Salim Ali Sanctuary is one of Goa\’s smallest protected reserves and also a fragile one. The sanctuary is named after ornithologist Dr. Salim Moizzudin Ali, and naturally, it is heaven for some of the rarest birds in the country. If you are a bird lover, bird watcher, or wildlife enthusiast. You will love to have your time here. The sanctuary is explored with dug-out canoes that can make their way through the shallow marshy waters.
Located on Chorao Island on the southern tip of Goa, the sanctuary is a mangrove ecosystem that provides a great environment for the breeding of some rare species of animals. Situated on the bank of River Mandovi, this sanctuary is home to more than 473 species of birds and rare animals amid mangrove vegetation. The park offers boat tours in dugout canoes across its mangrove swamps giving you a pleasurable outing experience along with the knowledge of the aquatic fauna of the park and the interesting behavior of birds & animals.
Apart from wildlife, Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is great for outdoor activities such as boat riding, nature hiking, sightseeing, outdoor picnic, & bicycle tours. So let us look dive deep into this sanctuary.
Flora & Fauna
Spreading in an area of 108 sq. km, Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is the only sanctuary in Goa with exotic wildlife in a mangrove setting. The wide variety of flora of this region consists of Rosewood, Teak, Red Sandalwood, Jungle Jack, and many other tropical evergreen trees that provide a home to many birds including migratory as well as resident birds.
This ecosystem of the sanctuary has a perfect environment for fishes to breed. The water channels here accommodate fish, pythons, saw-scaled viper, mudskippers, crustaceans, fiddlers, crabs, otters, & crocodiles which you can spot from a safe distance.
The most common birds in this park are white egrets, drongos, woodpeckers, blue-tailed bee-eater, black kite, spoonbill, white-throated kingfisher, sandpipers, brown wood owl, purple herons, cormorants, jungle myna, common redshank, curlews, and many more. If you like bird watching, you can watch & read the behavior of birds during winter time.
With peaceful heaven for birds, this sanctuary is home to many animals like flying foxes, little & black bittern, jack snipes, rodents, jackals & other animals. You can also observe the sanctuary\’s unique ecosystem by taking a bicycle tour along with hiking or riding on a canoe across the watery canal in the mangrove vegetation.
Things you can enjoy in Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary
Boat Ride through Mangrove Forest
Take a break from beach activities and go to the nearest Mandovi River for a boat ride in a canoe.
Hike to Christ Hill
The Statue of Jesus Christ at the top of Christ Hill stands as the symbol of pride and faith for the natives of Chorao Island.
Village Tour
If you want to experience a real picture of Goa, take a trip around the nearby village to Chorao Island.
Bicycle Tour
To have a glimpse of Chorao Island, take a bicycle tour, you can stop and take a look around dancing peacocks, various birds, squirrels & crocodiles.
Places to visit nearby Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary
Mandovi River
You can look forward to spending your time on the Mandovi river in a boat. This cruise comes along with a lot of fun and activities for tourists such as DJ, Konkani Dance, & many more for an eventful day.
Sunaparanta, Goa Centre of Arts
Sunaparanta is truly amazing for viewing art exhibitions & interacting with fellow artists. It has an open theatre where films are shown by the movie club.
Reis Magos Fort
This fort has a history before the arrival of the Portuguese at the end of the 15th century. This is a great place to learn about the history of Goa\’s freedom.
Casino Royale Goa
Located at a distance of 3.2 km from the sanctuary Casino Royale offer entertainment that includes dance, music, playing casino, kids zone and a lot more things are available.
Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is open throughout the year but the best time to visit is in the early morning of winter which gives you a serene environment that you can\’t find anywhere. You may not fully explore the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary all the time, Mandovi is a tidal river and part of the sanctuary\’s wet marshy land gets exposed during low tide. Your boat may not be able to reach all the parts of the sanctuary\’s wet marshy land, but you will be having a fun experience being here.
