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India: Asiatic Lions in the Gir Forest | Overseas | Gir Forest

Overseas: India: Asiatic Lions in the Gir Forest

©Pete Smart: 2008

£2,095.00

Venue:

Gir Forest (7 day)

Event Description:

We are delighted to offer a rare and exciting opportunity to visit the remote Gir National Park in northwest India to search for the elusive Asiatic Lion. Relatively few people have visited Gir National Park so this extension adds an extra dimension to the tour and a true adventure! The subspecies of Asiatic Lions was once widespread from Greece to central India. Although brought close to extinction, now over 300 Lions are believed to be present in this magnificent protected area, indicating a genuine conservation success story.

This extension departs 5 days before the main tour, flying into Mumbai we have time for sightseeing before continuing on to Gir National Park for a 3 night stay, offering six game drives in the park. We return to Mumbai where we will stay overnight before flying to Delhi to meet the rest of the group arriving from the UK.

View our exciting itinerary below and please contact us on 07734 107050 or via our web site regarding any questions you may still have. You are advised to make your reservation immediately once you have decided to join us, as places are strictly limited on this wonderful adventure to see the last Asiatic Lions in the wild.

Gir Forest:

The remote Gir National Park in northwest India, home to the last Asiatic Lions.

Itinerary

9th Mar 2009 8:00: Day 1

Depart UK for flight to Mumbai

10th Mar 2009 8:00: Day 2

Arrive Mumbai in the early hours. Here we are met and transferred to our hotel. We have time to relax and if time allows you may wish to take an optional guided sightseeing tour of Mumbai. Overnight hotel.

11th Mar 2009 8:00: Day 3

Morning flight to Rajokot. Here we are met and driven to our lodge near to Gir National Park. After lunch we have our first game drive in the park. The Gir Protected Area is about 65km southeast of Junagadh in the state of Gujarat, and comprises a wildlife sanctuary, which encircles a core area of national park. The area was initially established as reserved forest in 1882, it was declared a sanctuary in 1965 and demarcated for national park status in 1973. The protected area now covers 1412 kmÂ² of undulating low hilly country surrounded by flat agricultural land. The vegetation contains a compact block of dry mixed deciduous forest, surrounded by a belt of thorn scrub and intersected by long narrow ribbons of evergreen riverine vegetation. To the east, and on the higher ground, vegetation becomes more sparse and stunted, with open forest interspersed with patches of grass. The park contains several prominent temples; the most important for pilgrimages are at Banej, Kankai and Tulshishyam. Gir is home to a very old community of nomadic cattle grazers, the Maldhari as well as the last remaining habitat for Asiatic lions, panthera leo persica, a subspecies that once ranged from Greece to central India. Nawab of Junagadh, a local monarch, who banned all lion hunting in the Gir area, saved the Asiatic Lion from extinction. By the declaration of Indian independence in 1947, the government had come to realise the importance and fragile nature of the Asiatic lion, and the Nawabâ€™s conservation policy was upheld and Naturalists were assigned to study and census the Girâ€™s lion population. This continued protection saw the lion population rise in number, today the local population is believed to be around 300 individuals. Other mammals within the park include a goodpopulation of Leopard (around 200), Spotted Deer (Chital), Wild Boar, Nilgai (Bluebull), Striped Hyena, Jackal, Common Langur, Porcupine and Black Buck. There are also over 300 bird species and at least 24 species of reptiles, including marsh crocodile. Overnight lodge.

12th Mar 2009 8:00: Days 4 and 5

Early morning and afternoon game drives in the Gir National Park in search of the Asiatic Lion, returning to the lodge for luncheach day. Overnight lodge

14th Mar 2009 8:00: Day 6

After a morning game drive in Gir National Park we will drive to Rajkot to catch the evening flight to Mumbai. Transfer to hotel and overnight. (This is Day 1 of the Realm of the Tiger tour)

15th Mar 2009 8:00: Day 7

Early morning transfer to airport for flight to Delhi. Here we meet the group arriving from the UK and proceed with itinerary detailed for Realm of the Tiger tour. (This is Day 2 of the Realm of the Tiger tour).

Tutors

Gallery:

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Itinerary:

Note This extension departs 5 days prior to main Realm of the Tiger tour

Day 1
Depart UK for flight to Mumbai

Day 2
Arrive Mumbai in the early hours. Here we are met and transferred to our hotel. We have time to relax and if time allows you may wish to take an optional guided sightseeing tour of Mumbai. Overnight hotel.

Day 3
Morning flight to Rajokot. Here we are met and driven to our lodge near to Gir National Park. After lunch we have our first game drive in the park. The Gir Protected Area is about 65km southeast of Junagadh in the state of Gujarat, and comprises a wildlife sanctuary, which encircles a core area of national park. The area was initially established as reserved forest in 1882, it was declared a sanctuary in 1965 and demarcated for national park status in 1973. The protected area now covers 1412 km² of undulating low hilly country surrounded by flat agricultural land. The vegetation contains a compact block of dry mixed deciduous forest, surrounded by a belt of thorn scrub and intersected by long narrow ribbons of evergreen riverine vegetation. To the east, and on the higher ground, vegetation becomes more sparse and stunted, with open forest interspersed with patches of grass. The park contains several prominent temples; the most important for pilgrimages are at Banej, Kankai and Tulshishyam. Gir is home to a very old community of nomadic cattle grazers, the Maldhari as well as the last remaining habitat for Asiatic lions, panthera leo persica, a subspecies that once ranged from Greece to central India. Nawab of Junagadh, a local monarch, who banned all lion hunting in the Gir area, saved the Asiatic Lion from extinction. By the declaration of Indian independence in 1947, the government had come to realise the importance and fragile nature of the Asiatic lion, and the Nawab’s conservation policy was upheld and Naturalists were assigned to study and census the Gir’s lion population. This continued protection saw the lion population rise in number, today the local population is believed to be around 300 individuals. Other mammals within the park include a good population of Leopard (around 200), Spotted Deer (Chital), Wild Boar, Nilgai (Bluebull), Striped Hyena, Jackal, Common Langur, Porcupine and Black Buck. There are also over 300 bird species and at least 24 species of reptiles, including marsh crocodile. Overnight lodge.

Days 4 & 5
Early morning and afternoon game drives in the Gir National Park in search of the Asiatic Lion, returning to the lodge for lunch each day. Overnight lodge.

Day 6
After a morning game drive in Gir National Park we will drive to Rajkot to catch the evening flight to Mumbai. Transfer to hotel and overnight. (This is Day 1 of the Realm of the Tiger tour)

Day 7
Early morning transfer to airport for flight to Delhi. Here we meet the group arriving from the UK and proceed with itinerary detailed for Realm of the Tiger tour. (This is Day 2 of the Realm of the Tiger tour)

Please note that the itinerary is provisional and subject to change depending on local conditions, not all the wildlife mentioned can be seen well at all times of the year and some of the activities mentioned may not always be available.

Summary:

Duration 7 days (This extension departs 5 days prior to main Realm of the Tiger tour)

Single supplement £245 subject to availability. If you are a single person booking this holiday you do not have to pay single supplements, if you are happy to share. If you are travelling by yourself you will be paired with another single client of the same gender. However your booking is accepted only on the understanding that if no roommate is available then you accept a single supplement will be levied. Single supplements are payable if you specifically request to have a room to yourself. If you have requested single accommodation we will do our best to secure this although this may not always be possible

Deposit Additional £250 required to confirm booking

Travel insurance You must be covered by insurance, which must include adequate cover for baggage, medical expenses and the cost of repatriation should you become too ill to continue, including air ambulance.
Group size 4 to 8, plus photographic guide

Cost includes Hotel/Lodge accommodation on a twin share basis (unless single has been requested) for the nights listed in the itinerary, B&B in Mumbai and all meals elsewhere included, transfers for group departures using our chosen airline, all internal transport as per the itinerary, entry fees to the national parks, all wildlife activities escorted by local naturalist guides, services of Wild Arena photographic guide throughout the tour

Cost excludes Sightseeing tours, camera and video camera fees, international flight from the UK, airport taxes, transfers for Land Only packages and group tours when choosing your own flight arrangements, visa fees, medical examination (if required) & vaccination costs, personal expenditure, bar bills, laundry, telephone calls, etc, porters, guides & other tips, meals not specified & mineral water, personal clothing & equipment, travel insurance, optional trips, increases in park fees and taxes levied by the Government on the tourism sector, fuel surcharges, charges incurred as a result of delays beyond Classic Journeys control, anything not specified in the Cost Includes

Wild Arena Asian photographic tours are organised through Classic Journeys, a fully bonded UK tour operator holding ATOL licence 3022. Your financial protection when travelling with us.

All clients will be required to complete a Classic Journeys Booking Form and bookings will be subject to acceptance of the Classic Journeys Booking Conditions which will be provided, and supersedes any information presented on Wild Arena’s web site or other Wild Arena promotional literature.

In addition, in the unlikely event that Peter Smart is unable to escort the tour, Classic Journeys reserve the right to send a suitable replacement if available.