India boasts of nearly 500 mammal species protected in over 250 wildlife reserves. It is the only place in the world that can still claim both Tiger and Lion among its native fauna.
The Asiatic lion, Panthera leo persica, is the sub-species of the lion that once ranged from Greece to Central India. It now survives only in India where it is also known as the Indian lion. Before they were completely wiped out, the lions came under the protection of the Nawab of Junagadh, a local monarch, who banned all lion hunting in the area. Soon, the lion population began to rise in number. By the declaration of Indian independence in 1947, the government had come to realize the importance and fragile nature of this last bastion of the Asiatic lion, and the Nawab’s conservation policy was upheld. Naturalists were assigned to study and take a census of the Gir’s lion population. At that time there were around 200 lions. The Indian government then created the Gir National Park and Lion Sanctuary - collectively known as the Gir Protected Area (PA), covering over 1000 km².
The area is made up of dry scrubland with hills, rivers, and teak forest. In addition to the lion population, the Gir PA contains leopards, antelope, deer, jackals, hyenas, and marsh crocodiles. The largest Asiatic lion on record measured 2.9m from nose to tail-tip. The current population consists of about 350 individuals restricted to the Gir Forest in the state of Gujarat.
Make this your holiday:
Exclusive Tour: your own private multilingual guide throughout the trip
Price Guarantee: costing 25-30% less than similar tours of the same flexibility and quality
Tailor Made: customised itinerary to create your dream holiday
Duration: shorten or lengthen the tour to suit your wishes
Dates: depart and return whenever you choose
Hotels: change hotel grade to suit your budget
Group Discounts: call 0845 310 2929.
DAY 1 AHMEDABAD ARRIVAL
Meet and greet on arrival at the Ahmedabad International Airport. Breakfast at the river-facing Cama Park Plaza, where your bird watching will begin with many garden birds in the hotel premises and waterside birds along the Sabarmati River. Drive to Bhavnagar. Overnight stay in Narayani Heritage. (B)
DAY 2 VELAVADAR NATIONAL PARK SAFARI
Velavadar National Park. Morning & evening game safari and then drive to Bhavnagar. Overnight stay in Narayani Heritage. (B)
DAY 3 GIR NATIONAL PARK – ASIATIC LION SAFARI
Drive to Gir National Park. Early breakfast and then drive to Gir National Park by road (6 hrs drive). Time permitting we will opt for a game drive in the afternoon. Overnight stay in Gir Birding Lodge. (B)
DAY 4, 5 & 6 GIR NATIONAL PARK – ASIATIC LION SAFARI
Gir National Park. Morning & evening game drives. (B)
DAY 7 LITTLE RANN OF KUTCH SAFARI
Drive to the Little Rann of Kutch. After morning game safari we drive to Dasada and the Little Rann of Kutch (280km) in North West Gujarat for a safari through the Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary. Overnight stay in Rann Rider. (B)
DAY 8 LITTLE RANN OF KUTCH SAFARI
Little Rann of Kutch. Morning & evening game drives. (B)
DAY 9 AHMEDABAD DEPARTURE
Drive Dasada - Ahmedabad (100km, 2 hrs). Depart. (B)
NOTE: We make no extra charge for minor changes to hotels or hotel add-ons to the beginning or the end of the existing itinerary. No surcharges will be imposed within 30 days of departure. Wherever possible any downward revision in the price of trips if shown in our ‘Special Offers’ will be refunded to you.
About Us
AwimAway is an online seller of adventure and activity travel. We have a range of high quality tour operators from around the world who offer adventure and active holidays at compatible prices. We provide you with a flexibility of selecting your holiday from UK operator or going straight to a local operator in the destination of your choosing. Most of our holidays provided by our associate tour operators are tailor-made to your requirement. You can book your holiday through our customer service managed by our expert adventure consultants.
For the sale of our holidays we are acting as agent for licensed Tour Operators. Local tour operators are registered with the local tourism authority in their own country. UK Tour Operators are bonded for your protection, with TTA, AITO or ABTA.
Our Aim
At AwimAway we aim to make it quick and easy for adventure and active travellers to research and plan your holidays and link up with our holiday providers. We also aim to help travellers to research and plan their holiday offerings by providing the best information.
Adventure and Activity Travel
What is Adventure & Activity Travel? Adventure travel includes activities like hiking, biking, diving, and multi-sport tours. Activity travel includes activities like cultural, expedition cruising, wildlife safari and culinary tours. In all cases, AwimAway is your premier booking service to visiting the wonders of the world, either man-made wonders like the pyramids, machu picchu or the great wall, or natural wonders like alaska, antarctica or the galapagos islands, just to name a few.
Commitment to Sustainable Environment/Tourism
The Ecological balance of our world is, much, fragile today, than previously. At Awimaway, we are committed and enthused about taking you to various unexplored destinations around the world, but we are equally committed to preserve the local environments. We hope this way the world's most naturally rich and exciting regions will remain preserved and their ecological balances maintained for future generations to come.
To further give direction to our commitment to sustainable environment, Awimaway shall donate a part of its profits from each booking to the local community. We believe in eco-friendly tourism and preservation of the original cultures and traditions of the communities who inhabit the regions we sell.