Gir National Park is a wildlife sighting spot that is home to the Asiatic lion and other animals. In this park, people can go and enjoy the thrilling safari ride. Making a booking for a permit in advance is necessary in Gir, as a lot of people visit this wild spot every year. Here are some tips that will help you make your permit booking easier.
1. Book Your Permit Online in Advance
- People can make advance safari bookings online and get a permit on their number or email, to be sure that they will get a chance to enjoy the safari here. It’s always better to book your permit online rather than waiting to get one at the counter. If you go there and think that you’ll get a permit, then you might have to come back with disappointment because a lot of people visit the park every year, and permits are mostly sold out.
- During peak tourist season (October to February), permits get sold out quickly, so try booking at least a few weeks before your trip. The booking for Gir National Park opens 90 days in advance of the desired safari date.
2. Choose the Right Safari Area
- Gir allows tourists to enjoy safaris in different areas. People can enjoy it in Gir, Devaliya Safari (Gir Interpretation Zone), Girnar Hills, or towards the Kankai Temple. Choose the safari area that suits you most. You can get information about the area from our site.
- If you want the real jungle experience, go for the Gypsy Safari in the main park. For families with kids or those short on time, doing a safari in Devalia is a good choice. If you wanna explore the flora, then a visit to Girnar Hills would be perfect, and for spiritual vibes, a safari towards Kankai would be better. However, you can enjoy all four safaris if you want, just make sure to book them with a time gap and proper planning.
3. Keep ID Proof Handy
- A valid photo ID (like Aadhaar, Passport, Voter ID, or Driving License) is mandatory for all visitors. Without an ID proof, you cannot get a permit, and you cannot even go inside the jungle.
- The same ID number used while booking the permit must be carried in its original form during the safari. It basically means that you have to keep the same ID that you used when booking. If you used a passport for booking permit, then keep your passport with you when you go inside the park.
- Keep a printout of both the permit and ID when you come for a safari. Your permits and IDs will get checked by the forest department. And, if any spelling, name mistake, or anything is different in the permit from the ID, then your safari will get canceled.
4. Understand the Safari Timings
- Safaris usually run twice a day: morning (around sunrise) and afternoon (till sunset). You can choose any time for the safari according to the area in which you’re doing the safari. The timings vary and depend on the safari area. There are different safari timings for Kankai, Devalia, Girnar Hills, and Gir National Park.
- However, we suggest that travelers make a permit booking for the morning safaris because they are done in cooler weather, and also, the chances of animal sightings are higher.
5. Know the Zone Allotment
- Unlike some parks in India where you can choose a specific zone, in Gir National Park, there are no zones. However, there are different routes inside the park, and they have numbers, but the forest department allots routes randomly at the time of entry. Means you cannot book the safari for a particular zone, gate, or route.
6. Limited Permits Per Day
- Only a fixed number of vehicles are allowed inside Gir every day to avoid overcrowding and protect wildlife. So, it is advised for every tourist to make their Gir Safari Booking in advance so that they don’t miss the chance to go inside the park and enjoy animal sightings.
- If you think that you’ll get a permit after going there, then you might have to face disappointment. The permits get sold out quickly and given on a first-come, first-served basis, so advance online booking is necessary.
7. Hire a Registered Guide and Gypsy
- Even with a permit, you need to hire a registered forest guide and Gypsy vehicle at the gate. These charges are separate from the permit fee. If you make a booking from our side, then the charges of guides and gypsy safari are also included in it.
- The guide’s knowledge adds a lot to your safari experience, and we provide knowledgeable guides who know all the information about this wild park.
8. Best Time for Safari Booking
- The park remains closed during the monsoon season (June to mid-October). You cannot do a safari inside the park during this time because the safari routes become muddy and the chances of accidents are higher. To protect the wildlife and humans both, the safari does not happen in the monsoon.
- The best time to visit the Gir National Park is from December to March. This is the most suitable time because the weather is pleasant, and also animal sightings remain frequent. You can enjoy the safari without the disturbing heat and humidity.