Nature India Tours: Little Rann of Kutch - Birding in both the worlds (16th to 18th Dec, 2016)

Date: 16th Dec 2016 morning 06.00 am to 18th Dec,2016 eve 7.00 pm (travel days excluded). The bookings for Little Rann of Kutch (LRK) - Wild Ass Sanctuary bird-watching trip are on…..book your seats now (see the details at the end).....Get the birds from both worlds... Dryland as well as Wetland. Bird-watch in one of the highly recommended birding hot-spots in India with Nature India.

Check this link to see a wonderful article on LRK by one of our participants
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0V2Z_Q5oD-rSnQzd0piTUIzS2c/view?usp=sharing

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LRK - Birding Unlimited in the Little Rann of Kutch

Ask someone who has been here......and you wont have to think twice to decide where you want to head next. This Wild Ass Sanctuary is located in the Little Rann of Kutch of the Gujarat State in India. It covers an area of 4954 km². The Sanctuary is named after a sub species of wild ass (Equus hemionus khur), the last population of which it harbours. The Rann is one of the most remarkable and unique landscape of its kind in the entire world. It is a vast expanse of desiccated, unbroken bare surface of dark silt, encrusted with salts which transforms into a spectacular coastal wetland after the rains. And in these wetlands occur one of the most breathtaking variety of avi-fauna that is rivaled by few other spots in India.

A geographically unique landform, the Little Rann of Kutch is a saline desert wilderness offering exciting cross-desert safaris, superb wildlife viewing opportunities and colourful villages along the edge of the desert. The Little Rann of Kutch or LRK, as it is often called, is a charismatic birding paradise and has been declared a Ramsar Site. The marshes in the Rann, and nearby lakes like Nawa Talao and Savada Wetlands, attract huge flocks of water birds. Flamingos, pelicans, cranes, storks, ducks, waders etc can be seen in large numbers. LRK is home to some very unique dry habitat species like Variable, Isabelline & Desert Wheatears, Isabelline Shrike, Macqueen's Bustard, Lesser White-throat, Greater Short-toed Lark, Long-billed Pipit, Graceful Prinia , Merlin, Short-eared Owl etc...

The Little Rann of Kutch is also a Wild-life photographers paradise as it offers innumerable opportunities to capture birds and wildlife at close quarters. The photographers have a feast photographing the falcons, buzzards, eagles, Owls, Larks, Wild Ass etc. (Most of the images in this blog are courtesy: Mr.Nirav Bhatt, Gujarat)

Kachchh (also spelled as Kutch) is a district of Gujarat state in western India. Covering an area of 45,612 km², it is the largest district in the state of Gujarat and the second largest district of India after Ladakh. Kachchh literally means something which intermittently becomes wet and dry; large part of this district known as Rann of Kachchh is shallow wet-land which submerges in water during the rainy season and becomes dry during other seasons. The same word "Kuchchh" is also used in Sanskrit for a tortoise and garments to be worn while having a bath.

Kachchh District is surrounded by the Gulf of Kachchh and the Arabian Sea in south and west, while northern and eastern parts are surrounded by the Great and Little Rann (seasonal wetlands) of Kachchh. When there were not many dams built on its rivers, the Rann of Kachchh remained wetlands for a large part of the year. Even today, the region remains wet for a significant part of year.

Nature India has organized an exclusive Birdwatching trip to this paradise from 6th December to 18th December 2016 (travel days excluded). We shall cover The Little Rann of Kutch including the Asiatic wild Ass sanctuary, Savada wetland, Bajana wetland, Nava talav ....virtually almost all the hotspots.

Some of the places that we will cover during our trip are as follows:

Wild Ass Sanctuary, Little Rann of Kutch

Little Rann of Kutch of which most of the part constitutes Asiatic Wild Ass Sanctuary. It is the only place in the world, to see Asiatic Wild Ass in wild. Other mammals to look out for are Blue Bull, Desert Fox, Desert Cat, Hedge Hog, Chinkara etc.

The sanctuary known for not only Wild Ass but also for numerous wetlands it has around and no. of Waterfowls. Also the dry unending desert is known for species like Macqueen's Bustard, Short-eared Owl, Greater Short-toed Larks, Desert Wheatear, Variable Wheatear, Aquilla Eagles, Pallid Harrier, Montagu's Harrier, Merlin, Bimaculated Lark, Laggar Falcon, Imeprial Eagle, Pallied Scops Owl, Grey-lag Goose, White-tailed Lapwing, Great White Pelicans etc...

Have a look at some of the Trip reports & photoblogs on LRK

http://natureindia-tours.blogspot.com/2009/07/final-trip-reports.html#lrk

http://picasaweb.google.com/shaileshkar/TholeSanctuaryAndLittleRannOfKutch#
http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lraleigh/youarehere./1173972660/tpod.html
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Tour Itinerary & Other Details:

Date: 16th Dec'16 morning 6.00 am to 18th Dec'16 eve 8.00 pm (travel days excluded)

Mode of Travel :

Ahmedabad to Royal Safari Camp (LRK) by Jeeps (Mahindra Trax/Cruiser)

Rann Safari in open Jeeps

Overnight train travel can be booked from Mumbai..... however since it is a busy sector, the train bookings should be done as soon as the booking opens to get the desired train and class .... there are however, several trains and flights from Mumbai to Ahmedabad (please check the pick-up time in itinerary) and anyone requires help to book the train tickets from Mum-Ahmbd then Nature India can ASSIST in bookings if required.

Rough Tour Itinerary:( Ex.Ahmedabad)

16th Dec'16 (Friday): Pick up from Ahmedabad Railway Station (5.00am) - Proceed to Royal Safari Resorts - Breakfast - Birdwatching safari in Rann - Return for Lunch - Rest - Birdwatching at Bajana Wetland - Return for dinner and night stay at Royal Safari Resorts

17th Dec'16 (Saturday): Early morning bird watching with packed breakfast@ Savada Wetland and the Wild-Ass Sanctuary Safari - return to hotel for lunch - Rest - Birdwatching at Wetlands - Return - Revision & discussion on birds seen during the day - Dinner and night stay at Royal Safari Resorts

18th Dec'16 (Sunday): Early morning Birding with packed breakfast at "Nava Talav" and Safari in Rann - Return for late Lunch - Rest - Revision of entire trip - Eve. Tea - Proceed to Ahmedabad Station (No Dinner) - reach Ahmedabad Station @ 8 pm for onward journeys

Trip charges: Rs. 13900/- Ahmedabad to Ahmedabad only

Charges: Rs.13900/- only (Includes A/C stay in Royal Safari Camp on twin sharing basis with attached toilet, Local travel by Safari Jeeps, Ahmedabad to Ahmedabad travel by Trax, Park entry charges, veg / non-veg food , Guide charges, Information articles & on board snacks and mineral water)…….

This does not include travel charges from Mumbai to Ahmedabad and Back, Photography fees or any charges other than the above.

Group Size: Max.12 persons only

Registration: You can register by sending a registration mail (with your request) to natureindiatours@gmail.com and by paying a non refundable Advance of Rs.7500/- after our registration confirmation on e-mail…..The remaining amount will be collected on the day of travel.

Kindly register soon as the train bookings are not easily available in Gujarat.

Stay Arrangement:

At Royal Safari Camp, Near Bajana wetlands, Surendranagar District in AC rooms on a twin sharing basis. Beautifully constructed by the skillful local artisans, with local red stone, each cottage at the thoughtfully landscaped camp exhibits the magnificent craftsmanship, while offering you all the amenities, including air-conditioners and luxury bathrooms to make your stay comfortable. A specially created lake along the camp simply adds to the serenity of the whole area.

Have a look at their website http://www.theroyalsafaricamp.com/facilities.html

Resource Person: Mr.Adesh Shivkar, Mr.Mandar Khadilkar & a local expert

Mode of Payment: You can either

1) Transfer non-refundable advance amount of Rs. 7500/- directly to Mandar's HDFC A/c : (please call Mandar @ 09930318665 for A/c no.) .... please mention your name, date and other details….OR
2) Courier a cheque of Rs.7500/- as advance amount to the following address

Name: Mr. Mandar Khadilkar

Address: Flat No.2, Blossom Apartments, Below Shantighan Hospital, LM Road, Kandarpada, Dahisar - West, Mumbai - 400068

Please Note:

1) Once registered, the amount of Rs. 7500/- is strictly non-refunadable

2) Alcohol & Smoking is strictly prohibited on Nature India Tours

3) Nest photography or any collection of specimens is prohibited

4) Kindly register on this trip only if you agree with Nature India's rules and policies

http://natureindiapolicies.blogspot.in/2012/08/nature-india-policies.html

Please revert on natureindiatours@gmail.com ID, in case you need any clarification …..

For any other queries we are available on 9869071091 or 9820455713 (Adesh) or 9930318665 (Mandar).

Thanks for your patience.

Looking forward for a very rewarding trip with you all !!