The Ghost Tree

Our first  safari was such a success being that we saw four tigers.  As we set out for the second safari that afternoon at 2:30pm, we were hopeful of seeing tigers again but we also wanted to explore the rest of this beautiful reserve. We ventured to the inner gates and drove through acres and acres of landscape very alien to the one we know. I was taken by a very strange tree that stuck out from the rest of the jungle greenery. The tree was white and looked like it had no bark or leaves. I actually thought it was perhaps dead. The thing was that I saw several of them so I had to ask. Shalik told me that it was not dead and that it was called a "Ghost Tree" or "Naked Lady Tree" but I think he was pulling my chain on that one. He told us that in the winter the trees trunk is white, in the monsoon it is green and has leaves and in the summer it is reddish brown. He also told us that because of it's white appearance, it glows under the moonlight. This is why they call it a ghost tree. Shalik was an amazing source of information concerning the Tadoba Andhari reserve so I asked many questions throughout our time in the reserve. Our park guide Inconth was very good at finding animals, tigers in particular but he did not speak English. We paid extra for Shalik to join us but it would not have been as special without all his knowledge and passion for the tigers.

The Ghost Tree

We saw many of these tree within the jungle. It would have been amazing to see them glow at night. Unfortunately there are no night safari's, I guess that could be a little dangerous considering  tigers have very good eye sight. We would be sitting duck perched up high in our Gypsy jeeps.

Scarred Ghost Tree

Shalik told us that this particular tree was scarred by a male tiger that use to like to mark out his territory. Apparently there are scratch marks from the tiger clawing at the bark.