About two hours drive from Ahmedabad is the Little Rann of Kutch, a vast expanse of hard, dry mud in the north of Gujarat. You stay in a rustic camp arranged like a traditional village. Here you can go on a jeep safari through the vast expanse of the Rann to track the shy Indian Wild Ass. You also see here a variety of migratory birds, including flamingo breeding colonies.
Day 1 - Dasada
Today you make a little detour to visit the eleventh-century Sun Temple at Modhera and the Rani-ki-Vav (Queen's stepwell) at Patan, both wonderful sites. Afterwards you continue to Dasada, a small village is situated on the edge of the Little Rann of Kutch.
You stay for two nights in a rustic camp arranged like a traditional village. The rooms are in traditional mud huts (koobas) which are charmingly furnished and have modern toilet/shower facilities. Each room has a small sit out to enjoy the small but well-maintained garden. There is a comfortable lounge and dining hall and also a swimming pool.
Your stay includes all meals, a well organised morning jeep safari into the Rann and an interesting village safari in the late afternoon.
Day 2 - Dasada
Morning and afternoon jeep rides through the Little Rann of Kutch. This flat, salty and barren land with pockets covered with grass, bushes, acacia and thorn scrub, is the home of the Indian Wild Ass. These handsome chestnut coloured animals live in herds from 30 to 60 animals led by a dominant male. Extremely hard to track down, it is a pleasure to watch them gallop at full speed (60 km an hour).
You will also see a number of salt pans where families make salt under very harsh weather conditions. During monsoons, sea water enters parts of the Rann, which in winter attracts a vast variety of water birds and birds of prey. It is quite usual to see breeding colonies of flamingos and pelicans stretching over vast areas. You will be amazed at the number of bird species you will see in this barren piece of land that stretches a min-boggling 4950 sq km area!
Day 3 - Dasada
You can return to Ahmedbad or now choose to explore Textile Villages around Buj or drive via Gondal to Sasangir & Palitana to see lions and hilltop temples.
