Activities

Duration: 12 Nights & 13 Days

Major Attractions: Asiatic Lions, Wild Ass, Antelopes, Birds and Mammals

Destination Covered: Little Rann of Kutch, Gir National Park, Greater Rann of Kutch, Velavadar, Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary

No place in India has a variety of wildlife like Gujarat as the state has got numerous national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Little Rann of Kutch boasts with Wild Ass, migratory birds and fascinating antelopes. More than two hundred bird species have been spotted in Little Rann of Kutch Wildlife Sanctuary. Gir National Park - a pride of Indian wildlife Circuit is a last home in the wild for the mighty Asiatic Lions. Apart from Asiatic Lions, Gir National Park has over thirty-eight species of mammals, reptiles and about 300 kinds of birds. Another major predator spotted in the wild at Gir Wildlife Sanctuary is Leopard.
In the desert of Greater Rann of Kutch see Grey Hypoculius near Moti Virani. To see endangered Indian Bustard, nothing is more ideal place than the grasslands of Kutch. Since Gujarat has a very long coastline and Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary near Jamnagar has a healthy population of several bird species like Indian skimmer, great-crested grebe, Caspian tern, and black-necked stork. In Velavadar National Park, wildlife enthusiastic can spot the herds of blackbucks, Jungle Cat, Jackals, and Indian Fox, etc. For bird watching and mammal viewing, Gujarat is probably the ideal place in India.

Itinerary Details

Day 01: Arrive Mumbai Airport

Upon arrival at Mumbai airport you are meet & greet by our company representative afterwards transfer to your pre-booked hotel. After the reception in India, receive the travel information and documents. Check-in to the hotel for a comfortable overnight stay.
Overnight stay at hotel

Day 02: Mumbai – Ahmedabad (By Flight) Drive to Little Rann of Kutch Wild Ass Sanctuary (3½ hrs drive)

After breakfast you are transferred to Mumbai airport to board flight for Ahmedabad, upon arrival in Ahmedabad you are meet with your guide later drive to Little Rann of Kutch Wild Ass Sanctuary. It is spread over an area of 4954 km. The main attraction of the Little Rann of Kutch wildlife sanctuary is rare species Asiatic Wild Ass or Gudkhur.
During the safari, you will get a chance to see various wildlife animals such as Indian Wolf, Nilgai, Indian desert foxes, Chinkara, Black Buck Antelope and other mammals. Apart from the wild animals, sanctuary has many species of birds such as Mcqueen’s Bustard, Buttonquails, Indian Courser, Spoonbill, Falcon, and Aquila Eagles, etc.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 03: Little Rann of Kutch

After breakfast, take another safari to Little Rann of Kutch Wildlife Sanctuary to see the colony of Lesser Flamingos and also Greater Flamingos. Other birds spotted here are European Roller, Common Crane, Marsh Harrier, Lesser Florican, Spotted Sandgrouse and Red-necked Phalarope, etc.

In the afternoon, take the excursion to Nawa Talao (Lake) to view various migratory as well as India birds such as Demoiselle cranes, White Stork, Dalmatian Pelican and Greater Hoopoe Lark, etc. afterwards visit the Bharwad and Rabaris villages to meet local tribes. These are cattle herder tribes of Gujarat.

Overnight stay at hotel

Day 04: Little Rann of Kutch to Moti Virani (05 hrs drive)

Little Rann of Kutch-Moti Virani

After breakfast leave by surface for Moti Virani in Greater Rann of Kutch. Upon arrival, Check in to your pre-booked hotel. Later, take the excursion to Banni Grasslands – it is one of largest grassland in the country and prominent place for animal and bird watching.
The grasslands are dwelling to about 39 species of mammals such as Jungle Cat, Caracal, Desert Cat, Common Leopard, Nilgai, Chinkara, Jackal, Wild Pig, Striped Hyena, Indian Fox, Desert Fox, Grey Mongoose, Indian Flying Fox, and Wolf. Banni grasslands are also home to over 350 species of resident and migratory birds.

Overnight stay at hotel

Day 05: Moti Virani

Excursion to Banni Grasslands

Early morning before breakfast, we will go to Fulay to spot the Grey Hypocolius Branch, this is number one in the check-list of the birders for Greater Rann of Kuch. Fulay is one of the best places in India to see Grey Hypocolius. On the way, we have a very good chance to see Sykes’s Nightjar. Return back to the hotel for the breakfast.
During the day take another visit to Bann Grasslands around Moti Virani to spot 38 birds of special interest and over 304 birds of Kutch. Other birds of special interest spotted here are White-naped Tit, Macqueen’s Bustard, Indian Bustard, Lesser Florican (only in monsoon), Marshall’s Iora and Hoopoe Lark, etc. Great Rann of Kutch is also home of around 38 reptile species and also 31 species of butterflies.
Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 06: Moti Virani (Excursion to Lala Bustard Sanctuary (02 hrs drive)

Visit Lala Bustard Sanctuary

After breakfast, drive towards Naliya Grassland to visit Kutch Bustard Sanctuary, also known as Lala Bustard Sanctuary and Kachchh Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary. The plain of the wildlife sanctuary is the perfect home of rare species of Great Indian bustards, locals call Ghorad. This heaviest flying Indian Bustard is a highly endangered bird and only approx 1000 are left all over India.
You can sight 03 types of Bustards here, the other two are lesser floricans and Houbara bustards. Kachchh Bustard Sanctuary is also the habitat of harriers, black partridges, sand grouses, larks and sometimes migratory bird imperial eagle is also spotted. Often other wildlife species like Indian wolf, jackal, striped hyena, desert cat, fox, and Chinkaras are sighted.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 07: Moti Virani-Jamnagar (06 HRS drive)

After breakfast drive to Jamnagar, Upon arrival at Jamnagar check-in to your pre-booed hotel. Afternoon visit Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary to try our luck to spot the main attraction Indian skimmer apart from other birds like the Caspian Tern, Common Teal, Great-crested Grebe, Knob-billed Duck, Black-necked Stork, cormorants, and darters, etc. Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary has recorded about 300 migratory birds in a season. It is famous for both shore and sea birds. The other wildlife species that are found here are Jackal, Blue Bull, Jungle Cat, Indian Hare, Wolf and Snakes.

Overnight stay at hotel

Day 08: Jamnagar

Jamnagar

After breakfast. We visit coastal areas next to Gulf of Kutch and islands like Pirotan Island and Narara Island, as it is a home of the variety of birds such as Kentish Plover, Darter, Painted Stork, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, Ruddy Turnstone, Crab-plover, Curlew Sand Piper, Oystercatcher, and Black-necked Ibis. Also, if time is there then visit Lakhota Lake which has got over 75 bird species like ducks, flamingoes, gulls, and pelicans, etc.

Overnight stay at hotel

Day 09: Jamnagar to Gir (05 hrs drive)

Jamnagar-Gir National Park

After breakfast leave by surface to Gir National Park, last adobe of endangered Asiatic Lions. Upon arrival at Gir National Park check-in to your pre-booed hotel. Afternoon jungle safari in the interpretation zone of Gir National Park. The most visible animal species of the park are Hyena, Panther, leopard, Chinkara, Sambhar, Blue Bull, Indian Deer, Long-Tailed Langur, and Chowsingha. Gir National Park is also a bird watcher’s paradise.

Overnight stay at hotel

Day 10: Gir

Early morning jungle Safari to spot a variety of wildlife that are mainly observed during this time. Observe the activities of Asiatic Lion and if lucky you can spot Indian leopard. The morning safari is the best time to sight the birds. After lunch, Evening jungle safari to see beautiful flora and fauna of the national park. You can as well visit the reservoir of the national park to spot crocodiles as well as other water animals. You can meet the interesting & colorful cattle herder communities like Rabari and Siddi tribes who descended from East Africa.

Overnight stay at hotel

Gir National Park

Day 11: Gir to Velavadar (05 hrs drive)

Gir-Velavadar National Park

After breakfast drive to Velavadar National Park. You might spot various wildlife animals on the way like the blackbucks, Jackal, Indian Fox, and Jungle Cat. Covering the area of 34sq km the Velavadar National Park is the abode to the endangered population of blackbuck.
Apart from, blackbucks, the park houses animals like Wolf, Nilgai, Jungle Cat, Jackal, and Fox. You can also spot various birds species as well such as Flamingos, Pelicans, White and painted Storks and several migratory birds including Stolizca’s Bushchat.
Upon arrival, you are check in to your pre-booked hotel. Overnight stay at hotel

Day 12: Velavadar National Park

Velavadar National Park

Morning jungle Jeep Safari in the wilderness of Blackbuck National Park of Velavadar along with naturalist to capture the morning activities of blackbucks and try to spot one of the top attractions of the park -harrier roost. After lunch, take evening safari in Velavadar National Park to see the mammals. Retire for the day with delicious dinner at the lodge/Hotel.

Day 13: Drive to Bhavnagar airport (01 HR)Fly to Mumbai

Velavadar-Bhavnagar-Mumbai

After having relaxed morning breakfast at Velavadar, you have the option to join a tour guided by our naturalist mainly in the port region, around the lake as well as in the Victoria Park for bird viewing. After the birding watching tour, our driver will drop you at Bhavnagar airport to take the flight to Mumbai and from there, take international flight for the onward journey back to home.