We took a short vacation to Gir and stayed at the Club Mahindra Resorts. Warm hospitality and a deluxe tent accommodation greeted us after our 6.5 hour road journey from Ahmedabad.
When we landed there we realized we had not done the advanced booking for all the safari rides. Advice for others to plan a month in advance. Thankfully with the help of the staff we could manage four safaris over three days.
Gir is essentially a semi arid forest and this year the rain was below expectations. There are eight routes for Safaris and you are allotted a route number. Morning Safaris are pretty good. Most of the guides and drivers are focused on spotting Lion and as a result you don't have a great experience of bird watching.
First day we went near the Hiran river behind Taj gateway hotel. Black Ibis, common Iora, Egrets, Wagtails, Sandpiper and Red-wattled Lapwing were mainly sighted.
The next day we took the morning safari and were greeted by spotted deer, oriental honey buzzard...
... a brown fish owl giving us the looks...
..and a Changeble hawk eagle trying to tell us something...
We didn't realize that they were trying to tell us that the King of the forest was on a morning stroll just 20 feet away from our Safari Jeep
They were two Lions ( apparently brothes) but they didn't even bother to look at us. And after 5 mins of viewing their south side we were disappointed that we couldn't see their face clearly.
We also saw Jackal, Tickell's blue flycatcher, Magpie Robin, Treepie and the smaller water bodies had waterhen, sandpipers etc.
We almost spotted a leopard based on the sound of deer and the leopard itself but luck did not favour us.
That day evening we took the safari and covered the Kamleshwar Dam a huge man made dam infested with crocodiles and birds like darters, river terns, herons were there in abundance.
We did see a lion that had a hearty meal and had settled in under a tree for the night and refused to move. The forest gaurds were kind enough to allow a quick glimpse of him.
Next day morning safari, though we did not spot a lion, I was very happy to see the European roller, parakeets, buzzards, monitor lizards, Nilgai and Sambar.
In and around the resort is also good for birding with rollers, grey babblers, wagtails, etc
The last day morning Safari started with a pent up hope of a real good view of a Lion. A shikra greeted us...
... and a crested serpent eagle was looking for its next prey...
..and then we heard that lions have been spotted further ahead. A group of three is resting below the shade of trees. Our heart kipped a beat and leaving the birding, we sped up to reach the spot and a lioness with her cubs was waiting for us.
After giving me enough photo opportunity it licked itself and went off to rest ( the other two were already resting)...
While from a birding perspective perhaps not one of my better trips, the sight of the King of jungle and its magnificent charm will be cherished for life.
