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The Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is the sole home of the pure Asiatic Lions (Panthera leo persica) and is considered to be one of the most important protected areas in Asia due to its supported species.

The last refuge of the Asiatic Lion is 59 km from the Junagadh via Visavadar. The ruggged, hilly, 1400 sq km sanctuary feels beguilingly uncommercial and encompasses some very beautiful forested land. It was set up to protect lions ans their habitat.

The Gir Wildlife sanctuary has lions as well as there are more than 30 species, including leopards, hyenas, foxes, wild boars, parrots, peacocks, crocodiles , monkeys and deer including the Indian largest antelope (nilgais), graceful chinkara gazelles, chow-singhas and barking deer.

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Ranthambore National Park  is one of the largest national parks in northern India. It is 1334 sq km of wild jungle scrub hemmed in by rocky ridges. All its centre is the 10th-century Ranthambore Fort, and scattered nearby are ancient temples  and mosques, crocodile-filled lakes, chhatris (cenotaphs) and hides. The park was a maharajas’ hunting ground till 1970 – a curious 15 years after it had become a sanctuary.

Ranthambore is the only place to spot  wild tigers in Rajasthan, but each year the odds are reduced by mismanagement and poaching, Project Tiger has been in charge of animals’ welfare since 1979.Getting an accurate figure on the number of tigers comes down to who you believe - an April 2006 in the Indian Journal Front-line estimated the figure to be as low as 15.

Seeing a tiger is just a matter of luck, but the park is also worth visiting for the scenery alone, particularly if you walk up to the fort. There are also more than 300 bird species in the park.