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WILDLIFE · BIRDING · GIRGir Wildlife & Birding
Beyond the lions — Gir is a wildlife and birding paradise of leopards, deer, crocodiles and 300+ bird species, from paradise flycatchers to crested serpent eagles.
A whole forest of wildlife
Gir is famous for its lions — but the forest is a far richer wildlife and birding destination than the big cats alone. Alongside the Asiatic lion roam leopards, striped hyenas, jackals, jungle cats, chital and sambar deer, blue bull (nilgai), chinkara, wild boar and langur, while the rivers and dams hold marsh crocodiles and turtles.
For birdwatchers, Gir is a treasure: over three hundred species have been recorded, from the crested serpent eagle, Bonelli’s eagle and the rare critically-endangered vulture to paradise flycatchers, Indian pittas, woodpeckers, owls and bee-eaters. The Kamleshwar reservoir draws waterbirds in winter.
On safari, with eyes open beyond the lions, Gir reveals itself as one of the most rewarding all-round wildlife experiences in India — a living, breathing dry-forest ecosystem.
A chital herd in the Gir forest.
What else recovered when the lions did
The dry teak forest of Gir.
Protecting the lion protected everything else — the whole Gir ecosystem rode on the flagship species.
Under that protection the prey base, the smaller predators and the birdlife have all flourished.
More than 300 bird species have been recorded in the forest, including several threatened vultures.
The result is a premier all-round wildlife destination that most visitors reduce to one animal.
Reasons to make the time
300+ birds
Gir is one of Gujarat's best birding forests — paradise flycatchers, pittas in season, owls and raptors.
Big cats
It holds both big cats: the lions everyone comes for, and a healthy leopard population most never see.
Rich prey base
Chital in thousands, sambar, nilgai and chinkara are the grazing base that carries the predators.
Raptors
The raptor list runs from crested serpent eagles to the critically endangered white-backed vulture.
Wetland life
Kamleshwar's marsh crocodiles and winter waterbirds add a wetland layer to a dry forest.
Whole ecosystem
Seeing Gir beyond the lions doubles the value of every safari drive.
What to look for inside
HERBIVORESDeer and nilgai
The forest's grazers — the base of the whole system.
PREDATORSLions and leopards
Gir's two big cats, sharing the same forest.
How to spend an hour or two
Book a safari
Reserve safari permits through the official forest portal, well ahead in season.
Bring binoculars
Carry binoculars — for the birdlife they are not optional.
Watch the canopy
Look for flycatchers, woodpeckers and owls along the wooded stream beds.
Scan the water
Ask your driver to pause at Kamleshwar for the crocodiles and waterbirds.
Look beyond lions
Scan for leopard at dusk and dawn; they are there, and sightings reward the patient.
Go at dawn
Take the dawn slot — the richest wildlife hours in any season.
Varied habitats sustain the wildlife.
Dry forest, rivers and grassland
Gir’s wealth of wildlife rests on its mosaic of habitats: dry deciduous teak forest, thorny acacia scrub, open grassland (vidis), seasonal rivers and reservoirs. Each niche supports different species — grazers on the grassland, raptors over the canopy, waterbirds and crocodiles at the dams, cats throughout.
Watching Gir as a whole ecosystem, rather than a lion show, is what makes it so rewarding for naturalists and birders alike — every safari turns up something new.
See what else is nearby in our guide to Gir Somnath.
This belongs to a wider story: wildlife across Gujarat.
Teak forest & acacia scrub
Grassland ‘vidis’
Rivers & reservoirs
300+ recorded bird species
When to go
December to March is the comfortable season and the best for the winter bird migrants.
The park closes for the monsoon, roughly mid-June to mid-October, when Devalia carries the visits.
April and May are hot but concentrate mammals at the waterholes — the best sighting odds of the year.
⏰ Carry binoculars and a long lens; winter is best for birds, summer best for mammals at the waterholes.
Timings & entry
- Wildlife viewing is via Gir safaris/Devalia
- Park closed mid-June to mid-October
- Permits and a guide are required
- Allow a half to full day
- Book safari permits via the official portal
- A guide accompanies each safari
- This is NOT a booking site — book officially
- Carry ID matching your permit
Getting there
By Air
Diu (~75 km), Rajkot and Keshod airports.
By Rail
Sasan Gir and Junagadh stations.
By Road
Sasan Gir, ~45 km from Somnath.
Wildlife photography
FEATHER & FUR
From raptors to the great cats
Birds
A long lens for the canopy and the water edges.
Mammals
Cats and deer in the dawn light.
Wetlands
Crocodiles basking at Kamleshwar.
Etiquette
Quiet, no flash, and distance kept.
Know before you go
More to see close by
CONFLUENCEKamleshwar Dam
Ritual bathing where rivers meet the sea
BEACHSomnath Beach
Golden sands beside the great temple
HERITAGEPrabhas Patan
An ancient holy town with a fine museum
MUSEUMPrabhas Patan Museum
Sculptures from Somnath’s older temples
Suraj Mandir
An ancient sun temple at Prabhas Patan
WILDLIFEGir National Park
The last wild home of the Asiatic lion
Where to eat near Gir Wildlife & Birding
THALIKathiawadi Thali
Rotla, kadhi, shaak and ghee-rich fare.
SNACKSGanthiya & fafda
Saurashtra's beloved fried snacks.
PRASADCoastal bites
Snacks along the Somnath–Diu coast.
Pure-veg & Kesar
Veg fare inland; seafood near Diu; Gir Kesar mangoes.
Gir Wildlife & Birding FAQ
Is Gir only about lions?
No — alongside the lions, Gir holds leopards, striped hyenas, jackals, four species of deer, crocodiles and more than 300 recorded bird species.
How many birds are in Gir?
More than 300 recorded species, from paradise flycatchers and pittas to serpent eagles and critically endangered vultures — one of Gujarat's best forest birding sites.
What mammals live there?
Lions, leopards, striped hyenas, jackals, chital, sambar, nilgai, chinkara, chowsingha, wild boar and marsh crocodiles.
How do I see the wildlife?
On a permit-controlled jeep safari from Sasan Gir, or at the fenced Devalia interpretation zone for a shorter, near-certain visit.
When is best for birds?
Winter — December to March — when migrants and waterbirds arrive and the residents are active through comfortable days.
When is best for mammals?
Summer, April and May, when the heat concentrates mammals at the waterholes and sighting rates peak.
What should I bring?
Binoculars, a long lens, neutral clothing and patience — plus water and sun cover for the open stretches.
Do I need a permit?
Yes. Permits and a forest-department guide are mandatory, booked through the official portal rather than at the gate.
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Published 24 June 2026 · Updated 24 August 2026