WILD LIFE GAME RESERVES AND BIRDWATCHING IN GOA

 

BIRDWATCHING

With over 350 different species and an immense variety of birds, Goa is a birdwatcher's paradise. What can be more impressive than a white bellied fish eagle swooping out of the sky to snatch a fish from the waves with its razor sharp talons. Whilst amongst the paddy fields and wetlands of the coastal plains, flashes of brilliant blues and greens can be seen as the kingfishers snatch small fish and tadpoles from the water.

S.I. Travel Ltd. would like to offer all budding and experienced ornithologists the opportunity to enjoy the amazing bird-life of Goa.

During the two weeks the group will visit a variety of habitats, which include sandy beaches, rocky shores, estuaries, mangrove swamps, coastal marshes, freshwater wetlands, ensuring a good chance of spotting the majority of the species to be found within the state. In addition to the bird-life, there is also the opportunity to see some of Goa's mammals such as the Langur Monkey, Giant Squirrel and Indo-Pacific Hump-backed Dolphin, whilst the rivers are home to Goa's largest reptile - the Mugger Crocodile.

- Dr.Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary.

Located on the island of Chorao, one of the first to be conquered by the Portuguese in 1510, is the Dr.Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary. This reserve has few roads, but can be reached by ferry boat from Ribandar, a few kilometres from Panjim. The sanctuary is home to mangroves, an unusual mudskipper fish variety, and a variety of coastal birds which inhabit Goa. Chorao is a lovely island with small villages of Portuguese-style villas surrounding white-washed churches and it is worth a trip on its own. It has been by-passed by the rush of modernisation and expansion and gives visitors a glimpse of how Goa used to be.
     
Grymnah Blackite Chestnut-Tailed Starling
Black Drongo Common Kingfisher Indian Roller
Teegret Pied Kingfisher Hoopoe
Crested Serpent Eagle    

WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES

Goa is a state blessed with incredible an natural beauty; from beaches and gently rolling hills to woodland and forest. To protect some of this natural beauty and the birds and animals living here, Goa had established four wild-life sanctuaries and added two more in 2005, which are open to visitors.

The Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary
Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary
Cortigao Sanctuary
The Madei Wildlife Sanctuary (new)

The Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary (New)

The Madei Wildlife Sanctuary and the Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary, the total area covered by these two santauries is about 420 sq. km. The Madei Wildlife Sanctuary (208.48 sq.km) lies in the Sattari taluka of Goa and covers the north-eastern portion of Goa. This new sanctuary is contiguous with the Amboli forests of Sawantwadi in Maharashtra to the north, Bhimagad forests of Karanataka (Khanapur taluka, Dist Belgaum)

To the west and the Bhagawan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctaury to the south. The Netravali Wild Life Sanctuary (211.05 sq. km.) lies between the Bhagawan Mahaveer Wild Life Sanctuary to its north and the Cotigao Wild Life Sanctuary to its south, in Goa. On the western side it is contiguous with the forests of Castle Rock, Anshi NP and Dandeli Wild Life Sanctuary in Karnataka.

With these 2 new sanctuaries, the entire stretch of Western Ghats that lies in Goa, now stands protected. It gives Goa the distinction of having the highest geographical area under sanctuaries in India -- 758.53 sq. km. or 20.48% of the state's total geographical area.. Black panthers, great pied hornbills, king cobras, giant squirrels, slender Loris are just a few of the endangered species encountered in these forests along with the most majestic of them all -- the tiger

The Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary lies in eastern Goa, bordered by the eastern Ghats and Karnataka. It has a total of 240 square kilometres of tropical forest land dotted with occasional grassy Savannahs and tribal villages. The animals are allowed to roam free in the reserve, and it can be difficult to spot them in their wild habitat unless you come prepared with hiking boots and plan to spend a few days trekking in the more remote areas of the sanctuary. The Mahadeva temple at Tambdi Surla is one of Goa's most sacred stone temples whose origins date back to the Kadamba Dynasty. Devil's Canyon, which requires permission to visit from the Interpretation Center (near the entrance to the sanctuary), is a lovely gorge near the town of Molem. It is a popular picnic spot visited by locals and tourists alike. Some members of the Dhangar community of nomadic buffalo herders also inhabit this reserve, and can be seen tending to their buffaloes in the grassy plains and winding rivers. The highlight of a trip to this sanctuary, however, is a visit by jeep to the Dudhsagar Waterfalls, in the southeast region of the park.(BELOW FOR DETAILS)

The Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary lies in the northeast portion of the state. Though only 8 square kilometers in total, Bondla is home to some splendid and picturesque landscapes of lush tropical vegetation. Monkeys, jackals, wild boar, peacocks, a variety of deer and snake species, in addition to roaming herds of Indian Bison, inhabit this area, though again, do not expect to see these animals in their natural habitat with only a quick drive through the sanctuary.

The Cortigao Sanctuary is Goa's fourth wildlife sanctuary and has 86 square kilometres of deciduous forest and picturesque natural vegetation. The park, created in 1969, lies 12 kilometers from Palolem, a popular southern beach resort in Canacona taluka, and is best seen with private transport. It is open from 9:30am to 5:30pm, as are most of the other sanctuaries, and has a small rest house where visitors can spend the night if they receive permission in advance. Wildlife may be harder to observe in this park, however, as the Kunbi and Velip tribal communities still live there.

ON A TRIP TO THE JUNGLES -with an Elephant ride- £ 70 PER PERSON

WATERFALLS (DUDHSAGAR & COLEM - Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary)

The Dudhsagar Waterfall lies in the Bhagwan Mahaveer sanctuary, 10 kms from Colem Railway Station. Water plummets hundreds of feet in cascades, forming one of the most spectacular of all natural phenomena in Goa. Its name "dudhsagar", in Konkani, literally means "sea of milk" and derives its name from the foamy waters of the fall. Monkeys are a frequent sight. Butterflies and birds add colour to the natural beauty of the surroundings near the waterfall.

The water from the Arvalem Waterfalls, situated in Sanquelim, falls from a height of about 50 metres in a straight drop. Its glory is seen during monsoon when its fall turns to a giant rush of water, cascading down from the mountains behind it. Near the waterfall, is the temple of Sri Rudreshwar and close by are some 5th century rock cut caves.

BIRD WATCHING

Enjoy a day's bird watching - even if you are only an armchair bird watcher you should not miss seeing the amazing varieties of birds in Goa, now a "hot spot" for professional birders from around the world. Click here to find out more.

DOLPHINS & CROCODILES

Take a Fishing Boat Trip and watch the dolphins feeding in the early morning or take a trip up river to see the crocodiles in the back waters and mangrove swamps.

SPICE PLANTATIONS

There are a number of Spice farms that accept groups of tourists which makes a fascinating day out. Find out how pepper grows, cardomom, tamarind and all the other spices you only see in packages in the supermarket. The highlight of the tour is to see the men climb the Betul Nut trees, over a hundred feet above the ground, swaying from branch to branch .
Most of the Spice Plantations are located around Ponda and a visit to one can be combined with a visit to the famous Hindu temples.

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Accommodation at Baga Queen Hotel in Baga on Goa's North coast.

"Morjem Village"

Morjem itself is completely unspoilt. Within the village there are no shops catering to tourism whatsoever. Given this the village offers an insight into a Goa of yester year. Worth visiting are the tea shops for a traditional Pau Barjee breakfast, or afternoon samosas and Batawada. The temple is a very tranquil place to sit and watch the village go by, and has an excellent drinks stall selling freshly squeezed juices that are probably the cheapest in the whole of India. Morjims main beach is over two kilometres long and hosts many traditional fishermen. The "Rampunkar" fishermen haul in a huge 200 meter long net with two teams of ten men. The final moments of their day is when the net is dragged onto the beach and is a daily village spectacle. Wives and children come to sort out the different fish caught and to share out the catch. This is a great time to buy the freshest of fresh fish. Mackrel for grilling on a beach fire or preparation in a beach shack can be bought for a few rupees. Fancy a drink in a traditional fishermans bar? Try Ferns bar, a friendly place where the drinks are cheap and with a great view over the river Chapora

Morjem is about 15Km from Mapusa, 40Km from Panjim, 60Km from Dabolim international airport.
 

HAMPI - 2 nts & 3 Days £45 per person

 

THE LOST EMPIRE AND / DANDELI / BADAMI / HAMPI - 7 nts

SUNDAY Arrive at Goa’s Dabolim Airport and transfer directly to the rustic Bison River Resort in the
heart of the Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary (3hrs/125km). After a snooze on arrival, there’s a late
afternoon jungle walk to spot deer, bison, elephant, wild dogs, wild boar, sambar, and myriad of bird
species including hornbills, eagles and woodpeckers. And if you’re lucky, tiger and leopard are in
evidence. Dinner and overnight at the Resort.

MONDAY A whole day of Jungle activities at Dandeli. A dawn safari by jeep is the main feature.
Returning for a late breakfast, there’ll be free time for trail walking, coracle and raft joyrides, cycling and fishing (basic equipment available).

lunch and dinner and overnight at the Resort.

TUESDAY A scenic 3 hours will take you from Dandeli to Badami. Set in beautiful countryside at the foot of a red sandstone ridge, the small rural town of Badami was once the capital of the Chalukyan empire, which covered much
of central Deccan between the 4th and 8th centuries.

We’ll visit nearby Pattadakkal, where coronations took place and where most of the temples were
built between the 7th and 9th centuries. The Virupaksha, Mallikarjuna and Jain temples are quite marvellous to behold. We’ll also visit Aihole where the Hindu temple architecture can be seen in its embryonic stage: 50 temples within the
fort wall and 50 outside! Overnight at the Badami Court.

WEDNESDAY After an early breakfast, drive to Hosepet (4hrs) and check-in at the Malligi Hotel (the only joint in town!), your base to explore the spectacular Vijayanager ruins. In the afternoon, we visit Hampi itself, 13Kms away and one
of the most fascinating historical sites in South India. The superb ruins are set in a strange and beautiful boulder-strewn landscape which has an almost magical quality. One can still glimpse the splendour of Vijayanagar in its ruins
where hosepet’s Virupaksha temple rises majestically. The most splendid monument of Hampi is, undoubtedly, the Vithala temple complex. Memories of Hampi with stay with you always.

THURSDAY Revisit Hampi and spend a further day in the heart of the Lost Empire. Lunch at a local restaurant in Hampi is included.

FRIDAY After an early breakfast, drive from Hosepet to Goa (7hrs)


Room & Breakfast basis throughout.

This tour is only available in conjunction with Saturday flights which start on arrival.
or can be taken separately with the 2 /3 weeks holiday.

South coast:

Price includes 2 week charter flights, bed & breakfast per person sharing a twin room.

Birding Trip to Goa by Tom and Marie Tarrant

During November 1997 we returned to Australia from the UK via Goa in India for a two-week stop-over, this is an account of the avifauna recorded there during that period, hope you find this report as enjoyable as our holiday was,  please sign the Guestbook, or visit our Homepage
 
Arrival
We flew Tuesday 18 November 1997 on Qantas from London arriving at Mumbai(Bombay) around half-past midnight, Unfortunately the bad-luck started when we were told that our 6am connection to Goa was actually scheduled for 1225pm, As Mumbai Domestic Terminal has virtually no facilities apart from a coffee-shop we spent a very boring 12 hours waiting, only to find that there was also an Air Traffic Controller's strike and after boarding the plane had to disembark, stay in hotel overnight and repeat the exercise on the following morning. We finally arrived at Vasco De Gama Airport in Goa around 0830 on the 20 Nov 1997 and were met by our friends Mike and Linda Lewis, who had already been to Delhi, Bharatpur and the Taj Mahal, but had encountered no hold-ups in their airline schedule.
 

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Tom and Marie Tarrant, Lot 4, Dayboro Rd, Rush Creek, Dayboro, Qld 4521, Australia, Tel: 0061 7 3425 1780,
Email:aviceda@sunshine.net.au