Tiger Tour India - February 2026 Highlights

Tiger Tour in Bandhavgarh & Kanha National Park, India

Day 1: 22 February 2026

After some days of sightseeing in Agra and visiting the Taj Mahal, this morning was our first safari in Bandhavgarh National Park and it set the tone instantly. Not long after heading out, we spotted a female Tiger (Sidhbaba) in the distance, but since it was hard to see we decided to move on. Along the way, we enjoyed sightings of Spotted Deer and a variety of birds, including Asian Green Bee-eaters, a Crested Serpent-Eagle, and a Jungle Owlet. The real highlight came when we found Bajrang, one of the park’s largest male tigers, resting with a full belly. With no other vehicles around, we waited patiently—and it paid off. He eventually stirred, rose to his feet, and as we repositioned, walked right past us, locking eyes with the camera. We followed him down the road to a small waterhole, where he quietly disappeared. An unforgettable start to the trip. The afternoon drive started off fairly quiet, but everything changed when our other vehicle radioed in an incredible sighting— the female Tiger we had a glimpse of in the morning (Sidhbaba) with her entire family. At first, visibility was tricky, but we decided to be patient, and it paid off in the best possible way. Not one, not two, but six tigers were together: the mother with her current litter, and remarkably, her sub-adults from a previous litter still hanging around. We could hear them playing deep in the forest before they slowly began moving toward the road. Anticipating their path, we repositioned—and suddenly, one by one, all six emerged from the trees. One of the youngsters even paused to pose on a log right in front of us, before the entire group crossed the road just behind us and disappeared back into the wilderness. What an unforgettable way to end our first day in Bandhavgarh National Park.

Day 2: 23 February 2026

Our second morning in Bandhavgarh was on the quieter side, but still rewarding. We had our first Golden Jackal sighting of the trip, and in the soft early morning light we managed to capture some beautiful images as it moved gracefully along the road.

The afternoon, however, brought us right back into the action. We decided to head into the buffer zone, where a tigress and her cubs had been feeding on a kill near a waterhole for a few days. Hoping they’d still be around with full bellies, we took our chances—and it paid off. We spent the entire afternoon with this family (Panihayi and three cubs), watching them rest and linger around the water. Photographing them wasn’t easy, with some haze in the air and very little movement due to their full stomachs, but moments like these go far beyond the photos. Simply sharing space with four tigers for an afternoon was incredibly special, and the perfect way to wrap up another day in the park.

Day 3: 24 February 2026 Mornings don’t seem to be much in our favor when it comes to Tigers, and once again it was on the quieter side. We did hear a few alarm calls nearby, but nothing materialized into a sighting. Still, the drive was far from uneventful, with lovely encounters of Spotted Deer, an Indian Roller, a Golden Jackal, and even a White-eyed Buzzard.

The afternoons, however, continue to deliver. We found the female Tiger (Sidhbaba) resting beside a waterhole, and since she didn’t seem like she’d move anytime soon, we decided to loop around for a while—spending time photographing Spotted Deer and Gray Langurs before returning once the temperatures had dropped slightly. Our timing couldn’t have been better. Not long after we got back, she rose to drink, offering a brief but beautiful moment before settling down again.

With news of one of her sub-adult sons resting nearby, we made our way over. After a short wait, he stirred, got to his feet, and walked gracefully through the grass. He paused just long enough to give us a perfect pose, before crossing the road and disappearing back into the forest. Another incredible afternoon in Bandhavgarh.

Day 4: 25 February 2026 The morning drive started off beautifully with another Golden Jackal sighting, the soft golden light creating perfect photographic conditions. Not long after, we heard about a Tiger moving through the forest, seemingly heading toward a nearby waterhole. We decided to take our chances and wait, but the Tiger had other plans. Still, the wait was well worth it as we captured some stunning shots of Purple Sunbirds feeding on flowering trees. Right at the end, we were rewarded with a brief glimpse of a female Tiger stopping to drink from a puddle—but she clearly wasn’t in the mood to linger.

The afternoon drive, however, turned out to be the best of the trip so far. We set out to find the female Tiger (Panihayi) and her three cubs again, and things quickly got exciting when one of my guests spotted fresh tracks. Moments later, the adult female was standing right on the road ahead of us. We moved slightly forward to position ourselves for a better angle, and soon after, she began contact calling. Within seconds, her three cubs came bursting out of the bushes, greeting her with affectionate head rubs—an incredibly special moment, made even better by having it all to ourselves.

Knowing she had made a kill nearby, we had a good idea of the direction they might take. Over the next hour, our driver and guide did an incredible job predicting their movements, allowing us to capture endless photographic opportunities. To top it all off, all four tigers eventually made their way to a waterhole for a drink before disappearing deeper into the forest, beyond where we could follow. What an unforgettable way to end our final full day in Bandhavgarh National Park.

Day 5: 26 February 2026

For our final morning drive in Bandhavgarh National Park, we set out with hopes of finding the Sidhbaba family once more—but this time, they had other plans and remained hidden from view. With so many incredible Tiger sightings already behind us, we happily shifted our focus to the smaller details of the park.

The morning turned into a celebration of birdlife, with sightings of Indian Vultures and a Crested Serpent-Eagle. We ended on a perfect note with an adorable encounter—two Indian Scops-Owls nestled together inside a tree trunk, quietly cuddling as they roosted. A gentle and fitting end to an unforgettable time in Bandhavgarh.

Day 6: 27 February 2026

Today marked the start of our stay in Kanha National Park—and what an incredible beginning it was. Not long into our first morning drive, we encountered one of the area’s largest male Tigers (DB3) casually resting on the road. The moment was brief, as he soon got up and melted back into the thick forest. Shortly after, we heard the growl of a Sloth Bear—likely startled by the tiger—but unfortunately, we didn’t manage to catch a glimpse of this elusive species.

While having breakfast, we received news of another Tiger on the move, so we quickly packed up and headed out. Just a short distance from our breakfast spot, we found a female Tiger (DJ9) moving gracefully through the forest. For the next hour, we followed her as she carefully stalked Spotted Deer, clearly hoping for a meal. Although it didn’t turn into a chase, witnessing this behavior was incredibly special.

The afternoon drive was a bit quieter on the tiger front. We waited near a group of Gray Langurs after hearing about a male Tiger moving through the area, hoping their alarm calls would reveal his presence. It seemed he had changed direction, as the Langurs remained completely relaxed. Still, it gave us a great opportunity to photograph them, especially with many playful youngsters around. On our way back to the gate, we were treated to a beautiful display from an Indian Peafowl, and even a quick glimpse of a Ruddy Mongoose darting across the road—perfect little highlights to end the day.

Day 7: 28 February 2026

This marked our last full day in Kanha National Park. We knew going in that Tiger sightings here can be more challenging, and that certainly proved to be true. Despite encountering all the classic signs—fresh tracks, alarm calls, and even hearing Tigers roaring deep in the forest—they remained elusive. We did manage a brief visual in the morning, but it was too fleeting and obscured for any real photographic opportunity.

With that in mind, we shifted our focus to some of the park’s other incredible species. A real highlight was finding Barasingha, the rare Swamp Deer that once teetered on the brink of extinction but has made an inspiring comeback thanks to dedicated conservation efforts. Another unexpected and special sighting was an Asian Palm Civet out in broad daylight—a species typically active at night. It moved energetically through the trees while being mobbed by crows, making for a fascinating and unusual encounter.

A different kind of day, but a memorable one—and a fitting way to wrap up this incredible Tiger Tour. I am currently working on my Tiger Tour for 2027, check capturedbyanique.com/tours for more information.