I'm far from unique but if I could pick any holiday it would be trekking for tigers in India. I feel torn when I see them in this environment even when they have as much space as they do at Longleat but this gorgeous specimen toyed with us gawkers beautifully during our visit today.
He spent several minutes walking mere cms away from each car, when I say walking clearly I mean swaggering with that shoulder roll only big cats can pull off with style. And when I say big cats I mean tigers, lions and leopards not fat cats working in the city with plenty of money but no moving elegance.
Bea and I watched him work the line of cars we were in and then two cars ahead he cut across to the other side. As he appeared behind the car next to ours we were awe struck by his majestic beauty and then he turned and looked right at us before coming across to eyeball Bea. He spent a good 15 seconds or so sniffing and rubbing the corner of my car by which point I was beginning to think "Did I lock the doors?', all thoughts of photo taking disappearing as I prepared to edge the car forwards. And then he was gone back to the central mound where he lay down and resumed his watchful pose.
A fabulous day in Longleat listening to Steve Backshall talk about birds, snakes, sharks and reptiles, spotting Moshi Monsters on the Moshi egg hunt and completing the Deadly 60 mission through the safari park but now I feel it's time to plan a trip where we can see animals in their natural environment. Tigers may be unrealistic but we could start closer to home. Any ideas?
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