The Little Rann of Kutch, in Gujarat, is a vast salt flat that is home to the Indian wild ass, found nowhere else in the world, along with great flocks of flamingos and other birds.
You explore it by jeep, and you need a forest permit for the sanctuary. You take the permit at the forest check post, and you go with a local guide or through a lodge, because the flat is trackless and easy to get lost in. There is no simple online booking; you arrange it on the ground.
Who needs a permit
You need a forest permit for every person, Indian or foreign, to enter the Wild Ass Sanctuary. You do not drive into the flat alone. A guide who knows the salt desert goes with you, both to find the wildlife and to keep you safe, because there are no roads or signs out there.
The safari, in plain words
Your jeep sets out across the wide, cracked salt flat, where the horizon shimmers and herds of wild ass canter across the open ground. You watch for the wild ass, for flamingos and pelicans on the shallow water, for desert foxes and wolves, and for the many birds that winter here. Dawn and dusk are the best times, when the light is soft and the animals are active. It feels like a safari on another planet.
Where to get the permit, step by step
Base yourself at a lodge near the sanctuary, at Dasada, Zainabad or Bajana, and let them arrange the forest permit and the guide, or take the permit yourself at the forest check post. Give your identity, pay the entry and vehicle charge, and go with your guide. Set out early for the dawn, and again in the late afternoon. Carry your original identity, because staff check it. [Confirm the current permit process at the forest check post. Last checked 13 September 2026.]
Season, so you plan the right months
The Little Rann is best in the cooler, drier months, from about November to March, when the birds are many and the days are pleasant. The summer is fiercely hot, and the monsoon floods the flat, so the sanctuary is hard to visit then. Plan for the winter window, and carry sun protection and water even then.
Common mistakes to avoid
- The biggest mistake is trying to drive into the flat without a guide, where it is easy to get lost and stuck. The next is coming in the summer heat or the monsoon flood, when the sanctuary is hard to visit. Do not chase the wild ass across the ground, because it stresses the animals. Do not forget water and sun cover, because the flat is exposed.
Questions people ask
Do I need a permit for the Little Rann?
Yes, a forest permit for the Wild Ass Sanctuary, taken at the forest check post, with a guide for the safari.
Can I book online?
There is no simple online booking. Your lodge arranges the permit and guide, or you take the permit at the check post.
What will I see?
The Indian wild ass, found only here, plus flamingos, pelicans, desert foxes and many winter birds.
When is the best time?
From about November to March, the cool, dry months.
Where do I stay?
At a lodge near the sanctuary, at Dasada, Zainabad or Bajana.