Among all the places on my travel route in Gujarat, Gir was the place I was most excited about. After all, it is the last and only remaining habitat of the magnificent Asiatic Lion! I had to work hard to keep my expectations in check, understanding that spotting these incredible creatures isn’t always a guarantee. Can’t always predict nature, right?
About Gir National Park
One of the most fascinating places in India for wildlife enthusiasts, Gir National Park, or Sasan Gir is one of the only places in the world where you can spot lions roaming free. In fact, this area is responsible for bringing the Asiatic Lion back from the brink of extinction in the 19th century. Gir was once a hunting ground for the Nawab of Junagadh as well as for the British, who collectively left the lion population at about a dozen. Today, thanks to intense conservation efforts, the sanctuary houses over 600 lions in an area of about 1400 sq km – so, as you can imagine, spotting one requires luck to be on your side.
The Gir National Park is home to close to 2400 wildlife species, so even if lions are elusive, you have good chances of spotting other animals and birds.
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How to Reach Gir
On our trip, we drove a friend’s car from Rajkot to Junagadh, where we spent 2 nights, and, further on, to Gir. Junagadh, which was our previous stop, is where the nearest railway station to Gir is located. And from there, you can either hail a cab or catch a bus. In terms of air travel, Rajkot is your nearest airport.
From Junagadh, Gir was close by – only 80 km away by car. It is 40 km from Somnath and 80 km from Amreli, 170 km from Rajkot, and 326 km from Ahmedabad.
Best Time To Visit Gir
Gir is closed during the monsoons, that is, from mid-June to mid-Oct. The summer months, April and May, are the best times to visit as the lions frequent the watering holes around Gir and are easier to spot. However, keep in mind that the heat at this time would be terrible.
We visited at the start of February and found the beating sun and dry heat to be scorching, although the mornings and evenings were cool and pleasant. Wintertime, from November to February, has pleasant weather, which would make for a more comfortable experience, but of course, lions may be hard to spot as they wouldn’t hang around the water bodies as much.
How to Book A Lion Safari in Gir
Booking a Gir safari is a straightforward process. Firstly, ensure you book your safari permit only on the official government websites – girlionsafari.com or girnationalpark.co.in.
From here, you can select a safari that you wish to book. There are two kinds, and we picked the Gir National Park Safari. Here’s a short breakdown of the two safaris available
- Gir National Park Safari – This jungle safari takes around 3 hours, and you have a *chance* of spotting lions and leopards. You would invariably come across other wildlife species such as deer, Sambar, crocodiles, porcupines, and birds.
- Devaliya Jungle Safari – This is a 1-hour-long safari in a caged/covered jeep, and you are guaranteed to spot Asiatic lions, cheetahs, and other animals.
The rates you pay are per vehicle and not per person, so even if there are fewer people in a jeep, the charges remain the same. With respect to the Gir Safari, for a 4-seater jeep, you pay Rs. 2500; for a 6-seater jeep, you pay Rs. 3500; and for an 8-seater jeep, you pay Rs. 4500. Additionally, you pay between Rs. 400 and 700 for a guide, depending on the expertise they have. These prices are 3- 4x higher for foreign nationals. I should also mention that camera permits are charged additionally.
For the Devaliya Safari, the cost per jeep is around Rs. 5300 for Indians and Rs. 16,800 for foreign nationals. The Devaliya area is a fenced zone covering over 400 hectares that has been designed to offer you the Gir experience within the short duration of 1 hour. You will find all the animals here – lions, deers, Sambar, and more- without having to spend hours searching for them. This is done to reduce the burden on the rest of the sanctuary.
Once you’ve selected the type of safari, you then select your date and time slot. There are limited jeeps allowed into the wildlife sanctuary every day, so it is recommended to book at least 3 weeks in advance. Book either the earliest time slot in the day or the latest one in the evening for the best chance of seeing lions. During the afternoons, the lions are asleep, but during the morning and evening, you may spot them walking or interacting with other lions in their pride. The timings of the earliest and latest safaris (and, in fact, all safaris) change as per the season. As I mentioned earlier, there are no safaris during the monsoons – 16th June to 15th Oct.
You also have to add the personal details and attach the ID proofs of all travelers. Lastly, pay the booking amount online and you will be sent a PDF with your ticket information. Now, you’re good to go. You will need to pay the balance amount at the ticket window on the day of your safari, and make sure to carry the same ID proofs with you. Remember that your advance payment is not refundable in case of cancellations and that once your safari time slot is booked, there is no scope for modifications – be it date, time, spelling errors, or addition of people.
My Lion Safari Experience in Gir
Entering the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary felt like stepping into a completely different world. The dry forest, hiding away leopards and lions, held exciting possibilities. From the sounds of snapping twigs to the chirping of birds and the hum of our jeep engine, every sight and sound in the sanctuary enhanced the feeling of anticipation and being immersed in nature. Even with the occasional passing of other jeeps, there is a peaceful atmosphere maintained as each vehicle adheres to its designated path, minimizing noise and disruption.
It took around 40 minutes of driving through the forest before our patience was rewarded with the sight of two lions peacefully resting under the cover of bushes. We watched from a distance, soaking in the moment, and thinking – this is it – we lucked out, and this is as far as we would go. But in a few minutes, another jeep arrived and approached the lions closely, drawing the attention of even more vehicles. So we followed suit.
The cluster of 4 jeeps faced the now-alert lion, barely 10 meters away, and our hearts were thumping with such a close encounter. With one small jump, he would be in our jeep! We were scared – but within moments, that fear turned into annoyance and anger. This peaceful and intense moment was quickly shattered by the disruptive behavior of some Indian tourists from other jeeps, who attempted to provoke the lion by banging on the sides of their jeeps and talking loudly. Whether they wanted the lion to stand, come closer, or retreat, I can’t say, but it was frustrating to witness this behaviour. I wonder why some tourists felt the need to act in such an uncultured manner.
We then drove away in search of leopards and we passed by deer, Sambars, peacocks, and crocodiles. Soon, we were on a high road with the beautiful Kamleshwar Dam on our right, stretching out to the horizon. And on the left, the Gir forest below. Driving along the path truly felt like a scene from a movie.
We just spent a few minutes at the dam (there is a washroom here if you need it) and turned around to continue on our route. Sadly, we didn’t end up spotting any leopards; however, people in the jeeps who passed us by said they did – but they did not see lions. Our guide commented in Hindi, saying, “You don’t need to ask people if they saw lions – their faces will tell you. If they’ve seen lions, their face and eyes are as bright a rose, and if not…”
One fascinating thing I learned is the presence of individuals in the wildlife sanctuary known as ‘Trackers.’ These dedicated men roam around the forest on motorcycles, and we spotted one or two sitting alone on the grass beside their bikes – they’ve got nerves of steel, given the presence of lions in the vicinity. Their primary job involves monitoring the movements of lions, and they possess in-depth knowledge of each individual lion, including their health, mood, behavior, and more.
They have a keen awareness of each lion’s whereabouts – and also who a lion’s parents and brothers are, and who is in a lion’s pride. They can even interpret the chirping of birds as a signal of the presence of these majestic creatures. Their commitment to wildlife conservation and their intricate understanding of wildlife make their role truly fascinating. During our lion sighting, we observed a vigilant tracker positioned a short distance away, watching the happenings as our cluster of 4 jeeps inched closer to the king of the jungle.
It is disappointing to note that even within the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, issues of corruption and bribery exist. It is a known fact that offering guides additional compensation may lead them to disturb the wildlife, such as waking a sleeping lion or prodding them to move with a stick, solely to provide tourists with a better view. For a higher payment, guides may even guarantee a lion sighting. This unethical practice undermines the principles of ethical tourism, casting a shadow on the sanctuary’s aim of minimizing disturbances to the wildlife.
Where to stay in Gir
Gir has several luxury resorts run by companies like The Fern, Sarovar Portico, Postcard Hotels, IHQL Selections, and more. There are also several dozen hotels in the mid-range segment, ranging from Rs. 7500 and going up to Rs. 20,000 a night. Of course, there are budget hotels too, but what you pick depends on a lot of factors. Apart from the lion safari, which would last you a max of 3 hours, Gir has nothing else to do, so if you are travelling with family and kids, you want to book a resort that has amenities like a pool and games room.
If you have booked the early morning safari, which can start as early as 6 AM, you’ll want to book accommodation as close as possible to the Gir Safari starting point to avoid long travel and potential delays. We chose Jagira Ananta Elite, which was a beautiful, expansive property and cost us around Rs. 8000 per room. It had a stunning pool, games room, spa, restaurant, an open park area, and more – and the great thing about it was that it was a mere 15 minutes from Sasan Gir. We loved the comfort of the room, the balcony, the good bathroom, the in-room amenities and the serenity of the hotel. The breakfast and dinner we had here were good too, although it is a fairly expensive restaurant.
What soured our experience at this resort was the relentless calls (up to 1 call a minute) by several people at the reception as we were late to return from the safari. In our defence, we reached the safari well in time – early, in fact! However, the jeep that was assigned to us was one of the last in line. Our safari, which was scheduled to be from 9:30 to 12:30, was pushed to 10:30-1:00, while we just sat there and watched jeep after jeep leave the safari starting point.
We did inquire before leaving the hotel that morning about whether we should check out and leave the bags at the reception, to which they responded that there was no need. However, at 11:30 AM, we were met with no less than 30 phone calls asking us to check out. We informed the staff that we were all packed and that they could remove our luggage from our rooms – to which they agreed, but did not do so and resorted to relentlessly phone calling while we were in the middle of the jungle, helpless. We, being first-time Gir visitors and safari-goers do not know about potential delays, but the hotel should ideally know how safaris work. For the price we paid, we felt that the check-out process better suited that of a low-budget hotel. I do not exaggerate when I say that from the entry gate of the hotel to the reception desk, we were called three times, so you can imagine!
Things to do in Gir
I, like most people, came to Gir for one reason only, but if you do plan to stay longer to maybe do multiple safaris, here are a few things you could do.
Visit Gir National Park
If you’re in Gir or planning to go, you already know this.
Kamleshwar Dam
This dam is located inside Sasan Gir. This dam is the main source of water for the area, and it is a beautiful drive to the viewpoint. Once here, you wouldn’t need more than 5-10 mins to take in the view and be on your way.
Girnar Hills
A holy place in Gir, the hills are a pilgrimage site for Hindus and Jains.
Bird and Animal Watching
Gir is home to thousands of varieties of birds, animals, and insects. You do not have to be in the wildlife sanctuary to spot them. If you enjoy bird watching, you will easily spot dozens of varieties of birds. We came across animals like the spotted deer by the side of the road, too.
Go souvenir shopping and explore the market
The market is basically a small collection of shops outside the entrance of the national park. You will find cheap eats here like maggi and pakodas as well as ice cream, drinks and more. If you wish to, you can shop for mango squash, which is famous in Gir – I am not surprised, given how many mango trees we saw loaded with mango flowers. Additionally, you will find souvenir shops (mostly selling low-quality magnets, cups, t-shirts, and caps.
While most souvenir shops on the roadside have the same wares, the shop inside the Gir National Park entry gate (Sinh Sadan) has a bigger, better gift store that has soft toys and a better selection of gift items and souvenirs. To be honest, most of the magnets, cups, and tees appeared as if someone had pulled images of Google and slapped them on items. We bought a cup, a couple of magnets, and some hats, which came in handy during the safari.
That wraps up my Gir blog! This took me 3 days to put together, so I hope you find it helpful.
2025 has been off to a good start. In January, I experienced my first ever live concert – Bryan Adams, a childhood favourite! And now, in February, I went on my first wildlife safari. This year has started off great – let’s see what March has in store!
