Asiatic Lions, Wolves, Leopards & Raptors

Upon reaching New Delhi, settle into the hotel located in Aerocity near the airport. The remainder of the day is at your leisure, providing an opportunity to unwind and overcome any jet lag.

In morning, you will be transferred to the New Delhi airport, where you’ll catch flight to Ahmedabad. Upon landing, your driver awaits to embark on a scenic 2-hour drive to the Little Rann of Kutch. While the initial route may be bustling with traffic, the scenery transforms into rural India, offering glimpses of charming villages and excellent photo opportunities.

After a 2-hour drive, you’ll reach Dasada village, where your accommodation at. The cottages are inspired by the Kooba houses of the Bajania and the Bhunga structures of the Rabari shepherds, reflecting the neighbouring communities. Each cottage is equipped with modern facilities, stylish bathrooms, and adorned with lovely local fabrics.

In the evening, you will  venture out to explore the Kutch region of Gujarat.

Enjoy two full days immersed in the enchanting landscape of the Little Rann of Kutch. This captivating travel destination offers a vast expanse of flat land stretching infinitely in all directions, featuring intriguing textures of the soil, surreal mirages, star-studded nights, and the mesmerizing sight of flamingos adorning the scenery with hues of pink.

The Little Rann of Kutch, nestled within the larger Rann of Kutch region, is the exclusive habitat for approximately 4,500 Indian Wild Asses (Equus hemionus khur), making it a significant area known as the Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary. The Little Rann of Kutch is renowned as the last habitat of the endangered Indian wild ass, exclusive to this region. The area is also home to the endangered Indian wolf, Indian and desert foxes, golden jackal, striped hyena, desert cat and caracal, along with smaller mammals like hares, hedgehogs, gerbils, and field mice.

Recognized as a birding paradise, the Little Rann of Kutch is a Ramsar Site. Various birdwatching spots showcase large and easily visible bird species. During winter, witness impressive flocks of demoiselle and common cranes, along with flamingos, pelicans, storks, ibises, spoonbills, diverse ducks, and other waterfowl. The open areas make birdwatching accessible to all, regardless of expertise.

This sanctuary is not only a testament to natural diversity but also intricately linked to the cultural practices of local communities, particularly the Rabari shepherds. The coexistence of pastoral traditions and rich biodiversity creates a distinctive and harmonious cultural-ecological landscape.

Today involves a lengthy journey, requiring a 7-hour drive to Gir. To ensure a comfortable late afternoon arrival, you will commence your journey early after breakfast.

Your accommodation in Gir will be at a resort designed in an ethnic style inspired by local aesthetics, providing the perfect balance for Gir’s hot summers and chilly winters.

The rest of the evening is yours to unwind and relax at the resort.

Experience three full days at Gir with morning and afternoon safaris.

Gir National Park in Gujarat is a unique destination, being the only place in the world, apart from Africa, where lions roam freely in the wild. Covering a total area of 1412 square kilometers,, it has become a haven for the endangered Asiatic Lion.

The dry and deciduous forest of Gir National Park provides an ideal habitat for over 600 Asiatic Lions. In addition to the lion population, the park is home to over 300 leopards, two species of deer (with the Sambar being the largest Indian deer), and the chowsingha, the world’s only four-horned antelope. Smaller carnivores such as jackals, striped hyenas, and Indian foxes also inhabit the Gir Forest.

Gir is also home to more than 200 species of birds, leading to its declaration as an important bird area by the Indian Bird Conservation Network. The park is also a habitat for vultures, including critically endangered white-backed and Indian vultures.

Sasan Gir boasts a diverse reptile and amphibian population, with Kamleshwar, a large reservoir in the sanctuary, being an excellent spot to observe Marsh Crocodiles in large numbers.

Following breakfast, commence your journey to Velavadar around 08:00 AM, anticipating a 5.5-hour drive to arrive in time for lunch. Your accommodation at Velavadar will be at the Safari Lodge, nestled near a charming hamlet surrounded by water bodies and farmlands. Conveniently situated, the lodge is just a 10-minute drive from the safari gate of Black Buck National Park-Velavadar. The tastefully decorated cottages are set amidst an appealing environment, each featuring a private sit-out for those seeking a leisurely evening. These cottages offer modern amenities with a touch of local architecture.

Dedicate a full day to exploring Velavadar with both morning and afternoon safaris.

The park’s flat terrain, dry grasses, and herds of antelope have long been a draw for visitors, showcasing a distinctive grassland ecosystem. Ongoing conservation efforts have been successful in protecting the blackbuck, wolf, and lesser florican (a bustard). The lesser florican, considered an endemic Indian species, has found a significant refuge in this park, making it the largest population hub today.

The park’s fauna population includes blackbucks, wolves, Macqueen’s bustards, hyenas, and lesser floricans, with foxes, jackals, and jungle cats as the primary carnivores. Wild pigs, hares, and rodents typical of savannah-type grasslands and thorn scrubs also contribute to the park’s biodiversity.

In the realm of avian life, sandgrouse and larks are observed in fair numbers. According to Roger Geoffrey Clarke, a British harrier expert, the harrier roost found in the park is considered one of the largest in the world.

Following an additional safari, start on a journey to Ahmedabad, approximately 3.5 hours away.

Your accommodation in Ahmedabad will be at Four Points by Sheraton. Positioned in the heart of the city by the river, it provides captivating views of the city.

The evening is yours to unwind and relax.

Following an early breakfast, we will journey north to Jawai village in the Rajputana state of Rajasthan, approximately 5.5 hours from Ahmedabad.

Your accommodation in Jawai will be at the Jawai Leopard Safari Lodge. Nestled amidst a dramatic backdrop of granite hills, the lodge is situated between lush agrarian fields, sandy rivers, scrubland, patches of light forests, and the Aravalli mountains—the oldest range of fold mountains in India. You will arrive in time for lunch, followed by an afternoon safari.

Dedicate a full day to explore the enchanting Jawai.

Nestled in the Pali district of Rajasthan, Jawai Hills is surrounded by the picturesque Jawai Bandh, expansive grasslands, riverbeds, and grazing grounds. Shaped by ancient lava flows, the natural caves and rock shelters in Jawai Hills now serve as the habitat for leopards and Indian striped hyenas.

Jawai Hills is renowned for its haunting beauty and is considered one of the best places in India to spot leopards during daylight. It stands as one of the rare locations where leopards roam freely. The granite hills of Jawai showcase a unique spectacle of leopards living together like a family, often seen near temple stairs during the evening. Jawai boasts the highest density of leopards in India, challenging the perception that leopards are solitary creatures. The leopards of Jawai Hills exhibit extraordinary behavior, coexisting peacefully with both each other and the local human population.

Within and around Jawai, you’ll find sanctuaries such as Jawai Dam Crocodile Sanctuary, Jawai Hills Leopards Sanctuary, and Kambeshwar Ji Leopard Sanctuary. The scenic surroundings of Jawai hills and dam are also home to a variety of wildlife, including wolves, chinkaras, jackals, and jungle cats.

The wildlife sanctuaries in Jawai are havens for extraordinary wildlife, featuring wild predators like the Indian Wolf, Striped Hyena, Jungle Wild Cat, Panther, and Indian Leopard. The hills surrounding Jawai are aptly named India’s Leopard Hills, where leopards coexist with villagers and other wildlife.

Following a morning safari, proceed to Udaipur to catch a flight to New Delhi for your journey home.. The journey from Jawai to Udaipur airport takes approximately 3 hours.