Operation Rescue Lizard

After a five hour train ride that involved sitting up in a sleeper berth too short for people of our height, we finally arrived at Sawai Madhopur, our gateway to exploring Ranthambore National Park. Representatives from the SherBagh met us at the rail station in a swank open-air jeep and drove us to a luxury tent camp bordering the national park. This. Place. Is. Awesome.

Our canvas roofed tent has running hot and cold water, lovely sisal rugs, and mosquito netting. It also had a tiny visitor waiting to welcome us: a pink lizard in the toilet. Once I saw the little dude was definitely alive and kicking, I couldn’t bear to flush it, so mom and I searched our tent for an appropriate lizard removal device, and settled on a water glass. I was able to scoop our friend out of the toilet bowl, but he lost his tail in the process. I released him outside, and after a moment of shock, he scampered off. I’m pretty sure his tail will regenerate, so I don’t think I’m premature in calling Operation Rescue Lizard a success.

While cool with lizards, mom is decidedly not cool with their reptilian brethren the snake. We were assured that the most harmful, poisonous ones are already hibernating for the winter, but that was little comfort for mother, who cannot bear the sight of them. I’m already wishing I had brought along one of those fake rubber ones; Then again, that’d be a fast way to be disowned.

Also worth noting is the presence of our Aide de Camp/Host/Concierge/SherBagh factotum, Yusuf. He is the man. Not only does he speak in the most perfect British English you have ever heard, but he also rocks a serious handlebar mustache which he twists at the edges as a nervous habit.

Ranthambore is home to crocodiles, sloth bears, hyenas, leopards, and--of most interest to me--TIGERS. I read in the guest book that a family leaving today saw not one but two great cats while out on jeep safari, so I’m hoping we have similar luck between tomorrow and the following morning. I brought a tiger leash because I’m all about being prepared.