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