After the usual hectic times in frantic New and Old Delhi, I fly to what Indian people call a tier three city, Nagpur. Totally unknown from foreigners in spite of its 3 million people. Put your finger in the middle of the map of India and it is right there, Central India. Nagpur is the gateway to some of the best tiger reserves in India. More than 50 reserves throughout the country are now protecting tigers from poaching. India hosts more than half of the tiger population in the world and for the first time, that very small population, 6,000 individuals, the size of a big village, is growing again, due to all these conservation efforts. I'm heading to Pench, which is the place where Rudyard Kipling has located his Jungle Books, in the Seeonee forests. They now call themselves Mowgliland. Time to read again this classic book, right on the spot! And to visit that forest that still host tigers, wolves, bears, snakes, monkeys, jackals, deers, leopards, vultures, eagles and a lot more wildlife, just like in the book.
While I'm reading on the balcony of my cabin, overlooking the forest, a massive thunderstorm illuminate the night. Mowgli has just been taken under the protection of Mother Wolf and Father Wolf, escaping Shere Khan, the massive dominant tiger who was hunting him. Shere Khan is furious and thell the wolves: "the cub (little man Mowgli) is mine and to my teeth he will come in the end"! I read that sentance under massive thunderclaps rolling over the forest, just like Shere Khan words. I just hope to see a tiger tomorrow in Pench, but not to come to his teeth in the end....
Natural thunder lightning in the background, over Pench forest
New Delhi - Nagpur 852km - Nagpur - Pench 91km
Total 7,683km