Trip Dates: 27th Feb to 4th March’15
About a week back, our guide from Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve rang up my son Bharat Goel to visit Kolsa Range and Buffer Zone of Moharli Range as good sightings of two tigresses with cubs of 4 to 5 months and 1 ½ Years, are regularly taking place.
Since Bharat was busy with his business activities, he requested me to take a chance. I asked him to book my tickets by rail and prepare the itinerary
I took Tamil Nadu Sampark Kranti train in the morning of 26th Feb, 2015 and was to reach at Nagpur at 12:00 pm (after about 17 hours). The train reached at 02:00 am. At the Nagpur platform 4 senior officers of Nagpur Customs and Central excise commissionerate were waiting to welcome me. All these officers had worked with me while I was posted at Raipur (Capital of Chhattisgarh) from 2002 to 2008. I was obliged by the honor given to me. After deboarding from the train we proceeded to departmental Guest House at Civil Lines. After having tea with them, I went to sleep. I woke up at 06:00 am and was ready for my onward journey to Chandrapur, from where I was to be picked up by my guide. From there we went to Kolsa Forest Rest House through Zhari Gate (about 40 km from Chandrapur). After reaching Forest Rest House at Kolsa, just adjacent to Kolsa Village, we prepared ourselves for the 1st afternoon safari. Although safari timing was from 02:00 pm but we proceeded at 2:30 pm.
Related: Photo Gallery of Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve
We saw a cattle egret with live snake (picked up on road) on Kolsa – Rantalodi road. It was afternoon and from where the snake came was a mystery. His death invited him to become food for cattle egret. In the evening we were fortunate to sight tigress with 4 cubs at the waterhole on Kuhani ain-bodi (water hole). My first sighting of life where I saw 4 cubs of 4 to 5 months old with their mother, at a distance of about 30 to 40 meters, in absolutely clear surroundings. Again we saw the same family on 28th Feb. All 4 cubs quenching their thirst, while the mother was watching them. What a sight! However efforts to see the same family in the coming days on 1st and 2nd March didn’t bring any result on account of rain.