We were on a private Tiger Marathon Tour with Mr. and Mrs. Cutler in Tadoba. Since it was a private safari, there were only three of us in the vehicle, the Cutlers and myself. It was our third safari of the tour, and we had already enjoyed remarkable success during the first two drives. Between them, we had seen around eight different tigers, so for once, finding another tiger was not our main objective.
That morning we entered one of Tadoba’s buffer zones with a different plan. Our focus was on two species that are often harder to find than tigers: leopards and sloth bears.
The strategy paid off almost immediately.
Within ten minutes of entering the forest, we spotted a beautiful leopard. Everyone was thrilled. With the leopard already checked off our wish list, our attention shifted entirely toward finding a sloth bear.
We searched several promising areas but found no fresh signs, no tracks, and no indication that a bear had recently passed through. Eventually, we decided to visit a location where we knew a young tiger was spending time.
Sure enough, a sub-adult tiger from Junabai’s family was resting beside a waterhole. We spent nearly thirty minutes watching him. He was completely relaxed, stretched out near the water, showing little interest in moving.
Then something unexpected happened.
A contractor involved in road repair work inside the forest passed nearby on a motorcycle. The bike was not especially close to us, but the sound carried through the forest. Tigers in Tadoba are accustomed to safari vehicles, but motorcycles are a different story. The young tiger immediately became alert, clearly disturbed by the unfamiliar noise, and disappeared into the vegetation.
We were disappointed. Early morning is often the best time for tiger movement, and it felt unfortunate to have such disturbance during those valuable hours. But the work was authorized, and there was little anyone could do.
We took another route, hoping the tiger might cross a nearby track. Along the way we met a fellow guide who shared some exciting news. His guests had just seen a large sloth bear moving toward the same waterhole where the tiger had been resting.
The tiger had now moved away, and we felt there was a good chance the bear would come down to drink.
Only two vehicles were in the area. We positioned ourselves quietly near the waterhole and waited.
About ten minutes later, our patience was rewarded.
Out of the forest emerged a huge male sloth bear.
He walked confidently toward the water, seemingly unaware of our presence. I suspect our position made it difficult for him to see us clearly. He drank deeply, cooling himself from the intense summer heat, and then stepped directly into the water.
What followed was pure joy.
The bear began splashing and playing in the water like a child enjoying a summer afternoon. At one point he looked directly toward us, almost as if he had suddenly realized we were there.
“Oh… there are people watching.”
He immediately turned his back toward us and continued enjoying his bath.
For several minutes he splashed, rolled, and relaxed before climbing out and beginning to walk along the track.
We always try to give wildlife plenty of space, so we maintained a respectful distance and allowed him to move naturally. There was no crowd, no pressure, and no rush. Just two vehicles enjoying a rare encounter.
At one point, the bear stood upright on his hind legs and rubbed his back against a tree hidden partially by bushes.
I was excited, but also frustrated.
The view wasn’t clear enough for a photograph.
I thought I had missed the moment.
A few minutes later, however, nature gave us a second chance.
The bear approached a dry tree beside the track. Suddenly he rose again onto his hind legs, stretched his body upward, and spread his arms against the trunk. For a brief moment, it looked as though he was dancing to music only he could hear.
This time we were ready.
Cameras clicked furiously as we captured the incredible behavior right in front of us. It was one of those magical wildlife moments that cannot be planned and cannot be predicted.
After stretching for nearly a minute, he dropped back down and continued his journey through the forest. We photographed him for another ten minutes before he finally disappeared into the jungle.
That single moment, the giant sloth bear standing tall and stretching against the tree, became the highlight of the safari.
And the best part?
By the end of the day, we had seen a leopard, a tiger, a sloth bear, and even a pack of wild dogs.
Days like that don’t happen often.
It remains one of the most memorable safaris I have ever shared with my guests and a reminder that sometimes the best moments in the jungle arrive when you stop looking for tigers and let nature surprise you.
