Lion Safari Camp

This is one of the only places at Gir where you really get that ‘bush camp’ vibe. Set beside the croc-infested Hiran River in a mango grove, the 21 rooms have monastery-style tented roofs and cream canvas walls, aptly decorated with lion paw prints. They have simple ensuite bathrooms (kitted out with bespoke shower gel, shaving and dental kits and combs) as well as small private decks – a good place to spy on birds. Hearty and hot buffet meals are served in a spacious, canvas dining room with (slightly questionable) leopard-skin table runners. If poha, dal and rice for breakfast don’t appeal, ask the chef to cook up a plateful of poached eggs on toast with grilled tomatoes. Sadly, there’s no swimming pool but there’s a table-tennis table to keep restless kids busy. Besides, most people come here to spot the endangered Asiatic lion (there are just 400 left) and there are some excellent naturalists on site – Bachchu is a fountain of knowledge – who are happy to accompany you on game drives and nature walks.