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urls of smoke from the kettle on the open fire reach into an Indian sky, thick with rain. Our tour guide, Aarti,


busies herself, helping to prepare the essential ingredients of black tea, cardamom and condensed milk for our impromptu chai stop at a ranger’s outpost in Ranthambore National Park. Soon, the tea is ready, and our 12-strong Saga


Holidays fam trip group gratefully sips the hot, sweet liquid. It’s a perfect moment and a perfect example of the benefits of booking an escorted tour – independent travellers simply wouldn’t have the local knowledge required to drop by for a cuppa. We were leaving the vast national park in the


north of the country, deeply moved after witnessing the incredible sight of four tigers – a tigress and her three offspring of grown-up cubs who were on the verge of making their own way in the world – lolling lazily under the welcome shade afforded by a dense patch of trees. With the mercury hitting 47C in May, we could sympathise!


For nature lovers, the Ranthambore National Park


excursion is a delightful addition to Saga’s Golden Triangle Tour, which takes in the classic destinations of the capital, Delhi; Agra, home to one of the seven modern wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal; and Jaipur, the Pink City, swirling in history and romantic stories of ruling Mughals and seductive concubines.


TIGER, TIGER The park, lying in the shadow of the Aravalli Hills in the Rajasthan region, is a famous tiger reserve and a fine example of Project Tiger’s conservation efforts in action. It’s home to around 65 of the magnificent creatures, so the chances of a sighting – at around 80% – are high for visitors. The tigers are the headline act, for sure, but on our safari in a canter (an open-air vehicle designed for the rugged terrain), we also spied many of the park’s other residents, including herds of sambar deer (a favourite snack for our tiger friends), colonies of macaque monkeys, fish owls, alligators and a plethora of bird life in the


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