Birds & Wildlife of Gujarat

14 Nights / 15 Days
  • Red-naped Ibis
  • Sultanpur-bird-Sanctuary
  • Blackbuck- Indian antelope
  • Striped Hyena
  • Demoiselle Cranes

Description

Inclusion/ Exclusion

Package Cost Includes:

  1. Accommodation on twin sharing basis in resort or Jungle lodge.
  2. Meal as per the plan.
  3. Jeep / Canter Safari in National Parks.
  4. Birding guide during visit.
  5. All pick up, drop, transfers and sightseeing as per itinerary by private car including all toll tax, parking and interstate taxes.
  6. All current applicable Government taxes.

Package Cost Does Not Include:

  1. Items of personal nature like Porterage, Tips, Laundry and Mineral Water.
  2. Monument entrance fee or National Park.
  3. International flight & India Visa fee.
  4. All other items and services not mentioned above.
  5. Company will not be responsible for any loss / Damage of Baggage, Train / Flight Delay or Cancellations due to technical fault or Natural disasters, Road blockage, Strike, land slide, etc.

 

Itinerary

Day 01 – Arrive Delhi
Arrive Delhi by International flight. Meeting and assistance upon arrival and transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 02 – Delhi – Mount Abu (By Night Train)
Morning go on a birding tour with a guide at the Sultanpur National Park. The park is home to the Indian Courser. Sind Sparrow has now made its way down the canal from Sind and Brooks’s Leaf Warbler is a regular winter visitor, as well as many waterbirds including the impressive Black-necked Stork and Sarus Crane.

Later tour visit the Qutab Minar, Humayun’s Tomb drive along the ceremonial avenue – Rajpath, past the imposing India Gate, Parliament House and President’s Residence and end the tour with a drive through Diplomatic Enclave.

In evening transfer to the railway station to board train for Mount Abu. Overnight on the board.

Day 03 – Mount Abu
Early Morning arrive at railway station and transfer to the hotel for check-in (Early check-in subject to availability). Later spend the day around the open scrub and fields on the top of Mount Abu will hopefully bring us into contact with another rare Indian subcontinent endemic – Green Avadavat.

Mount Abu is one of the few known localities for the species and we have an excellent chance of finding a small flock feeding quietly at the base of nearby bushes. White-capped and Crested Buntings are also possible here and any time spent in the forest lower down could include Indian Scimitar Babbler. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 04 – Abu Road – Dasada
Today after early breakfast, we will drive to Little Rann of Kutch – Dasada (approx. 210Kms / 04 hours). Upon arrival check-in at the resort and relax amidst the comforts of your room. Lost yourself in the desert and resort’s environment.

In the evening enjoy desert safaris in the Little Rann of Kutch, where you can sight animals like Wild-Ass, Desert Fox, Blue Bull, Blackbuck, Wolf, Jackal and few species of snakes & many species of birds like McQueen’s Bustard, Hoopoe Lark, Cream coloured Courser and other desert specialties. Overnight at the resort.

Day 05 – Dasada – Little Rann of Kutch
Today, after breakfast we will enjoy our jeep safari to the Little Rann of Kutch to see the famous wild Ass. Apart from wild Ass, we will be able to sight Blackbuck (Indian antelope), Nilgai or Blue Bull, the graceful chinkara, Indian Wolf, Desert Fox and few species of snakes & many species of birds.

Afternoon, visit Rabari and Banjara are the two important tribes of the region. While the Rabari, the most nomadic of Gujarat’s tribes, constantly migrate in search for better grazing ground for their camels and sheep, the Banjara and other tribes have settled here. We will visit the rural Vadiara and Kharapat Rabaris of Dasada, known for their embroideries, the silk-weavers colony at Dasada and Ambala village of the Bharwad shepherds and goatherds. The weaving cooperative at Bajana and other artisan’s workshops can also be included in the tours. Other societies near Dasada are Padhars (primarily fishing people), the Siddis and the semi-nomadic Mirs, Jaths (Muslim herders), Bajanias. Overnight at the resort.

Day 06 – Little Rann of Kutch – Velavadar National Park
Today after breakfast, we will drive to Velavadar National Park (approx. 210Kms / 04 hours). It is the beautiful savannah grassland reserve at Velavadar. Better known as Blackbuck National Park, Velavadar, at just 34 km square, is a small sanctuary yet it’s a worthy introduction to Gujarat’s abundant wildlife. The sanctuary holds about 3500 Blackbuck with the males being particularly gorgeous in their black-and-tan dress and conspicuous white goggles. Velavadar is also one of the last remaining refuges of the severely threatened Indian Wolf and one of the best places in the subcontinent to see Striped Hyena. The National Park also boasts the world’s largest harrier roost where a massive 3000 birds have been estimated! Montagu’s Harriers dominate but impressive numbers of both ghostly Pallids and Western Marsh Harriers also occur and we’re sure to see an abundance of all three.

Among the many other birds we’re likely to encounter at Velavadar are Ashy-crowned, Rufous-tailed and Bimaculated Larks, Isabelline Shrike and Sykes’s and Paddyfield Warblers. Upon arrival check-in at the lodge and later start your birding tour. Overnight at the lodge.

Day 07 – Velavadar National Park – Sasan Gir Forest National Park
Today morning will do birding at Velavadar looking for Hen, Palid and Montagu’s Harriers. Later, we will drive to Sasan Gir Forest National Park (approx. 240Kms / 05 hours). Gir is the last abode of the Asiatic lion and has a thriving population of Leopard, sambar, chital (spotted deer), nilgai, wild boar, chousingha and chinkara. We’re sure to see an array of new species, perhaps including Spotted Sandgrouse, Indian Black Ibis, Crested Hawk-eagle, Rock Bush-quail, Yellow-footed Green Pigeon, Tawny-bellied Babbler and possible even White-bellied Minivet.

Upon arrival check-in at the lodge and relax amidst the comforts of your room. Afternoon enjoy Jeep Safari in the Sasan Gir National Park for bird and wildlife watching. Overnight at the lodge.

Day 08 – Sasan Gir Forest National Park
Morning and afternoon enjoy the jeep safari in Gir National Park to explore the birding and wildlife. In the evening have a nature walk with a birding guide to a riverside spot near your Lodge. Overnight at the lodge.

Day 09 – Sasan Gir Forest National Park – Jamnagar
Today morning enjoy the jeep safari in National Park to explore the birding and wildlife. Later we will drive to Jamnagar (approx. 230Kms / 05 hours) another of Gujarat’s major cities that is rarely visited by tourists but which is overflowing with old buildings and colourful bazaars. Time permitting, we’ll stop at the impressive Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary less than an hour’s drive from the city.

This wetland reserve is unique in that about half of the water is fresh while the other half is saline and consequently it harbours a staggering variety of wildlife. Huge numbers of flamingos and cranes (often including impressive numbers of Demoiselle) winter here, as do large numbers of pelicans and shorebirds. Indian Nightjars breed and we should be able to find a few, while other species we’ll look for include Baillon’s Crake, Small Pratincole, Black-necked Stork and Indian Reed Warbler. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 10 – Jamnagar
Today after breakfast, we will explore other areas near the city including the Marine National Park at Narara.  If we have time, the visit to coincide with a high tide we should be treated to a real feast of waders, gulls and terns. Our principle quarry will be the striking Crab Plover and with large numbers present we are assured of some great views. Lots of other waders also occur – both lesser and Greater Sand Plovers, Terek and, with luck, Broad-billed Sandpipers should be mingling with Great Black-headed and Heuglin’s Gulls as well as Lesser Crested Terns and Western Reef-herons. If time permitting we’ll possibly make a second visit to Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 11 – Jamnagar – Bhuj
Today after breakfast, we will drive to Bhuj (approx. 260Kms / 06 hours) en-route stop to look for Demoiselle Cranes and Laggar falcon as we leave the Kathiawar Peninsula and drive to Bhuj, capital of Kutch and an area that, during the summer monsoon, is a seasonal island. Upon arrival check-in at the hotel and relax amidst the comforts of your room. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 12 – Bhuj
Today after breakfast, we will get ready for birding in the south area of Bhuj, our time will be spent in a quest to see the region’s specialties. Chief among these is the enigmatic Grey Hypocolius. A difficult species elsewhere in the world, Hypocolius are particularly partial to berries of the ‘Toothbrush Tree’ and with small numbers wintering south of Bhuj, we should be able to find a number of these attractive desert birds.  The globally vulnerable White-naped Tit is also here and this easy-to-see attractive Indian endemic will be high on our wish-list. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 13 – Bhuj
Today after breakfast, we will plan to travel south to another grassland reserve where small numbers of the little-known White-browed (or Stoliczka’s) Bushchat winters. The reserve also holds White-bellied Minivet, large numbers of Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse and a few rare Great Indian Bustards and we’d hope to encounter both.

Eastern Imperial and often impressive numbers of Steppe Eagles spend the winter in this area and with luck, we should be able to find a Sykes’s Nightjar roosting on one of the roads near our guest house. Nights near Moti Virani. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 14 – Bhuj – Ahmedabad
Today after early breakfast, drive to Ahmedabad (approx. 320Kms / 06 hours). Upon arrival check-in at the hotel and later visit Jama Masjid, the Sidi Sayyad’s Mosque – which is world renowned for its intricate lattice-work of rich and elaborate design and Calico Textile Museum. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 15 – Ahmedabad – Mumbai (By Flight)
Today we will be transfer to the airport to board early morning flight for Mumbai. Arrive at Mumbai and visit Prince of Wales Museum, Mani Bhawan, Dhobi Ghat and The Gateway of India. Later drive through the Crawford Market, Flora Fountain and panoramic view of Marine Drive & Chowpatty Beach. Evening is free for relaxation and individual activities.

In night transfer to the airport for your departure flight for onward destination.

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