Asiatic Lion Safari
Overview
Tour Description
Duration : 06 Nights & 07 Days
Destination : Mumbai - Ahmedabad - Dasada - Sasangir - Rajkot - Mumbai
Accommodation : Modern / Heritage / Palace hotels.
Best Time to Visit : October to June
Journey Type : Group & Private Journey
The Asiatic Lion Safari offers the unparalleled opportunity of observing the rare and majestic Asiatic lion in its natural habitat and capturing it on your camera in the semi-arid deciduous forests of Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary. This place is internationally acclaimed for its defining role in the preservation and sustenance of the endangered Asiatic lions. You can also watch thousands of other elusive wild animal and rare bird species like desert Pythons, Stripped Hyenas, Chinkaras, Jackals, leopards, Gir foxes, woodpeckers and brown fish bowls etc. in this unique habitat. You will get to soak in the rugged natural splendour, vibrant culture and incredible architecture of Gujarat which is also the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi. You will also explore the Little Rann of Kutch which is the only haven on earth for the Asiatic Wild Ass and home to many local tribes of Gujarat. This tour is perfectly tailored for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers to experience the diverse natural bounty of India.
Itinerary
You will get a warm welcome at the Mumbai International Airport by our travel counsellor who will then assist you in your hotel transfer and check-in. The city of Mumbai is India's finance capital, fashion epicenter and heart of the Bollywood industry.
It has a fascinating history wherein a group of seven islands which were separate provinces were brought together by the British in the decade of 1720 to form present day Mumbai. This has earned it the sobriquet 'Manhattan of India.' It is also the site of the first railway to be constructed in Asia. Today, Mumbai is a pulsating city brimming with monuments and skyscrapers, beaches and slums as well as temples and churches, all co-existing in perfect harmony. Overnight stay at the Hotel.
Early morning, you will be transferred to the airport for a flight to Ahmadabad. On arrival, assistance will be provided for your Hotel transfer and check in. In the afternoon you can proceed for sightseeing of Ahmadabad.
Located on the banks of River Sabarmati, Ahmedabad is a fast developing metropolis, industrial hotspot and an educational hub of Gujarat with an intriguing history. It is a rapidly progressing city which still retains its old world charm. Discover this city with its mouth watering food, multi-hued culture, traditional shopping and a plethora of temples that rightly deserves its place as India's first UNESCO Urban World Heritage Site.
You can trace the history of textiles in India in the celebrated Calico Textile Museum, located in a beautiful Gujarati wooden haveli. Pay your respects to Mahatma Gandhi at the peaceful Sabarmati Ashram, from where Gandhi began the famous 'Dandi March.'
You can also visit the splendid Swaminarayan Temple. Embellished with vivid colours and intricate carvings, it is a marvellous example of 19th century architecture.
After breakfast, you will drive 3 hours to Dasada. On arrival you will be assisted with your Hotel check in. The Little Rann of Kutch offers exciting safaris, superb wildlife and colourful villages along the desert. The wildlife sanctuary boasts of the Asiatic Wild Ass also known as Ghudkhur, a unique animal not found anywhere in the world.
Enjoy an afternoon safari into the Little Rann of Kutch Wildlife Sanctuary along with an expert naturalist to see the wild ass. It is home to 32 other mammals including wolf, jackal, desert fox, black buck, blue bull and chinkara etc. The sanctuary is a refugee for thousands of birds including some migratory birds. You can also visit the rural areas to observe the various tribes living around Rann of Kutch.
After breakfast, you will drive 5 hours to Gir National Park. On arrival, you will be assisted in your Hotel check in. Gir National Park is one of the oldest wildlife sanctuaries in India housing more than 400 Asiatic lions along with a wide variety of flora and fauna - over 600 species of plants, 300 bird and 39 mammal species.
Take an afternoon safari with an expert guide into the heart of semi-arid deciduous forests of Gir, the only place where the Asiatic lions can been seen in its natural habitat apart from the African continent. Later, enjoy a leisurely evening in the Hotel.
You will enjoy thrilling morning and evening jeep safaris with an expert naturalist in the Gir Forests made up of rugged ridges, hills, plateaus and valleys. Behold the rich biodiversity in Gir which is not only the last abode of the big and regal Asiatic lion but also houses a variety of species such as leopard, deer, sambhar, cheetal, antelopes, blue bull, jackal and hyena amongst many others. Later, you can unwind in the Hotel.
You will enjoy more adrenaline pumping morning and evening jeep safari's accompanied by a naturalist into the deep woods of Gir National Park. Along with great vistas of wildlife, you can also marvel at Gir's perennial and seasonal water bodies. The Kamleshwar Dam located within the national park has reptiles and crocodiles, a major attraction of Gir. Later you can enjoy a relaxing evening at the Hotel.
After breakfast, you will have a comfortable and enjoyable 3 hour drive to Rajkot from where you will board a flight to Mumbai. On arrival proceed to the Mumbai International Airport for a flight to your onward destination.