No place in India has 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. Other 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 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.
On arrival at Mumbai airport, our tour guide will welcome you and transfer to the hotel. After the reception in India, receive the travel information and documents. Check-in to the hotel for comfortable overnight stay. Take good sleep and proper rest so that you can recover from the jet-lag as from tomorrow onwards the wildlife adventure in Gujarat awaits for you.
In the morning, take a flight for Ahmedabad, upon arrival in Ahmedabad, drive straight to Little Rann of Kutch Wild Ass Sanctuary. The key 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, LRK has many species of birds such as Mcqueen’s Bustard, Buttonquails, Indian Courser, Spoonbill, Falcon, and Aquila Eagles etc.
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. Incase you are interested in meeting the beautiful local communities then visit the Bharwad and Rabaris villages. These are cattle herder tribes of Gujarat.
Post breakfast leave for Moti Virani in Greater Rann of Kutch. Upon arrival, meet the host and relax at your room. 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.
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 few places in India to see Grey Hypocolius. On the way, we have very good chance to see Sykes’s Nightjar. Come back to the home 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. Another 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.
Today, 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 highly endangered bird and only 1000 are left all over India. Here 03 types of Bustards are spotted, other two are lesser floricans and houbara bustards. Kutch Bustard Sanctuary is also 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.
Check-out from Moti Virani after breakfast and travel to Jamnagar by surface and check-in. Post lunch, 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.
Breakfast at the hotel in Jamnagar. Today, 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. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Have breakfast at the hotel and then check-out. Today, drive to Gir National Park, last adobe of endangered Asiatic Lions. After completing check-in procedure at the hotel, have lunch. Later take the pleasure of jungle safari in 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.
Get up early in the morning and head for morning Jungle Safari to spot 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 best time to sight the birds. Post lunch; once again indulge yourself in 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 & colourful cattle herder communities like Rabari and Siddi tribes who descended from East Africa.
Have breakfast and leave Gir for 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 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.
Today, spend the morning in the wilderness of Blackbuck National Park of Velavadar along with naturalist and jeep to capture the morning activities of blackbucks and try to spot one of the top attractions of the park -harrier roost. The afternoon is free to unwind with book reading or just relax. Post lunch, take evening safari in Velavadar National Park to see the mammals. Retire for the day with delicious dinner at the lodge.
After having relaxed morning breakfast at Velavadar, you have 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 onward journey back to home. Gujarat Wildlife Journey will end today.
The home stay is included in Moti Virani, which is air-conditioned, has attached western toilets and also Wi-Fi.
We use brand new air-conditioned vehicles depending on the number of tourists. From 01 to 03 persons, we provide a sedan car and from 04 to 05, we include Toyota Innova car, from 06 to 09, we will give a Tempo Traveler and from 09 to 35, we have luxury tourist coaches.
The hotels and resorts provide both vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals. The meals are not spicy at all.
Gujarat is a dry state and the alcohol consumption at public places are not allowed, however at the places like Ahmedabad, Bhuj and Jamnagar, there are permit shops, which issue the permits to the foreign tourists upon showing the passport and then you can buy the alcohol from the wine shop located in the hotel, but you can only consume in your room.
