In Search of the Rare Wildlife of Western India

Arrive in Mumbai and walk to your hotel within the airport terminal.

In the morning walk to the departures area and take a flight to Diu. Met on arrival and transfer (approx. two hours) to Sasan Gir National Park. Remainder of the evening at leisure.

Enjoy morning and afternoon game private drives in the Sasan Gir National Park - escorted by local park guides. The park was established to protect the last remaining population of the Asiatic lion and the park now provides a home to over 600 of the endangered lions (from a low of 20 in 1900).

Sasan Gir is a hilly and rocky forest and consists of teak with a mixture of deciduous trees, including sal, dhak, and thorn forests. Lions can often be seen early in the morning and at dusk and there is plethora of other wildlife here including a good leopard population, jungle cat, golden jackal, nilgai, chousinga (four-horned antelope), spotted and sambar deer, and troops of langur monkeys.

The 200-plus bird species include the peafowl, Bonelli's eagle, crested serpent eagle, jungle bush quail, painted sandgrouse, common green pigeon and several species of dove. Sasan Gir is also home to the marsh crocodile which can be sighted easily in its rivers and particularly in the lake of the Kamaleshwar dam.

Morning and afternoon private game drives in Sasan Gir. As well as the excellent wildlife, you can also see some of the Maldhari herders that also make the park their home.

Morning private transfer (approx. 4 hours) to Velavadar. After lunch, embark on your first game drive in Velavadar Blackbuck National Park - a 36-square-kilometre stretch of savannah-like grassland, perfectly suited to supporting large herds of the striking, endemic blackbuck antelope.

Morning and afternoon private game drives in the Velavadar Blackbuck National Park - escorted by local park guides. As well as the endearing antelopes you will also be on the look-out for their predators. Indian wolves generally hunt in pairs or small packs whereas the striped hyenas tend to be more solitary, that is unless you are lucky enough to find some with pups in a den.

After an early breakfast you depart by private transfer (approx 4.5 hours) for the Little Rann of Kutch to explore the Wild Ass Sanctuary. You should arrive by lunchtime and settle in before beginning to explore the park this afternoon on a private game drive.

Morning and afternoon private game drives in the Little Rann of Kutch - escorted by private lodge guides. As well as the rare and unusual mammals of the park, the area is particularly good for birds and has been declared a RAMSAR Site. Here you can see large flocks of larks, and other dryland birds like sandgrouse, coursers, plovers, chats, warblers, babblers, shrikes. During the winter months, huge numbers of birds gather in the lakes and marshes in and around the Rann including both demoiselle and common cranes plus flamingos, pelicans, storks, ibises, spoonbill, a variety of ducks and other waterfowl. The Rann is also the hunting ground of raptors like the short-toed eagle, aquila eagles, six species of falcon, buzzards and three species of harrier.

After an early breakfast, pick up and drive (approx. 6 hours) to Jawai Bandh. Have lunch at the lodge, then go on an afternoon private jeep safari in search of leopard and other wildlife - escorted by private lodge guides. The leopards here have a unique, harmonious relationship with the local sheep herders; spending their days sheltering in the granite hills and descending to prey on livestock in the late afternoons and evenings.

Morning and afternoon private game drives looking for leopard and other wildlife.

Morning game drive by private jeep. Transfer from Jawai to Udaipur by road (approx. 3 hours), to connect with a flight to Jaipur. Upon arrival, meet your driver at the airport and transfer to the hotel.

Morning and afternoon private game drives in Jhalana Leopard Reserve. You may also choose to replace one of the game drives with a cultural tour of Jaipur instead.

Morning game drive in Jhalana Leopard Reserve. Afterwards, depart your hotel and transfer by road (approx. 2.5 hours) to Sariska Tiger Reserve.

Morning and afternoon private jeep safaris in search of tigers and other wildlife - escorted by local park guides.

A final morning private jeep safari in Sariska, before transferring to Delhi's international airport (approx. 5 hours). Connect with your onward flight.