Namita SawantThane Flamingo boat ride starting from Coastal & Marine Biodiversity Centre in Airoli, Navi Mumbai, has become a popular tourist destination in recent years. Thanks to the state-of-the-art Airoli Flamingo Sanctuary, spread across 50 acres of land, it is a complete nature lovers’ paradise.
There are two well-designed museums inside the Airoli Flamingo Sanctuary, exhibiting the importance of mangroves and aquatic life and explaining at length about marine biodiversity.
I have visited the flamingo sanctuary a few times before but unfortunately could never experience the boat ride as it does not operate all year round. However, the flamingo sanctuary is operational throughout the year and can be visited anytime to learn more about these migratory birds and marine biodiversity. Fortunately, this year, I booked the tickets right on time.
Hopefully, these answers below will help you plan and book your flamingo boat safari ride.
What is the entry fee for Airoli Bird Sanctuary?
The entry fee for Airoli bird sanctuary is Rs. 50 per head for adults and Rs. 25 for children over five years. But if you have pre-booked a boat ride, you don’t have to pay any separate entry fee. The boat ticket includes your right to enter the sanctuary and explore the museums and other attractions within the Airoli bird sanctuary.
What is the best time to visit Flamingo Sanctuary?
Between February and May is the best time to visit the flamingo sanctuary as this is the time when these migratory birds make this creek their abode for a few months.
How much does it cost to book a Thane Flamingo boat ride?
The ticket for the flamingo boat safari at Airoli Creek varies depending on the day you wish to take the boat ride. If you plan to book a ride for a weekday, the ticket per person is Rs. 475. On the weekends, it is Rs. 650 per person. We booked a Sunday early morning ride and enjoyed watching thousands of flamingos in their natural habitat.
What is the best time of day to see Flamingos?
The boat safari timings are decided depending on the high tide. Somedays, the ride is in the morning and some days in the afternoon. No matter the time of the day, you can spot the flamingos, so book your ride as per availability. I embarked on the boat ride in the morning while my friend took the ride at two in the afternoon, but we both could spot flamingos.
How to book a Thane Flamingo boat ride?
Flamingo boat safari booking was the most tedious task. So, depending upon the high tides, the host decides the rides for the next few days. To book your boat safari ride, you have to call on this number: 99876 73737 . If luck is by your side, you might connect in first call itself. My experience was exhausting. After many attempts, one woman answered the call, only to inform that no ticket was available for the weekend. She requested I call back on Monday to inquire about the coming week schedule.
On Monday, I called several times, but no one answered. The next day, someone answered and shared the time slots for the weekend and the number of available seats. Once I confirmed the booking for the 9 am to 10 am slot, she requested a payment on the QR code that she agreed to share on my WhatsApp. Two days went by, but no QR code came. Finally, after a few attempts, I could connect to the number and requested the QR code again. After the payment, she confirmed the booking over a WhatsApp message. Overall, it took a whole lot of coordination for a simple task. I hope they start an online booking service or hire an agency to take care of it.
You can reach them on WhatsApp for inquiries: 99876 73737.
Final words
Did you know why these flamingos migrate to Thane Creek every year?
Well, close to 1.15 lakh flamingos fly to Thane Creek in search of algae found in abundance in the creek. The more they feed on algae, the pinker shade their neck appears. For more such interesting facts and information, watch the video.
The guide who accompanied us shared amazing facts and stories about flamingos. The boat ride was a wonderful experience.
One tip: Don’t forget to carry your binoculars. I forgot this time too. But it would have been great to see them up close. The way these flamingos rest is intriguing too, and something that you can see through binoculars. Standing on one foot, they retract their neck into their wings and sleep peacefully. Of course, the boat takes you close to the flamingos, but it has restrictions too. The engine sound scares them, so the boat does not venture too close to the migratory birds.
After the ride, explore the museums and take a walk on the quaint raised bamboo bridge. It leads to the bird-watching paradise within the creek. From that spot, I could spot many flamingos gracefully dancing in the water.
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