Gir National Park is the last home of the Asiatic lion. Once ranging from Greece through the Middle East to eastern India, the species was hunted to near-extinction by the early twentieth century -- by 1910, fewer than 15 lions survived, all of them here in the dry deciduous forests of Gujarat's Saurashtra peninsula. Sustained protection has brought their numbers back above 600, and Gir remains the only place on earth outside Africa where you can see lions in the wild.
The park covers 1,412 square kilometres of rugged, hilly terrain draped in teak and acacia forest, cut through by seasonal rivers lined with evergreen corridors. The lions share this landscape with leopards, striped hyenas, sambar deer, chital, nilgai, and the rare four-horned antelope. A crocodile breeding program at Kamleshwar Dam has established a healthy population of marsh crocodiles, easily spotted basking along the reservoir's banks.
Gir is also a superb birding destination. Crested serpent eagles, crested hawk-eagles, brown fish owls, king vultures, paradise flycatchers, and Indian pittas are all resident. The areas around Adholia, Valadara, Ratanghuna, and Pilipat are particularly rewarding for birdwatching.
The park's main base is the village of Sasan Gir, where jeep safaris depart twice daily. If you are short on time, the Gir Interpretation Zone at Devalia, 12 km from Sasan, offers a fenced area where wildlife sightings are virtually guaranteed -- though it is closed on Wednesdays. The best time to visit is December through April, when the dry season concentrates animals around water sources and visibility through the thinning forest improves.