Gir National Park

Chinkara
Crested Serpent Eagle

The Gir National Park located in the Western Indian State of Gujarat , is known as the last habitat of the endangered Asiatic Lions.The 35,948 hectares of the Gir Forest National Park embraces a rugged terrain of low hills and stretches of scrubby grassland interspersed with meandering rivers. The vegetation consists of mixed deciduous forests containing Teak,Ber, and Flame of the Forest, Jamun, Tendu and Dhak trees. Acacias grow commonly in the drier areas and thereare also occasional Banyan trees, much favoured by many bird species during the fruiting period. The Lions of theGir Forest enjoyed a long history of protection from the former local rulers and it is undoubtedly due to theiractions that a relict population has been able to survive. A disastrous drought brought the lion numbers down to a mere 20 by the start of the 20th Century, but since then their fortunes have prospered and it is estimated that there are now about 300 of them in the National Park .The national park supports a great diversity of mammals including Sambar, Chital, Nilgai, Chinkara, Four-horned Antelope and Wild Boar. With such an abundance of prey it is little surprise that Leopards maintain good numbers in the forests and a few packs of Striped Hyaena seek to scavenge any leftovers from the big cats’ meals.Big cat numbers wise, Gir perhaps has the highest number amongst all Indian Wildlife reserves .The star attraction of Gir remains the Lions , but even keen birdwatchers will have plenty to see in Gir -- the park checklist has 250 birds and about 50 other species (including the endangered lesser florican and the saras crane) are recorded in the grasslands along the periphery of the sanctuary. Long-billed vulture, Indian white-backed vulture, red-headed (king) vulture, Eurasian griffon vulture, changeable hawk-eagle, crested serpent eagle, bonneli's eagle, greater spotted eagle, lesser spotted eagle, tawny eagle, steppe eagle, imperial eagle, Pallas's fish eagle, grey-headed fish eagle, osprey, peregrine falcon, laggar falcon, red-headed falcon, oriental honey-buzzard, white-eyed buzzard and other raptors have been seen in the sanctuary.

Game rides in Gir National Park
Game rides in Gir are conducted in Jeeps.

Visiting Gir National Park
The Park is open from mid October to mid June each year . November and February are considered the best time for lion sightings.

Getting to Gir National Park
Gir is located about 166 kms/4 hours away from Rajkot airport .Rajkot is connected by direct daily flights from Mumbai.

• The Lion Safari Camp