Sasan Gir Safari — The Complete Booking Guide

Sasan Gir is the only place in the world (outside of Africa) where you can see lions in the wild. About 600 Asiatic lions live in this 1,400 sq km sanctuary in Saurashtra, just 165 km from Rajkot.

But there’s a process to follow if you want to actually see them. Here’s how to plan it properly.

Why Gir is special

The Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica) once roamed across the Middle East and Indian subcontinent. Today, every wild Asiatic lion on Earth lives in or around Gir. The conservation success here — bringing the population back from fewer than 20 lions in 1913 — is one of India’s great wildlife stories.

A Gir safari isn’t just sightseeing. It’s witnessing a survival story.

How safaris work at Gir

There are two safari options:

1. Gir National Park Safari (the real safari)

  • 6-seater open jeep with a guide
  • Permit-controlled, 30 jeeps per slot maximum
  • Three slots per day: 6:00–9:00 AM, 9:00–12:00 noon, 3:00–6:00 PM
  • Inside the actual sanctuary
  • Sightings include: lions, leopards, sambar deer, nilgai, chital, peacocks, crocodiles
  • Permit is the bottleneck — must book in advance

2. Devalia Safari Park (the easy alternative)

  • Bus-based safari in a fenced 4 sq km area
  • Lions and other animals are guaranteed (it’s a controlled enclosure)
  • No advance booking required, just buy tickets at the gate
  • Ticket: ₹190/person (Indian)
  • Open 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (closed Wednesdays)
  • Good for those who can’t get a Gir National Park permit

For a real safari experience, try for Gir National Park first. Devalia is the backup.

How to book a Gir safari permit

Online booking via Gujarat Forest Department:

  • Website: girlion.gujarat.gov.in
  • Permits open 60 days in advance for Indian nationals (15 days for foreigners)
  • Cost: ₹1,200 per permit (covers 6 people in one jeep) for Indians; ₹4,800 for foreigners
  • Plus jeep rental (₹2,500) and guide fees (₹400)
  • Total: roughly ₹4,000–4,500 for one jeep of 6 people for one safari

Important booking notes:

  • Permits sell out within hours during peak season (October-March, weekends)
  • Each PAN/passport can book only 4 permits per month
  • Keep all booking confirmations and ID proofs handy
  • Book during weekdays for better availability

Can’t get an online permit? Some outfits sell “tatkal” or last-minute slots, but these are unreliable. Devalia Safari Park is the dependable backup.

Best season to visit Gir

December to March: Best visibility. Cool weather, good lion sightings.

October-November: Pleasant weather, but post-monsoon greenery means lions are harder to spot.

April-May: Sightings improve (animals come to waterholes), but heat is intense (can hit 42°C).

Closed completely: June 16 to October 15 every year (monsoon closure).

If you specifically want to see lions, April–May is paradoxically excellent — sparse vegetation and animals concentrating around water mean better sightings. Just bring lots of water.

Getting to Sasan Gir from Rajkot

Distance: 165 km. Travel time: 3.5 hours.

Route: Rajkot → Junagadh → Visavadar → Sasan Gir.

Taxi fares from Rajkot:

  • Swift Dzire one-way: ₹3,200
  • Round trip same day: ₹5,800
  • Multi-day with overnight: depends on plan

For Gir, an overnight stay is highly recommended. Early morning safaris are the best for sightings, and that requires being in Sasan Gir by 5:30 AM.

Where to stay near Sasan Gir

Inside the village:

  • Sasan Gir Lion Safari Camp — basic, walkable to the safari gate
  • Anil Farms — popular budget option
  • The Fern Gir Forest Resort — premium, with pool

Forest Department options:

  • Sinh Sadan (run by Gujarat Tourism) — limited rooms but very affordable

Tip: Stay within 2 km of the safari starting point. The 5:30 AM check-in is brutal if your hotel is 15 km away.

What to expect on the safari

Duration: 3 hours from gate to gate.

Vehicle: Open jeep with canvas roof. Expect dust, sun, and possibly a bumpy ride.

Sightings (in order of probability):

  • Spotted deer (chital): Almost guaranteed
  • Sambar deer: Very common
  • Nilgai (blue bull): Common
  • Wild boar: Common
  • Peacock: Everywhere
  • Lion: 60-70% chance per safari
  • Leopard: 20-30% chance, very lucky
  • Crocodile: At Kamleshwar Dam, common

The lion sighting itself: When it happens, jeeps assemble quietly at a respectful distance. Lions in Gir are habituated to vehicles and rarely react. Photography is allowed; flash is not.

If you don’t see a lion on your first safari, book a second one for the next morning. Most multi-safari visitors get at least one good sighting.

What to pack

  • Wide-brim hat or cap (no umbrellas allowed)
  • Sunscreen
  • Sunglasses
  • Bottled water
  • Light, neutral-colored clothes (avoid bright reds and yellows)
  • Camera with zoom lens (200-400mm ideal)
  • Light jacket for early morning (December-February)

Combining Gir with other destinations

Most Rajkot travelers combine Gir with:

Gir + Somnath (recommended 2-day plan):

  • Day 1: Rajkot → Junagadh sightseeing → Sasan Gir overnight
  • Day 2: Morning safari → Drive to Somnath (90 km) → Evening Aarti → Drive back to Rajkot

Gir + Diu (3-day plan):

  • Day 1: Rajkot → Sasan Gir overnight, evening safari
  • Day 2: Morning safari → Drive to Diu (110 km), Diu beach + fort
  • Day 3: Diu → Somnath → Rajkot

This is one of our most popular Saurashtra circuit packages.

Booking your Sasan Gir taxi from Rajkot

Book your Rajkot to Sasan Gir taxi or WhatsApp +91 97147 58497. Tell us if you’ve already booked your safari permits — we’ll plan the timing accordingly.

If you want help with permit booking, we can guide you. We’ve sent enough travelers to Gir to know the system inside out.

Did you spot a lion on your safari? Let us know — we love hearing back from travelers we’ve sent to Gir.