Gir Safari Booking And Visit Experience

The Sasan Gir Safari is an unforgettable experience. Located in the Junagadh district of Gujarat, about 70 km northeast of Somnath Jyotirlinga Temple, this is the only place where Asiatic lions, who once roamed from Southwest Asia to the Middle East, are found in their natural habitat.

The sanctuary was established in 1965 to protect the dwindling population of Asiatic lions, which were facing extinction due to hunting and habitat destruction. Today, it’s one of the most important conservation areas in India, drawing tourists and researchers alike to witness these majestic animals in their natural habitat.

The typical experience of any wildlife park is through safaris that are curated to take you inside the jungle in hopes of spotting wild animals in their natural habitat. The Gir Safari is no different. It is a unique and thrilling opportunity to see nature from close counters.

There are two ways of experiencing the home of these majestic lions – the Gir Jungle Safari and the Devaliya Safari.

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Gir Jungle Trail – Gir Safari

This is the most authentic way to experience the sanctuary is through the Gir Jungle Trail Safari. This you can undertake by booking permits and gypsy online. The Safari Jeeps can be booked for 4 seater, 6 seater or 8 seater. The charges are fixed and available on the official website. The cost starts from Rs.2000 to Rs. 4500 per vehicle.

Guide charges are additional and need to be paid when you reach the gate of the sanctuary. The permits however need to be booked online, before reaching Sasan Gir. During peak seasons and festivals, the permits get booked fully and usually, you may need to book the permits 45 days before reaching Gir.

There are 13 designated trails inside the sanctuary. You will get allotted to a guide and trail arbitrarily. All the trails have routes that crisscross and there is an equal chance of sighting a Lion on these routes. But do remember, sighting a lion is purely dependent on your luck. I got lucky on my safari and spotted the below fully grown male Lion.

There are 3 time slots – 6 am to 9 am, 9 am to 12 noon, 4 pm to 7 pm. The greatest chance of spotting a lion is in the morning slot and hence it gets filled quickly. So please plan your visit accordingly.

This Gir Safari does not have an option of taking a bus, which is available in the Devaliya Safari. Also, don’t be disheartened if you do not get a chance to see a lion during the safari. While the Asiatic lion is the star attraction, Sasan Gir is also home to a diverse array of wildlife. During your safari, you may encounter other animals such as leopards, deer, antelope, wild boar, and numerous bird species.

Word of Caution

There are a lot of websites that are not owned by the government that also offer permit booking but charge much more than the government-defined rates. So please ensure that you cross-check and refer to the correct official website.

Devaliya Safari or Devaliya Interpretation Zone

The Devaliya Safari Park, also known as the Devaliya Interpretation Zone, is a designated area within the Gir Forest National Park.

The safari experience in Devaliya provides a controlled environment for tourists to view wildlife up close while minimizing disturbance to the animals. The guided tours allow visitors to see various species of wildlife, including lions, deer, antelopes, and birds, among others, in their natural surroundings.

Lioness chasing a deer in Devaliya Interpretation Zone

The Devaliya Safari can be experienced in Buses and Jeeps. The cost of a seat on the bus is Rs. 150 per person. Jeeps can be 4 seater, 6 seater, or 8 seater and the starting price is Rs.1600 per jeep.

The best part of the Devaliya Safari is that you will get to see lions and lionesses, without any doubt. Even the vegetation of Devaliya Park is made in such a way that you get to see the gradual change in the plantation that replicates that found in Junagadh district. So though you are guaranteed to spot a lion here, the Gir Safari trail is a far more realistic jungle experience.

This is a park where animals that are old or injured are kept after treatment. So this is like more of an enclosed zoo or sanctuary experience. There are several other animal enclosures here like the man-eater leopard enclosure, jaguar enclosure etc to name a few.