Tiger safari advice

• Do not go on a tiger safari with children at the hottest times of year, March – June. This is tough even on the most acclimatised adult.
• Bring plenty of sun protection and water, although you need to protect yourself from the cold on early morning tiger safaris too.
• For any medical emergencies in India and Nepal, call 102, in Bangladesh 999 and Bhutan 110
• With kids, in particular, use hand sanitiser when you can
• Malaria is a risk in India, although there are few cases. But take precautions, covering up in the evenings, using repellents and sleeping under a mosquito net
• Dengue fever is also a feature, particularly during monsoon season, so good precautions such as strong repellants and nets are vital
• Recommended vaccinations for general travel to India are Hepatitis A, Tetanus and Typhoid. See NHS site Fit for Travel for more details
• Stick with bottled water, although sometimes tricksters seal bottles filled from a tap. Well-known brands are safest but if it tastes odd, just leave it. Similarly, avoid ice if you are not sure
• Altitude sickness can occur in certain regions, so let your body adjust to the elevation slowly, and keep hydrated
• Always travel with a basic medical kit, including Imodium for stomach upsets. Ensure to bring your own prescription medicines along with a copy of your prescription. If you do get dehydrated through illness or heat, the 1 tsp salt/8 tsp sugar/1 litre of water ratio combo works a treat
• Parasites are a common cause of diarrhea, and may not get better without treatment so if it goes on for more than two days, seek medical help
• There are venomous snakes in India, so look out for markings if you are bitten, seek help urgently and report which snake bit you

Do what your guide says – it goes without saying really, as these are wild animals, and not to be cuddled or cooed over. We are no longer in the world of Shere Khan or Disney.

Always keep noise to a minimum when on a tiger safari. Disturbed wildlife may attack your vehicle if unduly startled.

Safety in India is not as bad as you might be led to believe, and issues vary per region. Petty theft is the most common, so you need to protect yourself from that. Padlock your luggage and keep valuables next to the skin.

The best bet is always to check with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) for updated, regional issues regarding safety.

In general, women are advised to keep the body covered as much as possible, no matter where you are travelling in India.

If travelling overnight on trains, do not accept food from strangers due to episodes of drugging tourists and robbing them