LIONS IN GIR! Trip report.

have sent you skype invitation

ok.. lets gang ho at Gir

status of trains were same for me also.. but i tried tatkal option and i was lucky to get tatkal train tickets direct to junagarh.
I will reach there tomorrow..
Hopefully i will get some good sightings and would have some nice people to share the gypsy.
I Hope their is vodafone network there so that i can access internet there.
I will be there for 15,16,17,18 of may, is any one else from indiamike planning to visit on the same dates?
Wish me luck

cheers!

Great report. Another place to go gets added to my long list of places that I must visit

Amazing pictures happyarun!We didn't manage to see a male lion properly when we went and looking at your pictures, my resolve to go again this summer is becoming quite strong!

Great Roxy. let me know when, who knows i may join you.

Sure happyarun. that would be cool.

Real Nice write up..
Here is what i jotted down for my GIR and other sanctury 6 day trip in October (22-27) :

1) Wild Ass Sanctuary, Bhuj
2) Jamnagar (for wildlife and birds)
3) Gir (for Asiaatic Lions) - 2 days stay.
4) Velavadar Blackbuck sanctuary Bhavnagar
5) Devalia national park - closed on WEDNESDAYS.Park Timings: 8: 00 am to 10:00 am & 3:00 pm to 05:00 pm every day
6) Somnath temple or SUN Temple if possible
6) Patola Sari weaving workshops
7) Palitana is a "must visit" from Bhavnagar- what is it famous for? I have just read in one of the posts here.
8) Nalsarovar Bird sanctuary

My Queries :

1) Im not sure how to place the below places into a complete itenerary? Places can be excluded/included per suggestion as I have only collected these places from this forum. We can club wildlife + cultural heritage trip but not keen into religious stuff as of now.

2) We will be coming from bangalore so which point to get started off? Which is the nearest airport?

3) Will taking up Travel agent tour be expensive or shall we make booking on our own?

4) If anybody can suggest good food joints to try out while the travel for good Gujrati food. We are kind of bit foody

Just a few suggestions:

1. Wild Ass Sanctuary is in LRK, not Bhuj. Nearest airport for this will be Ahemedabad I believe.
2. Distance between Jamnagar and Bhuj is half a day. If you start from Bhuj after lunch, you will reach Jamnagar in the night.
3. For birding in Jamnagar you will need services of a birding guide there, if you want to go to any place other than the bird sanctuary. Also for visiting Marine sanctuary you will need permission.

Now for food:
In LRK my experience is limited to eating at the resort (Rann Raiders). Excellant Gujrati food. Also do not forget to visit one of the salt pans. I had the best black tea in India when it was served to us by a family in a salt pan on a very very cold morning.

Do make sure you eat the following:

Dabeli: A sweetish/spicy maasl filled bun
Fafda/Bhakarwadi: My favorite snacks
Thehpla: Specialty paratha best enjoyed with spicy pickle
Dal: Gujrati dal is a slightly sweet lentil curry
Lasoon chutny: Fiery garlic perperation, if sweetness is bothering you

There are many more things to eat, but I must resist. Note that if you are a carnivore like me, you may face problems in getting your daily quota of protein (if you know what I mean). Also Gujrat is a dry state so liquid refreshments will have to make way for Chaas (Butter milk) and Shikanji (Lemon drink).

Now I got to go and eat.

Cheers,
Kartik

Hi, happyarun,

I've read with interest your trip report.

I'm now planning a visit to Rajasthan and Gujarat in Nov/Dec 2012. Whilst in Gujarat, I plan to visit Gir from Mon, Dec 3 to Thu, Dec 6, doing about 8 safaris there.

I will not take a bus direct from Ahmendabad to Gir as suggested as I plan to take Somnath Exp (#19221) from Viramgam Jct to Junagadh on Dec 1, following 4 safaris in Little Rann of Kutch. Upon arrival at Junagadh at 04:26 on Dec 2, I plan to climb Girnar hill before visiting Gir.

Whilst in Gir, I'd like to stay in the hotel you've suggested, viz. Annapoorna hotel. Being in Canada, however, I find it difficult to call the hotel with the numbers given in your previous threads. I was wondering if there is any email address which I can get in touch with the hotel. Maybe, there is no need for any booking in early Dec.

Last but not least, I should appreciate your commnents on the private visits (arranged by the villages) to the Sasan Gir Wildlife Sanctuary.

Thank you.

Since my above thread, I have sent thr' IM a private message to happyarun. Thanks for his advice as to how to make international calls to Annapurna Hotel with no email address or website. Despite repeated efforts, I've still been unable to get thr'. Eventually, I resorted to a travel agent in India, who managed to get in touch with the hotel. Booking of a room (without meals) has been made at a tariff of R1320/night, much higer than I expected; and his response <Exclusive safari rate with driver when we checked was Rs.3700 - 4000 range which is getting finalised for the season> to safari rate is difficult to understand. Besides, there is no assurance that the driver/guide who worked for happyarun and others in IM will work for me. I'm seeking clarification though.

Can you please advise me the name of this driver/guide? Is arvind kanabar referred to in happyarun's earlier threads the driver, please?

Thank you.

As in my aforesaid threads, I will be having AM & PM safaris in Sasan Gir Wildlife Sanctuary Dec 3 to 6, 2012 inclusive.

As the safari cost is expensive for foreigners, I'd welcome any person(s) to join me during the period concerned. NB - I understand that local people joining foreigner(s) in the same safari jeep will have to pay foreign rates.

the foreigner rate for the gypsy is naturally very high the trouble is that as soon as one foreigner is in the jeep all persons in the jeep are charged equally. so when i went with a foreigner i had to pay 500 for my camera as against 25rs or 50rs i cant remmber. the hotel also is 400 for non ac and 1000 for ac. 1320 is off beat number.!! maybe rates have changed.

Thanks, happyarun,

I also got your private messages. The room the agent's booked for me is Superior AC; and I've asked him to change to an ordinary non-AC room.

BTW, what sorts of lens did you use in shooting at Gir, please? I note from manesshgoal's trip report dd Feb 27,2012 on Leopard Safari in Bera, Rajasthan that he used a Nikkor 70-300mm lens; his images are super (and so are yours). I just wonder if his images had been cropped and, if so, I'd need to bring a longer lens when going to Bera Nov 22-25, Little Rann of Kutch Nov 30/Dec 1, and eventually Gir, Dec 3-7, 2012.

Thank you.

Hi, I note from message #6 in "Sasan Gir for a first timer" by happyarun dd Mar 6 2011 that ....the rule is that foreigners are charged 2000 for jeep and entry 100 for the guide (or misguide) and 500per camera above 7.1 megapixels.....

Is anybody in a position to update for the forthcoming season?
I plan to be there Dec 3-7, 2012 inclusive, doing 8-9 safari drives.

Thank you.