10th Nov 2023 to 25th Feb 2024
A safari through the Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary in the Little Rann of Kutch in northwest Gujarat is a unique experience. A safari through this region gives one a chance to come face to face with a wide variety of birds and other wildlife.
Situated in the region of the Little Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, the sanctuary is around 150 km off Ahmedabad. The sanctuary lies between the latitude 23.26° North and longitude 71.20° East. The region is well connected to other parts of the state through regular road transport.
The climate of the region is extreme with May being the hottest month. The average temperature during this time is around 31°C. January is the coldest month with an average temperature of 11°C. During the monsoon, the whole region becomes flooded with rainwater.
FLORA AND FAUNA - The Rann of Kutch is full of dry thorny scrub and there are no large trees. The main vegetation in the region includes many species of grasses that are widely available as the source of food for the wild Asses.
The most famous wildlife of the region includes the Indian Wild Ass, as well as the chinkara, desert fox, jackal, desert cat, caracal, nilgai, wolf, blackbuck, and striped hyena.
The Little Rann of Kutch, which covers an area of roughly 5,000 square km, is primarily known as the Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary. The sanctuary was established in 1972 as the last natural habitat of the Indian Wild Ass (Equus Hemionus Khur). One of the three surviving species of the Wild Ass in the world-the other two being found in Central Asia and in and around Tibet-the Khur is high on the list of endangered species. Only 1,800 to 2,000 of the species survive today.
Besides the Wild Ass, the sanctuary is home to a host of other animals and nearly 350 different species of birds, including the common crane, pelican and the lesser flamingo. Apart from this, one can also get a rare insight into the lifestyles of the numerous ethnic groups and local tribes, which live in and around the Rann. The tribes living in the region are the Kolis, Rabaris, Bajanias, Kutchis, Gujjars and the Bharvads. Interestingly, the Little Rann gets a fair number of winged visitors in the winter months. Among these, the blue-tailed bee-eater that comes all the way from Europe; the common crane and the demoiselle crane from Siberia; the ceraneous vulture from Egypt and the houbara bustard from Iran and Iraq are the ones most commonly sighted.
Zinjuwada, bang on the edge of the Rann, has an old, 11th century fort built during the Solanki era and houses one of the area's largest salt works.
Zainabad, 150 km off Ahmedabad, is the ideal base for a trip into the sanctuary. Zainabad had been founded in the early part of this century. The ruling family of this place came here from Multan around the mid-13th century to settle down in Dasada. It was only around 1912 that the capital was shifted to a village called Karala, which was later renamed Zainabad.
Kutch is famous for its superior silver work, both of the design and engraving of jewellery. For Rann Utsav Tour booking, email us at info@rannutsav.com
