Wild life of India in my camera: Indian savannah, Black buck national park velavadar.

imperial eagle

Black buck national park velavadar is a long time attraction for me, this is a grass land called Indian savannah, which give similar looks of Africa, this national park is spread in 34.52sq km area, is a home of 4500 black buck with two albino female, 16 to 18 Indian wolf, and 5 to 6 stripped hyena with different other mammals. The area covered with 3ft high dance grass land where those predators can hide, so only a good guide can make your safari successful

The place is 150 km away from Ahmedabad, in comfortable speed with one stoppage we reach the place within three hours, road condition is really good for a smooth drive and no toll booth in the way, once you leave bhavnagar pipli highway and make your entry to adhelai velavadar road then be care full any time black buck came in the way. This road 10 km, is too narrow to pass any vehicle from front.

We book forest guest house (Kaliyar Bhavan), booking not possible on line, first check the availability by calling forest office Tel.: 0278-428644. If available then send DD of any bank address to RFO Velavadar, and send to Assistant conservator of forest, Blackbuck national park, Bahumali Bhavan, Annex building, Block no S-10, forest department, Bhavnagar 364001, Gujarat). Once your DD is received by them, your booking is confirmed.

There are a total four double bed (3 ac and one non ac) room and two dormitory capacity 10 bed each. Among three ac rooms, two for tourist and one for forest officers, ac room cost 3000 per night, non ac room 1000 per night and dormitory 100 Rs per person. Dormitory is on road side but rooms and in side the park, abount 400 to 500 mtrs inside. Two kitchens are there one for guest house, which supply only tea, and other with dormitory for meals, but you have to pre book your food in advance. There are no other option available for food nearby.

We reach the place at around 10 am in the morning, no documents was checked and we immediately checked in, room was quite good spacious and clean, with attached dressing room, bath and geyser, although geyser does not work so they arrange hot water bucket from adjacent ac room, I must admit the room, bathroom, towel, bed sheet everything are exceptionally clean.

Siberian stone chat

Montagues harrier

Common kestrel

Joint jump

male pack

We take two safari in the evening and next day morning, photo Identity proof is necessary during entry pass for safari. Vehicle entry fee 400 week days, 500 Rs for sat and sun day, Guide charges 400 Rs, and camera charges 200 Rs, we got a great success of spotting Indian stripped hyena in evening, credit goes to our guide Shikandar who is a very well knowledgeable young energetic one, we had spotted numerous birds like rufous-tailed lark, black-crowned sparrow lark, crested lark, common crane, kestrel, imperial Eagle, Short toed Eagle, hen harrier, spotted eagle marsh harrier, montagu’s harrier, flamingoes, pelicans, grey heron, purple heron,

rabbit

common crane

stripped hyena

wild bore

At night we walk through 400 mtr in dark to the dining room for dinar, only one street lamp in the way and the jungle area is totally dark, so don’t forget to have a torch, but I must admit the food quality is magnificent, we enjoyed the real teste of Gujarat, dinner cost 140 per head. Next morning we did not get breakfast as that was not pre booked.

Night is dark and silent, lots of bugs come from the bottom opening of the door was a problem for us.

Next morning safari I opt for shikendar for guide, but as per the rule guide provided on first come first serve basis so we got balwant, he is quite aged and not to speak Hindi/ English well, in the morning before safari shikendar informed us, that wolf howls and chested black buck all night so more chances for sighting, but our luck does not favor, but we did spot rabbit, golden fox, wild boar, albino black buck, and lots of birds.