Gujarat’s Iconic Birds (7 days) B407

Introduction

This far western corner of India has a wealth of very special birds.  Vast open spaces, some dry and cracked yet dotted with wetland or marsh, others covered in golden grasses – target species include Stoliczka’s Bushchat, Macqueen’s and Great Indian Bustards and the chance of Sociable Lapwings moving through, flamingos, cranes, raptors, chats and larks as well as Asiatic Wild Ass and much, much more.  Sparse scrub and bushes hold such delights as Grey Hypocolius, Sirkeer Malkoha, Rufous-fronted Prinia and Painted Sandgrouse.  Miles and miles of sandy beaches are great for gulls, terns and waders – including the amazing Crab Plover.  Join us on this tour for fantastic experiences that will stay in your memory forever.

See B 408 for longer tour including Gir and Velavadar.  Both can follow B 405 or B 406.

Contact us for full details and we can send you a link or post them to you.

Itinerary and price

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Your International flight could arrive in to either Mumbai or Delhi with a connecting flight to Ahmedabad. Meals: Dinner Your International flight is likely to arrive into Mumbai or Delhi and you'll take your internal flight to Ahmedabad (all booked by you). Arrive in the morning at Ahmedabad airport where you will find your guide and driver waiting for you outside the airport building with your name on a placard. From here you’ll be transferred to the Little Rann of Kutch.  The journey should take about 2 1/2 to 3 hours.  Check in at a comfortable safari lodge and if time allows you’ll explore locally with your guide.  Species seen around the lodge have included Pallid Scops Owl, Sarus Crane, Sykes’s Nightjar and many other species. This afternoon we have included a jeep safari to the Little Rann.  On your return you can relax for the evening. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner Today enjoy morning and afternoon jeep safaris into the Little Rann for birding and to see the rare Asiatic Wild Ass (Onager).  You may well be rewarded with views of Macqueen’s Bustard, Lesser and Greater Flamingos Common and Demoiselle Cranes, Small and Oriental Pratincoles, Great White and Dalmatian Pelicans, Montagu’s and Pallid Harriers. The endangered Sociable Lapwing is sometimes seen in nearby fields outside of the sanctuary and, if they have been located, it should be possible to take a drive in the afternoon to look for them – it seems the most reliable time to see them is the end of the afternoon.  Depending on the time of year, Rosy Starlings may have congregated around the villages.  We will look for crepuscular and nocturnal species this evening, too.  Night at your safari lodge.  Note: Expect the jeep safaris to be extremely cold first thing in the morning, wrap up warm and wear a jacket to keep out the wind.  The drive to the far side of the Rann for Macqueen’s Bustard could take about an hour. Meals: Breakfast, lunch enroute and dinner After an early breakfast (and with packed lunch from your lodge or lunch at a local restaurant) you will drive (approx. 6 ½ - 7 hours) to the Nakhatrana area for a three night stay.  If time permits, in the afternoon search thorn scrub for key species including Marshall’s Iora and White-naped Tit.  Over the next couple of days you should have another opportunity to see Stoliczka’s Bushchat, if you didn’t come across it at the Little Rann.     Night at camp in air-conditioned tent with attached bathroom. Meals: Packed breakfast, packed lunch and dinner Depart for Fulay very early (at first light) after tea and biscuits and with a packed breakfast and packed lunch. The drive to the only known regular wintering site in India for Grey Hypocolius will take about 35 minutes.  Locally you should see at least six species of raptor and many more birds around Chhari Dhandh wetland in the Banni grasslands.  Locally today you may see Indian Eagle Owl, Sykes’s Nightjar, Sirkeer Malkoha, Rufous-fronted Prinia, Asian Desert Warbler, Grey-necked Bunting, Red-tailed Wheatear and perhaps Painted Sandgrouse towards the end of the day.   Discuss with your guide what you would like to do tomorrow, confirm the likely drive times and arrange meals – decide if you require packed lunch and if so pre-order it with staff.  Night at resort in air-conditioned tent with attached bathroom. Meals: Breakfast or packed breakfast, packed lunch and dinner Today you could visit Naliya grasslands and the Lala Bustard Sanctuary (approx. 2 ¼ hours drive each way).  It is becoming increasingly difficult to see Great Indian Bustards in Gujarat.  Naliya grasslands and Lala Bustard Sanctuary is probably one of the best places to look for them locally and the area holds other typical species including Bimaculated Lark, Long-legged Buzzard, Fan-tailed Warbler and many others as well as Indian Gazelle (Chinkara).   If you were to drive on from Lala to Modhva Beach, near Mandvi the drive would be approx. 2 hours. Alternatively, explore Modhva Beach (near Mandvi) early tomorrow morning.  Target species include Crab Plover, Terek and Broad-billed Sandpipers, Slender-billed, Pallas’s, Brown-headed and Heuglin's Gulls.   Other species not previously mentioned and often seen include Lesser-crested and Caspian Terns, Kentish Plover and Great Knot.  Return to your resort.  The journey time from Modhva to the resort will take around 2 ¼ hours. Meals: Breakfast Depending on the day of the week, there are morning or late afternoon flights departing from Bhuj to Mumbai.  An evening flight from Bhuj will allow a final few hours exploring locally this morning. Your guide will advise on the drive times to Bhuj depending on which birding sites you visit to ensure you arrive at Bhuj Airport in good time to check in for your flight to Mumbai (or on to Delhi – there are no direct flights from Bhuj to Delhi).  We can help you identify an internal flight to connect with international flights which are easy to book.  Your guide will say farewell at the airport. Tour ends -  See price with inclusions/exclusions below. Extensions are available.  For example you could extend this tour with a night or two based at Mandvi Beach Resort, near Bhuj or alternatively with two nights at Jamnagar and from here you could visit Khijadiya coastal wetland and Narara.  This tour can be preceded with Bustards and Bushchats Tour reference no. B405 (7 nights) or B406 (9 nights). Alternatively you can further extend to include Gir and/or Velavadar National Parks – see B408 for details. Price per person using local guides: 2 people travelling together (on a twin share basis) £630 3 people travelling together (on a twin share basis) £570 4 people travelling together (on a twin share basis) £495 Single room supplement £135 Price per person with accompanying guide for duration till Bhuj airport: 2 people travelling together (on a twin share basis) £780 3 people travelling together (on a twin share basis) £670 4 people travelling together (on a twin share basis) £570 Single room supplement £135 Price is based on the following hotels:

Place	Hotel name	No. of nights
Little Rann	Royal Safari Camp, Air conditioned Deluxe Room or Hut	2
Great Rann	Infinity Resort, Air conditioned Tent or Hut with attached bathroom	3

Note: A supplement for staying at Rann Riders instead of Royal Safari Camp can be supplied on request. Price includes

• Accommodation in the above mentioned lodge/resort with meals as listed
• All mentioned transfers by air-conditioned vehicle (a/c saloon car for 2, Innova for 3 and Tempo for 4)
• Prices above give you an option to use local guides (English can be very limited but they know the birding sites) or opt for having a guide with good English accompany from Day 2 till drop at Bhuj Airport
• Three jeep safaris in the Little Rann with birding driver
• All National Park and Sanctuary entrance fees
• All currently applicable taxes

Price excludes

• Any International airfare to/from India including International airport tax.
• Any internal airfare within India
• Tourist visa and travel insurance
• Meals not specified
• Camera fee wherever levied.
• Entrances and monument guide for any sightseeing (if chosen)
• Any additional taxes levied by the Government of India on the tourism sector in future.
• Any expenses of personal nature such as hard/soft drinks, laundry, phone/fax calls, tips etc.
• Any item not mentioned in the price includes section.
• Any increase in the entrance fee to the National Park in the future. The price is based on the presently applicable entrance fee.
• Cost incidental to any change in the itinerary/stay on account of flight cancellation due to bad weather, ill health, roadblocks and/or any factors beyond control.

 

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