This is a wild life tour with a difference. You get to visit 3 National parks, each of which has an endangered species that is not found anywhere else. In fact their situation is so precarious, that the out break of a disease can wipe them all out. For example the last refuge of the Asiatic Lion is in Gir, the wild ass is only found in the Rann of Kutch and Kanha has the last remnants of the hard ground barasingha, a magnificent deer species.
ITINERARY
Day 1 Arrive Mumbai( Bombay) by late night flight. Reception at the airport and transfer to your hotel near the airport.
Day 2 Breakfast. Transfer to the domestic terminal for your flight to Diu, departure at 1045 hrs. Received at Diu airport and transferred to your accommodation on the edge of the Gir National park. . Gir stretches over 1,412 sq km of scrub and grassland, dry deciduous forest and some marshland. Besides lions, Gir has antelope, deer, leopards, hyenas, crocodiles and jackals, along with a spectacular array of birds.Nearly exterminated by early 1900 s- the Gir lions were brought under protection by the Nawab of Junagadh, who banned all hunting in the area. In 1965, the Indian government declared the area a national park.
By then the Asiatic lion become almost extinct, with less than 25 lions surviving in the wild. Fortunately conservation efforts have been successful and the population has slowly grown to around 310 animals. They lead a precarious existence with the ever present threat of extinction, as all of them are in one area, and any disease can wipe them all out. Arrive at the lodge in time for lunch. After lunch drive into the National park to try and see the king of the Jungle in its natural environment . Overnight at the lodge.( B, L, D)
Day 3 Morning and evening game drives into the park with a naturalist. O/N lodge.( B, L, D)
Day 4 Morning and evening game drives into the park with a naturalist. O/N lodge.( B, L, D)
Day 5 Early breakfast followed by a 6 hour drive along wide open plains to the Rann of Kutch. It's a wide and desolate area, with few facilities. Arrive at your lodge in time for a late lunch. Afternoon game drive in the Rann of Kutch . ( A tiring day).Your lodge is in the Rann of Kutch, perhaps the bleakest, dustiest, and hottest region in India. It stretches for hundreds of square kilometers in the State of Gujarat, from the frontier with Pakistan's Sind Desert, southward to the Little Rann and the Gulf of Kutch. The seasonal salt marshes provides refuge for the last population of the endangered Asiatic wild ass (Equus hermionus) and supports the one of the world's largest breeding colonies of the greater and lesser flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber and P. minor).. ( B, L, D).
Day 6 Morning and evening game drives into the park with a naturalist, to try and locate the Wild Ass herds . You will also get an opportunity to see a host of other birds and animals found in the area, such as the critically endangered Houbara bustard, blue bulls, gazelles jackals and several other bird species. including Flamingoes. O/N lodge.( B, L, D)
Day 7 Morning game drive in the Rann of Kutch. Lunch and drive to Ahemdabad( 2.5 hrs) for your flight to Mumbai, departing at 1835 hrs. On arrival in Mumbai, transfer to your hotel near the domestic terminal.( B, L)
Day 8 Early morning transfer to domestic terminal for your flight to Nagpur. Departure at 0705 hrs. On arrival in Nagpur, reception at airport and transfer to Kanha National park. ( 6 hrs). Arrive in time for a late lunch.. Afternoon free.Kanha National Park is perhaps the largest wildlife sanctuary in Asia. It covers an area of over 1,945 sq km of bamboo thickets, extensive grasslands and dense sal forests . The core area is about 940 sq km, and besides the tiger one can hope to see Porcupines, jackals, sloth bear, jungle cat, macaque, dhole (wild dogs), bison and a wide variety of birds .
If you are lucky you will get to see the rare hardground barasingha, which is found only in Kanha. Jungle safaris can be done both by jeep and also on elephant back- depending upon availability of elephants.( B,L,D)Day 9 Morning and afternoon game safaris into the National park with a naturalist .( B,L,D)
Day 10 Morning and afternoon game safaris into the National park with a naturalist .( B,L,D)
Day 11 Morning game drive in Kanha. After lunch drive to Nagpur ( 6 hours) to take a train to Agra( B, L).
Day 12 Early morning arrive at Agra- reception at station and transfer to your hotel. Morning free. Afternoon visit the Agra Fort followed by a visit to the world famous monument to love the Taj Mahal O/N Agra( B)
Day 13 Morning drive to Jaipur via Fatehpur Sikri. Afternoon free . O/N Jaipur(B)Day 14 Full day sightseeing with an elephant ride upto the Amer Fort. Evening train to Delhi O/N Delhi(B)
Day 15 Full day sightseeing of Delhi . O/n Delhi(B)
Day 16 Full day free to sightsee and shop in Delhi for souvenirs. Evening transfer to airport for flight home(B)