Incredible leopard safari in jawai bandh

Jawai was a long term dream for us, it was delayed as weather condition not permits, but it was actually goes in our favour as we got a chance to make our trip in guidance of Mr.Pushpendra the owner of Varawal leopard camp (this was closed for few months for maintenance), and special thanks to Mr Bhanu Pratap to guide us for booking this camp. Jawai is known as a village of leopard. The caves of Lava Mountains (Aravalli range), offered natural habitat for leopard, at the same time villagers accepted the presence of this ghost of jungle in close vicinity of residential area.

 

It was a smooth long drive from ahemdabad through mahesana palanpur abu road, comfortably reach the camp by 6 hrs, last 25 km road condition was very poor through villages. This is 120 acres property surrounded by Aravalli range, the camp location, food, hospitality, staff behaviours and politeness all are excellent, above all the knowledge of Mr. Pushpendra is mind blowing, he is a naturist and works a lot on the habit and habitat of leopards.

 Leapord hill, territory of the female leopard neelam

They offered two types of safari; one is leopard safari and other jungle safari. Most of the leopards are near village, their main food is the cattle left behind, langur, peacock and street dog. Those are tracked by trackers and can be spotted easily in leopard safari. Another area of jungle where you can found chinkara, Indian fox, hyena, and leopard, but the chances of sighting is less.

 

We opted for two leopard safari, reached camp by 12pm, tent was ready for us, equipped with ac, attached bath with 24 hrs running hot water, room bathroom was very clean and specious, we had tasty veg lunch and move for safari at 4pm, we found female leopard Neelam and male leopard Shadewood, sighting was easy as Mr.Pushpendra appointed numbers of trackers and get the information about the movement of leopard.

Night stay was thrilling dark, enjoyed tasty nonveg diner with camp fire and presentation on jawai leopards, we came to know there was 60 leopards around this area, each leopard was having a definite territory if another one come in there will be chances of fight, we saw some fight clippings too.

It was raining at night so morning was cold, we went for morning safari at 5.30 am, where around was totally dark, we expecting the mating chances of Neelam and Shadewood, but no trace of both leopards were found, suddenly one tracker give us the news for another female leopard Blueeye entered in the territory of Neelam, we rushed to the spot and find the leopard. It offered some nice shots for almost 10 min before it disappeared in the den.

 

 pug mark

Again another news received for a male leopard calling from the hill of leopard Jia which having two cubs, we rushed to the place but no sign of leopard was found we found pug mark of leopard and one roar came suddenly behind the dense bushes. At that time we decide to back to the camp as it was almost 10am, and after that there was no chance to find a leopard, it goes to its den for the day.

Mr Pushpendra asked for our feedback once safari is over, we were so pleased on their hospitality and food we enquired for their cook, at that time we came to know owners mothers actually leading all cooking activity. We enjoyed the breakfast, freshen up and move for ahemdabad, keeping the sweet memories of 3 leopard sighting, friendly and homely atmosphere of varawal leopard camp. 

Some other camp was there in jawai which offering night tracking by using search light, this attracts the tourist no doubt but we must keep in mind as we are entering to the home of those big cats we should respect their privacy. Leopard will be scared by using search light in night and this activity is now illegal too. So it’s our duty not to entertain such offensive activity

Little rann of kutch, wild ass sanctuary

Little rann is the only place where you can find the world last survived wild ass, land scape is dry cracked, thorny bushes, ocean of dust, I had visited place with my family and small kid, I had booked little rann resort, which is more vicinity to the rann and nava talao ( famous for birds).

The place is only 2hrs 20 mints drive from ahmedabad, , I had visited place with my family and small kid, on they way visit becheraji temple. we drive through kadi thol road, and use kadi bypass take a right turn at vittahalapur to reach  bechuraji temple, the temple surrounding was too much crowded, take a quick view and start on the way to little rann resort. Check in time was 12pm, and we reached there at that time only, the room was ready, immediately attended and welcome us with welcome drink, there was a swimming pool, but no water, on my request too they not agree to fill it, but the same was filled by some others request next day at the time when we had checked out, this is the only sad part of our tour, except that I can say the rest everything was too good, behavior is polite, food is tasty, rooms & bathrooms was specious having a separate changing place, and I must admit everything is too clean,

We took evening safari, 3 families was sharing one vehicle,  found wild ass, some flamingoes & harrier, but personally I walk nearby areas where I found falcon, kestrel, shikra, different larks and shrikes, on the safari nose musk is the must, as the area is too much dusty, we had visited the salt making places too,

 

 

Night was cool dark and silent, little rann resort also provide nonveg diner on guests request,

Next day morning we visited nava talao, this is a part of little rann but in that place no permit is required, reached there by GPS, road was dusty and full of thorns, lucky enough that no puncture in our car, rann has a landscape where top layer of sand was dry and cracked, but there were water inside so some places your car may shrink, if you don’t have the experience, so don’t try without guide, I waked around the place, find desert wheatear, and vary rare lesser flamingoes flock,

Came back to resort at 10am, had our breakfast and leave the place at 12pm, over all experience was good,

 

Gatehara bird field

 

Gatehara bird field is a swallow water body low land areas where industrial water accumulated which creates a natural habitat for birds, the place give an close view of large number of bird species, like greater flamingo, lesser flamingo, purple swamp hen, spoon bill, bulbuls, sand pipers, glossy ibis, little ringed plover, greater painted snipe, common snipe, green shrunk, purple heron, purple sun bird, peacock and many more.

common snipe

 painted stork

From the road side the bad smell of water indicated the place is reached, the water body is scattered in the village of laxmipura, road was narrow, so travel by a car inside village is not recommended. 

 lesser whistling teal

 Black tailed godwit

 common greenshank

Ashy prinia

Local people are very helpful to locate the birds, more interesting because of water body covered by bushes, so close shot of birds is possible. Around this places agricultural places was there, a green landscape will freshen your mind.

The place is open for all, no entry fees was there, an old board indicated the name of gatehara on road side. The place is almost neglected, forest department should be taken care of this magnificent hidden treasure, and else human civilization will ruined the place in near future.

purple sunbird

purple morhen

The place is 20 km from ahmedabad near to kalol,

 Greater painted snipe

 purple heron

 greater flemingo

Ruff, sand piper and little reigned plover

Shoolpaneshwar wild life sanctuary

I had planned for shoolpaneshwar wild life sanctuary for a long time, and found Vishal khadi eco-tourism the best forest lodge for night stay, we was exited of the adventurous night stay inside shoolpaneshwar wild life sanctuary far away from locality in the lap of nature, but alas that was a heart broken experience for me.

Booking process was easier, simply contact the office at rajpipla (8866190573) and transfer 1000 Rs to the BOB bank a/c of PARISARIYPRAVASSAMEE, and take conformation in whts app.

We had started from Ahmedabad at 4.45am, reached Vishal khadi at 9:30 am guided by GPS, road was good, except last 20 km, where10 km road was broken in places and rest 10 km drive through hill area, a small board guided us to vishal khadi by the side where 800 mtr drive through rocky bumpy road in jungle. Entry fee per person is 20Rs and 100 rs for vehicle. The care taker dilip bhai was not there at that time and rest persons not aware for my booking, still they open room for us, there were four rooms, I has checked 3 of them and select the best one, where room was dusty all over, door is gammed, opening partially, no mobile and camera charging facility, one table fan running slowly, one light in room and one in bathroom, and uncountable mosquitoes. (97 is the number of mosquitoes I clapped and killed), another addition food is tasteless (120 rs per plate, roti, mixed veg, rice, dal and papad), and most uncomfortable condition is there was no running water in bathroom.

Despite the difficulties there were some positive points, the caretaker team was very helpful and act immediately, they supply water as and when required, provide mosquito sticks and coils, and most important I never feel fear and security issue, three persons (one of them dashrath bhai is the cook) were there at night and occasionally took round.

Boating was enjoyable, nice view of Karjan River and surroundings, approx. 2 hrs. boating charge is 150 Rs, way to the boating from guest house is a tracking experience, my little daughter fall on rocks, thankfully not injured.

We had dinner in open air, under uncountable stars, in the solar light, enjoy the darkness around, room was hot initially it starts normalize from 12am, and after words we had some sleep, bathroom was full of mosquitoes, in the morning we freshen up had a bath in chilled water and rush out of vishal khadi with never forgettable memories.  

  next day morning we starts for zarwani,(50 km). no mobile signal in Vishal khadi, it works from rajpipla, within an hour we reach the entry gate of zarwani guided by GPS and local people, don’t trust on GPS always it guided us to some bad roads, with the help of local people we back on good track. All over way was good.

Entry fee is 400 Rs to the sanctuary, from the forest gate there was 8km smooth drive through jungle, as a nature lover I halted inside the road and take few wonderful snap of jungle, at the end there was a bridge, once cross it small river bank there, where you can park your vehicle. From the parking point 300 to 400 mtr walk for water fall, in the way three times we crossed river of foot dipping water, so choose your shoes accordingly, must take one local kids as a guide (I give only 50 Rs, which he accept happily), as stones are slippery they guide us how to cross the water body, one time I tried by my own and fall in the water,

This is a small water fall, but quite enjoyable, lots of small fishes, crabs were around, water falling from a high of approx. 25 ft, less current in water so can take a bath too, at the front a rope was tie up, where water is much dipper, all bigger rocks are slippery, don’t forget to take extra dress.

We spend approx. 1 hrs. in the nice cool place, zarwani stand on our expectations, my little daughter enjoyed much and played a lot with water, few  food stalls like one food stall (gujarathi thali) and one snacks & water stall near parking place, some local fruits and tea also available, lots of birds around like Spotted dove, chestnut shouldered petronia, vigors sunbird, bunting etc

 

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