Asiatic Lions and Black Buck Safari

Day 01: - Arrive Mumbai
Arrive at Mumbai International Airport.

Elephant Rides

Mumbai : Mumbai or Bombay as it was known earlier, is the commercial capital of India, a city of entrepreneurs, concrete towers, clubs and discos, cricket, Bollywood and more. In 1661, Charles II of England received the islands of Bombay as dowry when he married Princess Catherine of Braganza. The British Government leased the islands to the East India Company, who developed it into a thriving trading port. Today, Mumbai is the country's financial and cultural capital. It is also home to India's thriving film industry. It is seen, to the teeming masses that flock there to live and work, as a place where opportunities abound. Its inhabitants, an amalgam of great wealth and abject poverty, are swept into the endless maelstrom of activity that characterises this city of dreams.

Upon clearing Customs and Immigration, you are met by our representative who will present you with a welcome pack including all necessary documentation and arrange for your transfer to the Trident Nariman Point hotel for check-in. No activity is scheduled today, since most of the International flights arrive into India close to midnight only.

Room

Trident Nariman Point : Towering above the skyline and overlooking the Arabian Sea, the Trident Nariman Point Mumbai is centrally situated in the heart of the shopping and business district. The city's main promenade, Marine Drive, lights up in the evening to give a spectacular view of the "Queen's Necklace". It is within walking distance from major corporate houses, entertainment, recreation and shopping centers, 5 minutes drive from the Gateway Of India and 10 minutes drive to the main convention- World Trade Centre. Well appointed rooms, many offering ocean views, with broadband and internet access, mini-bars, tea-coffee makers etc. Leisure facilities include a large swimming pool, fitness center and several restaurants and bars.

For the ultimate in luxury and for those wishing to stay at Mumbai's landmark hotel, you could choose to upgrade to the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel : This gracious turn-of-the century hotel faces the Gateway of India and is considered a landmark in Mumbai's skyline. Located on the waterfront and minutes away from Mumbai's commercial, shopping and banking districts, the hotel has played host to several Heads of State and Royalty. Also a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, the hotel provides international standard leisure and business facilities. The rooms at the Heritage Wing are renowned for their architecture and exude an aura of old-world elegance. Each corridor in this Wing resembles an art gallery, and the design, décor and furnishing ensure that no two rooms are alike. Guests have a choice of rooms that overlook the city or pool or face the Gateway of India and the Arabian Sea.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 02: - Mumbai - Rajkot - Gir
This morning you will be met by our representative and escorted from your hotel to airport to board flight 9W 345 (0710/0805 hrs) to Rajkot.

Met on arrival and drive to Gir (166 kms/04 hrs).

Gir National Park

Gir : The Gir National Park located in the Western Indian State of Gujarat , is known as the last habitat of the endangered Asiatic Lions.The 35,948 hectares of the Gir Forest National Park embraces a rugged terrain of low hills and stretches of scrubby grassland interspersed with meandering rivers. The vegetation consists of mixed deciduous forests containing Teak,Ber, and Flame of the Forest, Jamun, Tendu and Dhak trees. Acacias grow commonly in the drier areas and thereare also occasional Banyan trees, much favoured by many bird species during the fruiting period. The Lions of theGir Forest enjoyed a long history of protection from the former local rulers and it is undoubtedly due to theiractions that a relict population has been able to survive. A disastrous drought brought the lion numbers down to a mere 20 by the start of the 20th Century, but since then their fortunes have prospered and it is estimated that there are now about 300 of them in the National Park .The national park supports a great diversity of mammals including Sambar, Chital, Nilgai, Chinkara, Four-horned Antelope and Wild Boar. With such an abundance of prey it is little surprise that Leopards maintain good numbers in the forests and a few packs of Striped Hyaena seek to scavenge any leftovers from the big cats' meals.Big cat numbers wise, Gir perhaps has the highest number amongst all Indian Wildlife reserves .The star attraction of Gir remains the Lions , but even keen birdwatchers will have plenty to see in Gir -- 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 periphery of the sanctuary. 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.

On arrival check-in to the Lion Safari Camp.

Tent

Lion Safari Camp : Lion Safari Camp :-- The Lion Safari Camp is a new luxury jungle safari camp just outside the famous Gir National Park - the last remaining bastion of the Asiatic Lion. It is located in a private Mango Orchard overlooking the Hiran River. The location presently has around 900 Mango Trees with only 2% of the entire land area being built so that the natural setting is maintained. The accommodation consists of 20 Luxury Tents. The tents have large bedrooms with well-appointed ensuite bathrooms with bathtub, shower and hot/cold running water. The public areas of camp consist of an open-air river-facing restaurant.

Evening game safari into Gir National Park. Safaris in Gir are organized in jeeps. Local guides and naturalists are at hand to enhance the experience.

Overnight at the Camp.

Day 03: - In Gir
Morning & evening game safaris into Gir National Park. Safaris in Gir are organized in jeeps. Local guides and naturalists are at hand to enhance the experience. Overnight at the Camp.

Day 04: - In Gir
Morning & evening game safaris into Gir National Park. Safaris in Gir are organized in jeeps. Local guides and naturalists are at hand to enhance the experience. Overnight at the Camp.

Day 05: - Gir - Gondal
This morning you drive to Gondal (130 kms/2½ hrs).

Upon arrival check-in to the Orchard Palace Hotel.

Orchard Palace Hotel : Located in huge complex of fruit orchards, lawns and gardens, the Orchard palace is a wing of the Huzoor palace(the present royal residence) where the ruling family of Gondal entertained personal guests including relatives from other princely states of Gujarat. The 7 doubles are beautifully furnished and have modern tiled bathrooms with western toilet fixtures. The 'room of miniatures' is a splendid sitting room with a collection of miniature paintings, brass and antique furniture.

The princely town of Gondal has several attractive buildings. It is a nice place to relax between two sanctuaries. The main attractions of the town are the Naulakha Palace Museum, Ayurvedic pharmacy and Swaminarayan temple. Late in the afternoon a tour of the bird-rich lakes of Gondal and the Maharaja's private grasslands where blue bulls and blackbucks roam free.

Overnight at hotel.

Day 06: - Gondal - Dasada
This morning drive to Dasada - gateway to the Little Rann of Kutch (220 kms/05 hrs).

King Cobra

Little Rann of Kutch Or Dhangadhra Sanctuary - The Dhangadhra Sanctuary or the Little Rann of Kutch, as it is popularly known, is situated in the Western Indian state of Gujarat, and is one of the largest wildlife sanctuaries in India, spanning some 4950 sq kms in area, and comprising a range of habitats from saline desert plains, arid grasslands, rocky and thorn scrub to lakes and marshes. The Rann of Kutch is a geographically unique landscape that was once an arm of the Arabian Sea. As the land separated from the sea by geological forces, it became a vast, featureless plain encrusted with salt that is inundated with water during the rains. The safari across the Little Rann visits the `bets', islands on the ancient sea bed that are now higher grounds covered with grass and scrub. These `bets' support a variety of wildlife including the Asiatic wild ass that is not found elsewhere. The wild ass is a handsome chestnut brown member of the horse family. Capable of reaching high speeds when galloping across the Rann, the wild ass is usually seen in small herds. The elegant blackbuck (Indian antelope), nilgai or blue bull (India's largest antelope) and the graceful chinkara (Indian gazelle) are other mammals seen at the bets. The main carnivores of the Little Rann of Kutch are the endangered Indian wolf, desert fox, Indian fox, jackals, desert and jungle cats, and a few hyenas. Smaller mammals like hares, gerbilles and hedgehogs, and reptiles like spiny tailed lizard, monitor, red and common sand boa, saw-scaled viper, cobra, Indian rat snake, etc, could also be seen during the safaris in the Rann.

Upon arrival check-in to the Rann Riders Safari Resort.

Room

Rann Riders Safari Resort : Rann Riders safari resort is situated near the village of Dasada, a few minutes drive from the entrance of the Little Rann of Kutch Wild Ass Sanctuary. Surrounded by wetlands, Rann Riders is an eco-friendly resort imaginatively designed using local materials to recreate the appearance of a village. Accommodations are in cottages, resembling the old style traditional hoses of the local tribes and are decorated with mirrors, mud-plaster work and embroideries. Cottages are airconditioned and have western style facilities. Jeep and camel cart safaris in the Rann of Kutch. Other facilities at the Resort include a small lake, lawns and gardens with sit-outs and hammocks, a swimming pool that doubles as an irrigation tank recycling pool water for agriculture in the arid region near the Rann of Kutch . The Resort also offers facilities for Rann of Kutch Camel safaris, horse back riding, Camel cart tours of the Rann. Village tours by camel cart and village safaris by jeep.

Evening game safari to Little Rann of Kutch. Safaris in Little Rann of Kutch are organized in jeeps. Local guides and naturalists are at hand to enhance the experience.

Overnight at Resort.

Day 07: - In Dasada
Morning & evening game safari into Little Rann of Kutch. Safaris in Little Rann of Kutch are organized in jeeps. Local guides and naturalists are at hand to enhance the experience. Overnight at Resort.

Day 08: - Dasada - Ahmedabad
This morning you drive to Ahmedabad (90 kms/02 hrs.).

Ahmedabad - It is one of the most highly industrialized cities of India. Also, called the "Manchester of the East'. Historically, Ahmedabad was a major base camp during the Indian freedom struggle. Mahatma Gandhi built the Sabarmati Ashram on the outskirts of the city, from where he guided India to freedom.

Ahmedabad is also the textile city of India. Though the city has developed more as a business and commercial centre, it also holds attraction as a centre for the study of Indo-Saracenic architecture, a style that fuses elements of Hindu and Islamic architecture. The old city of Ahmedabad is dotted with labyrinth of bylanes called pols. The exquisitely carved wooden mansions are beautiful examples of the craftsmanship of the time. Ahmedabad remains the second largest industrial city in western India.

Upon arrival check-in to the House of Mangal Das.

House of Mangal Das : The House of MG is the only boutique hotel in Ahmedabad. This stately heritage property has been tastefully refurbished to retain its old-world charm but with all the amenities and comforts of contemporary living. With the recent addition of twelve sumptuously furnished rooms, it now offers a complete hospitality package to its patrons. Another unique feature of this Hotel is that each room contains a catalogue of its signature range of furniture, light fittings, floor coverings and bed linen, including some of the decorative objects. The House of MG is conveniently located in the city centre, at the T- junction of an un-congested 80-foot wide road. There is ample parking space within the complex with valet parking available. Both the Airport and the Railway Station are within a 7 km distance.

Later you are collected from your hotel for half day sightseeing tour of Ahmedabad. This tour includes a visit to the Calico Museum, with exhibits of rare tapestries, modern and antique textiles, and also sightseeing of the City Havelis.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 09: - Depart Ahmedabad
This morning met by our representative and escorted from your hotel to airport to board flight 9W 328 (1200/1300 hrs) to Mumbai followed by the connecting flight to home.