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+--- Thread: Who's been to India (/topic-who-s-been-to-india)
RE: Who's been to India - Rishi - 03-13-2019
(03-13-2019, 07:28 AM)Wolverine Wrote: I was stucked in Sasan and got bored, so in the 5th day (again no trucks) I decided to take the action in my own hands walking in the forest myself (basically illegally). Every morning I followed the old railway crossing the forest for about an hour and than followed a small river bad also about an hour. Finally I saw 2 male lions from about 10 meters distance (got totally scared), a leopard from 30-40 meters (Gir is probably the best place outside Sri Lanka to watch spotted cats) and countless number of peacocks, every evening the forest is vibrating by their voices.
WOW that's so much cooler than a regular experience! How come you'd never told this before.. So, did you follow the narrowgauge rail line & returned to the town along the river-bed?
There's now an official tourism zone in the National Park with 8 designated routes (western part, near town Sasan).
Best case scenario; choose a combination of either from (Route 2/5/6) + (Route 4/7/8). Never choose 1 or 3.
*This image is copyright of its original author
"Gir Jungle Trail" package is the one that deals with it. Everything else is for Devaliya.
One can now book a safari online, the offline procedure is archaic & problematic, but prices are always obscenely higher for foreigners.
https://girlion.gujarat.gov.in/GirJungleTrailBooking.aspx
http://www.girnationalpark.in/book-gir-lion-safari.html
http://www.girlionsafari.com/
https://www.girjunglesafari.co.in
RE: Who's been to India - Lycaon - 03-13-2019
@Wolverine and @Rishi
Thanks for the answers.
RE: Who's been to India - Wolverine - 03-13-2019
(03-13-2019, 08:56 AM)Rishi Wrote: WOW that's so much cooler than a regular experience! How come you'd never told this before..
Yup, very cool, especially taking into account that forest rangers caught me and wanted to charge me 2000 rupees fine for "entering the teritory of the national park without permission" but after couple of days they forgot about the case....
Yes, followed the railway till the bridge and than turn right following the river in order to be sure that will be not lost.
For sure when you see a lion or tiger from feet due to fear they look gigantic..., I climbed on the tree and spent there around half hour (already wrote somewhere, you forgot). But you should not fear Gir lions - towards humans they do not behave like really wild lions allowing walking man to get up to 8-10 meters from them without fear and in same time they don't behave like captive, zoo lions, because if you enter the lions in the zoo cage they will kill you for sure. Gir lions are kind of semi-domestic, trained, no fear and no aggression.
I'll repeat my opinion that from all protected areas in India Gir is probably least welcoming tourists and visitors, kind of closed entity. The theory that Gujarat will lose money from touristic industry sharing its lions with MP is incorrect because is doubtfull that Gujaratis earn any significant money from tourists, they seems don't like them. At least that was the situation back in 90's. ( @Sanju )
RE: Who's been to India - Rishi - 03-13-2019
(03-13-2019, 07:22 PM)Wolverine Wrote: I'll repeat my opinion that from all protected areas in India Gir is probably least welcoming tourists and visitors, kind of closed entity. The theory that Gujarat will lose money from touristic industry sharing its lions with MP is incorrect because is doubtfull that Gujaratis earn any significant money from tourists, they seems don't like them. At least that was the situation back in 90's.
Tourism money or no. Moving lions out of Gujarat would be something akin to banning automatic firearms from Texas, you know... complicated.
RE: Who's been to India - Sanju - 03-15-2019
(03-13-2019, 07:22 PM)Wolverine Wrote: The theory that Gujarat will lose money from touristic industry sharing its lions with MP is incorrect because is doubtfull that Gujaratis earn any significant money from tourists,Quite disagree.
Quote:they seems don't like them.They like nobody (not only MP but Rajasthan and every other state) except themselves Greed and self-centeredness at its extreme. Looking forward for the day in which they remember that Mahatma Gandhi born in their State.
RE: Who's been to India - Pckts - 06-03-2019
I got to speak with @Pantherinae a bit about his trip to Kanha that he just took.
Hopefully he adds his 1st hand accounts but I'll give you an update on it since he's not as active here any more.
He started the trip with a nightmare, all his luggage was stolen at the airport.
His trip had some hiccups that I'll let him elaborate on if he wants to, but in regards to the wildlife I'll post his comments below.
"Kanha was great though. Saw Gaur for the first time. Also a noticable species was Jungle cat and sloth bear.
Didn’t get to see Umarpani, but managed Chota Munna and Sangam male, three tigresses (don’t remember their names) and some sub-adults.
I was really focused on the males and I kinda regret it, as the males didn’t come until the last three days and I kinda didn’t manage to enjoy the females as much because I so badly wanted a male.
Sangam was seen at some distance crossing the road, I was behind a couple of vehicles. but a big tiger.
Chota Munna I saw much better, although a short sighting I got a very good look at him.
Tigresses was big and very impressive. TBH I was more impressed by their size than the males.
Gaurs where huge and insane. That was a big highlight when a bull was standing on the road. "
"I got some tigers, and two nice big males, including Chota Munna which was my second biggest target!
very beautiful tigers, but the males where not any bigger than Ranthambore or Bandhavgarh males, they might weigh more(?), but I didn't notice any size difference tbh. Tigresses from Kanha however was the biggest female cats I have seen."
Anyway, cheers to him for braving the summer heat and searching for his favorite Tiger.