Gir Forest National Park, about 60 km south of Junagadh, is the only place in the world where you can see the Asiatic lion in the wild. The subspecies, once widespread across the Middle East and Central Asia, now survives only here — the population has recovered from around 20 lions at the start of the 20th century to over 600 today. The park also supports leopards, hyenas, wild boar, sambar deer, and over 300 species of birds.
Safaris operate in the early morning and late afternoon. You must book in advance through the Gujarat Tourism website or through authorised agents in Junagadh — permits are limited and high demand in season (October to May). Jeep safaris take you along the park tracks with a forest guide; lion sightings are not guaranteed but are frequent. The Sasan Gir ranger station, at the park entrance, has interpretation displays on the lion conservation programme and the pastoral Maldhari communities who have lived inside the forest for generations.