Desert National Park (DNP) is located in Western Rajasthan, very close to the border with Pakistan, and part of the larger Thar Desert landscape. One of the largest and richest arid regions in the country, DNP is famed of course for the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard, usually to be seen in the vicinity of Sudasari.
As well as the “GIB”, look for Macqueen’s Bustard, Cream-coloured Courser, Indian Eagle Owl, White-browed (Stoliczka’s) Bushchat, Asian Desert Warbler, Rufous-fronted Prinia, Buff-bellied Pipit, Bimaculated Lark and Greater Hoopoe Lark.
Read our detailed article about birds and birding at Desert National Park.
Target Species
- Great Indian Bustard
- Macqueen’s Bustard
- Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse
- Spotted Sandgrouse
- Black-bellied Sandgrouse
- Yellow-eyed Pigeon
- Common Crane
- Cream-colored Courser
- Indian Courser
- Egyptian Vulture
- White-rumped Vulture
- Indian Vulture
- Himalayan Vulture
- Griffon Vulture
- Red-headed Vulture
- Cinereous Vulture
- Short-toed Snake Eagle
- Tawny Eagle
- Steppe Eagle
- Eastern Imperial Eagle
- Pallid Harrier
- Montagu’s Harrier
- White-eyed Buzzard
- Long-legged Buzzard
- Indian Eagle-Owl
- European Roller
- Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
- Merlin
- Laggar Falcon
- Red-backed Shrike
- Isabelline Shrike
- Red-tailed Shrike
- Great Grey Shrike
- Northern Raven
- Grey Hypocolius
- Greater Hoopoe-Lark
- Desert Lark
- Rufous-tailed Lark
- Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark
- Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark
- Crested Lark
- Greater Short-toed Lark
- Bimaculated Lark
- Rufous-fronted Prinia
- Common Babbler
- Lesser Whitethroat
- Desert Whitethroat
- Asian Desert Warbler
- Spotted Flycatcher
- Black Redstart
- White-browed Bush Chat
- Isabelline Wheatear
- Desert Wheatear
- Variable Wheatear
- Red-tailed Wheatear
- Spanish Sparrow
- Tawny Pipit
- Long-billed Pipit
- Water Pipit
- Trumpeter Finch
- Grey-necked Bunting
- Near Endemic
Itinerary
Day 1: Delhi to Jaisalmer to Desert National Park
Depart from Delhi to Jaisalmer in the morning and drive to Desert National Park for afternoon birding, before checking in to Paddav Luxury Camp, or a similar tented camp in the desert.
Days 2-3: Desert National Park
We have two full days in the Desert National Park, and we will spent most of one in the main park area, especially around Sudasari, looking for the major target, the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard. Read more about the iconic “GIB”, now sadly reduced to a population of less than 200 birds and with a real risk of extinction during our lifetimes.
Aside from the bustard, there are several specialities to find here, including many raptors, Spotted and Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Cream-coloured Courser, Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark, Desert Lark, Greater Hoopoe-Lark, the little-known White-browed (Stoliczka’s) Bush Chat, Red-tailed Wheatear, Plain Leaf Warbler, and Trumpeter Finch.
Day 4: Depart Jaisalmer for Delhi
After breakfast it is back to Jaisalmer airport for the flight to Delhi.
Checklist
For all our bookings we provide the most accurate and useful printable checklists available, specific to the actual areas you are likely to visit. In the meantime, use our interactive state checklists, or view the species bar chart for this area on eBird:
Important information
As with all Bubo Birding tours, your booking is handled by Asian Adventures.
- We may change the itinerary described due to various reasons such as latest birding information, availability of accommodation, state of the roads, and other unexpected factors that, this being India, do pop up from time to time!
- We would be happy to make any additional travel bookings, e.g. domestic flights, car and driver, that you require.
- The final price and itinerary will be confirmed before booking and depending on your expected arrival and departure plans.
See Asian Adventures for full tour details, including accommodation, meal plans, what's included, other exclusions, prices for different group sizes, single room supplements, cancellation policy, and booking process.
Interested in Desert National Park, Rajasthan?
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