RARE MAMMALS OF GUJARAT
10 NIGHTS & 11 DAYS | PRIVATELY GUIDED
Rare Mammals of Gujarat
Experience Highlights
AMELIYA SIGNATURE SAFARI EXPERIENCE:
- A 10N/11D fully privately guided experience focused on tracking the Asiatic Lions, Indian Wolves, Striped Hyena, Jungle Cat, Wild Ass, Blackbuck, and 150+ species of birds.
- Start with Ahmedabad, India’s first UNESCO World Heritage City, known for its rich history, architecture, and vibrant culture.
- Venture into the Little Rann of Kutch to observe the world’s largest population of Indian Wild Ass.
- Search for the legendary Asiatic Lion in Gir, the only place on Earth where this species survives in the wild.
- Explore the grasslands of Velavadar in search of Indian Wolf, Striped Hyena, Blackbuck, and other specialised grassland wildlife.
- Discover Gujarat’s remarkable diversity of habitats, from forests and grasslands to salt deserts, wetlands, and scrublands.
- Exceptional opportunities for wildlife photography, birding and rare mammal-focused experience.
Rates
Starting from USD $7,500 per person
Accommodation
Ahemdabad
House of MG - Luxury
A beautifully restored heritage property in the heart of Ahmedabad, the House of MG blends traditional architecture with gracious Gujarati hospitality. Elegant rooms, cultural experiences, and easy access to the city’s historic landmarks make it the perfect introduction to this UNESCO World Heritage City.
Amenities: Heritage-style rooms and suites with antique décor, restored courtyard swimming pool, spa and wellness services, multi-cuisine and traditional Gujarati dining, museum and heritage exhibits.
House of MG Modern Heritage - Classic
House of MG Modern Heritage Grand - Premium
House of MG Modern Heritage Grand Suite - Luxury
Dasada
Rann Riders
A charming eco-lodge perched on the edge of the Little Rann of Kutch, Rann Riders offers comfortable cottages, warm local hospitality, and exceptional access to the region’s unique wildlife, birdlife, and dramatic desert landscapes.
Amenities: Traditional-style cottages with modern comforts, swimming pool, in-house restaurant serving local Gujarati cuisine, cultural performances and community interaction, bonfire and outdoor seating.
Velavadar
Blackbuck Lodge
A luxury safari lodge spread across 70 acres of Velavadar’s golden grasslands, The Blackbuck Lodge combines secluded stone-and-wood villas, warm hospitality, and authentic Kathiawadi cuisine with immersive wildlife experiences in the grassland home of the blackbuck and the Indian wolf.
Amenities: Private villas with sundecks overlooking the grasslands, plunge pool and pool villa options, multi-cuisine restaurant with Kathiawadi flavours, open-air showers and sunken baths, sundowners and bush dinners under the stars.
Gir
Gir - The Postcard Gir
A luxury boutique retreat nestled on the fringes of Gir’s wilderness, The Postcard Gir combines spacious villas, personalised service, and exceptional cuisine with immersive wildlife experiences in the natural home of the Asiatic Lion.
Amenities: Nature-inspired rooms and suites, infinity pool with forest views, multi-cuisine restaurant with local Gujarati flavours, spa and wellness treatments, outdoor seating and bonfire area.
Inclusions and Exclusions
Inclusions
- All accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary
- All meals, tea/coffee, and evening snacks at wildlife camps and lodges
- Only bed & breakfast plan in Ahmedabad
- All scheduled activities as per the itinerary
- All safaris in a private and exclusive vehicle
- Safari permits, guide, and driver fees
- All ground transfers in Toyota Innova, private chauffeur-driven vehicles
- Services of a cultural guide in Ahmedabad
- Services of a private guide in the national parks
- Domestic flights
- 5% Ameliya Conservation Commitment Levy
Exclusions
- 5% Goods & Services Tax (GST)
- Flights, visa fees, laundry, packed beverages, and alcoholic drinks
- Camera fees, if levied by the government
- Any additional activities or personal expenses, including tips
- Any increase in National Park fees or government taxes, payable by the guest
- Anything not specifically mentioned in the inclusions
Note: Rates are subject to change and not applicable on Christmas, New Years, Diwali, Dussehra and Holi.
Day - Wise Itinerary
Day 1- Arrival In Ahemdabad
After breakfast, set out with your cultural guide to explore Ahmedabad, India’s first UNESCO World Heritage City. The morning takes you through the city’s celebrated pol houses, bustling markets, and remarkable heritage architecture. The afternoon continues through the old city, where layers of history, culture, and craftsmanship reveal themselves at every turn. Return to the hotel in the evening to rest ahead of the journey ahead.
Day 2- Dasada: Wild Ass Sanctuary
After a relaxed breakfast, depart for Dasada, a scenic 2.5-hour drive through rural Gujarat. On arrival, a welcome drink and a chance to settle in before lunch. The afternoon brings your first encounter with the Little Rann of Kutch, a vast seasonal salt marsh unlike anywhere else in India. This otherworldly landscape is home to the Indian Wild Ass, desert fox, and a remarkable concentration of birdlife such as Greater and Lesser Flamingo, Demoiselle and Common Crane, Greater Spotted and Steppe Eagle, Pallid and Montagu’s Harrier, and Peregrine Falcon among them during the winter months.
Day 3&4- Dasada: Wild Ass Sanctuary
The days begin before dawn, rising early for a private guided safari across the sweeping salt pan landscape of the Little Rann of Kutch. Accompanied by your expert Safari Director, you venture into this singular ecosystem in search of the Indian Wild Ass, Jungle Cat, Desert Cat, Asiatic Wildcat, and a rich variety of birdlife such as Sykes’s Nightjar, White-eared Bulbul, Variable Wheatear, Black-necked Stork, Indian Eagle-Owl, Greater Short-toed Lark, and Cream-coloured Courser among the highlights.
Return to the lodge by midday for lunch and time to unwind before heading out again for the afternoon safari. As the golden light transforms the salt flats, the landscape takes on a different character entirely, offering new opportunities to observe the region’s extraordinary wildlife. Evenings conclude with a chef-prepared dinner and easy conversation around the day’s sightings.
Day 5- Drive to Velavadar National Park
After a relaxed morning, check out and set off on a scenic 3.5-hour drive to Velavadar National Park, one of Gujarat’s most striking wildlife destinations. On arrival, a welcome drink awaits as you settle into the lodge and take in the wide, open grassland views.
Blackbuck National Park, Velavadar, is one of the finest grassland sanctuaries in India. Its vast open plains part of the broader Bhal region are among the best places in the country to observe the endangered Indian Wolf, alongside the elegant Blackbuck, Striped Hyena, and an outstanding variety of raptors and grassland birds during the winter migration.
The evening is yours to unwind or explore the surrounding countryside. Conditions permitting, a flamingo excursion to a nearby wetland may also be arranged. Dinner at the lodge is followed by an early night, with full days of safari ahead.
Day 6&7- Velavadar National Park
Begin the day with a drive through the golden grasslands of Blackbuck National Park, one of the last true savannah habitats in India. Watch herds of blackbuck sprint and leap across the open plains, their spiralling horns catching the morning light, while the endangered Indian wolf and striped hyena move quietly through the taller grass. In winter, the skies fill with thousands of harriers, making this one of the largest roosting sites in the world. Throughout your safari, your naturalist will share the story of this remarkable landscape, once the hunting grounds of the Maharaja of Bhavnagar, and the conservation efforts that protect it today.
Day 8- Drive to Gir National Park
After breakfast, depart on a 4.5-hour drive to Gir National Park the final and perhaps most iconic chapter of this journey through Gujarat’s rare mammals.
Gir is the only place on earth where the Asiatic Lion lives in the wild. Set within a mosaic of dry deciduous forest, thorn scrub, and grassland in the Saurashtra region, it stands as one of the great conservation success stories of our time a species brought back from the very edge of extinction and now thriving within a protected landscape that exists for no other reason than to keep them here.
Check in, rest, and settle into the rhythm of Gir. An optional privately guided nature walk and birding session with your private naturalist is available for those who wish to explore the fringes of the forest before the safari days begin.
Day 9&10- Gir National Park
Each day begins before sunrise, setting out into the forest in search of the Asiatic Lion, an encounter that remains among the rarest and most affecting in the wildlife world. Your private guide brings deep knowledge of lion tracking, the ecology of this semi-arid reserve, and the remarkable story of how Gir’s lions were pulled back from the brink. Beyond the lions, the park offers sightings of Indian Leopard, Chinkara, and Nilgai, alongside a rich birdlife that includes the Indian Pitta, Crested Serpent Eagle, Indian Eagle-Owl, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Mottled Wood Owl, Indian Scops Owl, and Oriental Honey-buzzard.
Morning safaris are followed by a leisurely breakfast back at camp and a restful midday break before heading out again in the golden afternoon hours, when wildlife activity peaks. Evenings end with dinner under the open sky.
Day 11- Departure
A final morning in the forests of Gujarat. After breakfast, bid farewell to the lodge team, the birdsong, and the unhurried rhythm of safari life. A 4-hour drive takes you to Rajkot, from where you fly to Delhi (1.5 hours) and onwards to your next destination.
End of trip. (Or perhaps just the beginning.) We strongly recommend booking your next safari with us before the withdrawal symptoms begin.
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Payment Terms & Cancellation Policy
Payment Terms
Payment Terms
- All tours operate on 100% advance payment.
- We require a 50% deposit at the time of booking and 50% 45 days prior to the trip start date.
- These rates are applicable to Indian Nationals only. All foreign nationals must contact us on Reservations@AmeliyaSafaris.com
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation Policy
- 30% is non-refundable once the payment is done.
- The remaining amount will be refunded if cancellation is done 45 days prior to the tour start dates.
- Between 45-30 days, 50% will be refunded. No refund if cancellation is done between 0 – 30 days of the tour.
- Please note that the date of written communication (e-mail) of intent to cancel will be the date considered for the calculation of the cancellation fees. (email: Reservations@AmeliyaSafaris.com)
- The cancellation amount is calculated as per the total booking amount and not as per the advance deposited.
- No refunds in case of refusal to use a service/activity mentioned in the itinerary.
- Safari bookings are non-transferable as safari permits are issued by the Government under specified names and strictly enforced.
