The only wild home of the Asiatic lion, run as a permit-controlled jeep safari from the village of Sasan Gir.
Gir is the last natural habitat of the Asiatic lion, and the jeep safari from Sasan Gir is the standard way to see it. Permits are limited per slot and per route, so most are sold online through the forest department's booking portal at girlion.in weeks ahead, with a small on-the-day counter quota at the Sinh Sadan office. Each gypsy carries a maximum of six visitors, a driver and a forest guide, and follows fixed numbered routes allotted at the gate. Lion sightings are likely but never guaranteed; leopards, sambar, chital, nilgai, crocodiles near the Kamleshwar dam and over 300 bird species are the supporting cast. The core zone is shut every year from 16 June to 15 October for the monsoon, and Devaliya Safari Park, a fenced enclosure run by the same department, is the fallback for travellers who miss a permit.
| Price | Roughly INR 5,000-9,000 (USD 52-94) per jeep for up to 6 riders including permit, gypsy hire and forest-department guide; foreign-visitor permits cost more |
|---|---|
| Duration | 3 to 3.5 hours per slot; three slots daily (dawn, mid-morning, afternoon) |
| Difficulty | easy |
| Season | mid-October to mid-June (park closed 16 June-15 October); best December-March |
| Address | Sinh Sadan Forest Office, Sasan Gir, Talala, Gujarat 362135 |
Activity facts
- Where
- Sasan Gir, Gir Somnath district
Equipment
- Closed shoes and muted clothing (khaki, olive, beige)
- Binoculars and camera with a telephoto lens
- Hat, sunscreen and a scarf against dust
- Original photo ID matching each permit name
Location
Sinh Sadan Forest Office, Sasan Gir, Talala, Gujarat 362135
21.1354, 70.7963 View on map
Highlights
- Wild Asiatic lion tracking on fixed numbered routes
- Leopard, sambar, chital and nilgai in dry deciduous forest
- Crocodile viewing near the Kamleshwar dam
- Devaliya Safari Park as a fenced backup option
Tips for visiting
- Book permits online at girlion.in as soon as the window opens; peak December-January slots sell out weeks ahead.
- Carry the original ID used for booking; photocopies and phone photos are commonly refused at the gate.
- Choose the dawn slot for cooler air and better light.
- Sasan Gir is reached by road from Junagadh (about 60 km) or Veraval (about 45 km).