The Little Rann of Kutch Wildlife Sanctuary - 90 kms from Amedabad

The Little Rann of Kutch Wildlife sanctuary spreads over 4950 sq km in area comprising a range habitats from saline desert plains, arid grasslands, rocky and thorn scrub to lakes and marshes. The sanctuary is known for its herds of the Asiatic Wild ass. It also supports a thriving population of gazelle, blue bull, wolf, and Indian foxes, jackal, jungle cat, hare and birds such as bustard, sandgrouse, partridge, bustard quails, larks, eagle, short toed eagle, vulture, falcon, flamingoes, pelicans, ducks, cranes and storks. 

Jeep Safaris can be organised by the Resorts here. 

Accommodation Options

Location

Rann Riders

Dasada, Little Rann of Kutchh

Desert Coursers

Zainabad, Little Rann of Kutchh

Gir National Park - 160 kms from Rajkot

Gir has about 300 lions and 300 leopards, making it one of the major big-cat concentrations in India. Sambar and spotted deer (chital), blue bull (nilgai), chousingha (the world's only four-horned antelope), chinkara (Indian gazelle) and wild boar thrive in Gir. Jackal, striped hyena, jungle cat, rusty-spotted cat, langur, porcupine, black-naped Indian hare are among the other mammals of Gir.

Gir has a large population of marsh crocodile or mugger, which is among the 40 species of reptiles and amphibians recorded in the sanctuary.

The park checklist has 250 birds and about 50 other species (including the endangered lesser florican and the saras crane) are recorded in the grasslands along the perifery of the sanctuary. 

Many species like the painted sandgrouse, grey francolin, quails, Asian paradise flycatcher, black-naped monarch, white-browed fantail, Asian brown flycatcher, grey-headed flycatcher, verditer flycatcher, tickell's blue flycatcher, greenish warbler, white-eye, coppersmith barbet, common and marshal's iora, rufous treepie, yellow-footed green pigeon have been spotted by our guests around the lodge itself. Long-billed vulture, Indian white-backed vulture, red-headed (king) vulture, Eurasian griffon vulture, changeable hawk-eagle, crested serpent eagle, bonneli's eagle, greater spotted eagle, lesser spotted eagle, tawny eagle, steppe eagle, imperial eagle, Pallas's fish eagle, grey-headed fish eagle, osprey, peregrine falcon, laggar falcon, red-headed falcon, oriental honey-buzzard, white-eyed buzzard and other raptors have been seen in the sanctuary. Gir also has brown fish owl, Eurasian eagle owl, spotted owlet. In the evening, nightjars can be seen near the lodge gate. (Source - Gir Birding Lodge) 

Jeep Safaris can be organised by the Resorts here. 

Accommodation Options

Location

Lion Safari Camp

Sasan Gir

Maneland Jungle Lodge

Sasan Gir

Gir Birding Lodge

Sasan Gir

Anil Farm House

Sasan Gir

Amidhara Resort

Sasan Gir

Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary - 54 kms from Ahmedabad

The Nalsarovar bird sanctuary comprises a lake of  about  100  sq kms, where you can viiew flamingoes, pelicans, , geese, cranes, storks, ibises, spoonbill, wading birds, swallows, fishing eagles, osprey, harriers and other migratory birds.

Palace Utelia can arrange for a Full day outing in a 4-wheel drive.

Accommodation Options

Location

Palace Utelia

Utelia

Velavadar National Park (Blackbuck National Park) - 50 kms from Bhavnagar

This is spread over 36 sq. kms of area and is visited for its population of blackbuck and the Indian Antelope. Other mammals seen here are fox, jackal, jungle cat and wild pig. Among the birds you can see Sandgrouse, larks and harrier roost.

Accommodation Options

Location

Palace Utelia

Utelia