Gir National Park, Gujarat

Discover Gir National Park

Take an early morning jeep safari at Gir National Park to spot its rare inhabitants, Asiatic lions. Also known as Sasan Gir, the Park was declared a sanctuary in 1965 and is the only place in the world where you can still see Asiatic lions in the wild.

It’s an amazing haven for wildlife due to its deciduous and dry terrain and is also home to over 300 species of resident and migrant birds, a variety of mammals including sambar deer and Indian Foxes, and a slippery and scaly selection of reptiles.

Gir National Park Animal Population

• Asiatic Lions at Sasan Gir. You’ll find Sasan Gir’s most famous residents in the fenced-off Devalia Safari Park within the Sanctuary. Through the protection offered at the Park, the population of Asiatic Lions has grown from approximately 20 lions in 1913 to over 500 today. The ‘Gir lion’ is a similar size to the Central African lion and smaller than large African lions, with a longitudinal fold of skin running along its belly.
• The park is home to 300 leopards, sambar deer, the world’s only four-horned antelope the chowsingha, chinkaras (gazelles), crocodiles, jackals, striped hyenas and the Indian fox.
• Birds – Declared an important bird area by the Indian Bird Conservation Network, Sasan Gir is home to more than 300 species of bird, most of them resident. Raptors such as the critically endangered white-backed and long-billed vultures also make their home here amongst the fabulous flora.
• Reptiles – Over 40 species of reptiles and amphibians slink and slither their way through the Park and the Kamleshwar, a large reservoir in the sanctuary, is the best place to spot the marsh crocodile. Snake species include the king cobra, krait, python, Russell’s viper and saw-scaled viper.

Gir Interpretation Zone

Located in Devaliya Safari Park in an enclosed area of the Sanctuary, Gir Interpretation Zone offers visitors the chance to experience the beauty of the area on a minibus safari tour.

The best way to see Gir National Park

If you would like to visit Gir National Park, why not take a look at one of our wonderful ATOL and ABTA protected holidays?  Please remember all our private tours are designed to meet your exact requirements, and the tours mentioned are just examples to help inspire you. Contact our travel experts on 01792 315499 or email info@aitholidays.com for more information.