a guide for 10 years and has obviously studied to be knowledgeable about the flora and fauna in the reserve and worked hard to have excellent english. He also has a good sense of humour illustrated by this story. One afternoon it was very hot and I drank a lot of water. There was no place to stop to go to the toilet and you are not allowed to get off the jeep but I had to go. The jarring of the ride had really dislodged my kidneys. So Kunwar pulled up at one of the water holes - looked around and said go for it. I hopped down from the jeep and walked behind a tree and let fly! After a long while I felt greatly relieved and hopped back on the jeep. As I settled in Shankar turned to me very seriously and said " Now you will have to be very careful. You have marked a male tiger's territory and by the size of the mark he is going to think you are very big and he will be looking for you." I looked at him wide eyed. "Really?" I said. Shankar smiled http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/TigerPeople/Shankarw.jpg.html http://tinyurl.com/yl7rttl and then chuckled and then he and Kunwar burst out laughing as we turned back into the afternoon dust. http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/TigerPeople/JeepDustw.jpg.html http://tinyurl.com/yatmmpq C&C always welcome Cheers Howard