The short answer
Mitiyala Wildlife Sanctuary: what visitors should know first
Treat Mitiyala as an informed detour, not a safari. Sightings are not guaranteed, no standard tourist safari is published, and entry terms are unclear. Ask the Gujarat Forest Department what is allowed before you drive out, and keep the main Gir safari as your plan for lions.
History and context
The story behind Mitiyala Wildlife Sanctuary
The sanctuary area was part of the former Bhavnagar princely state before 1947. It received confirmed sanctuary status in 2004 and covers about 18.22 square kilometres.
Gujarat Tourism describes it as almost an offshoot of the Gir lion sanctuary: lions pass between the two through connecting land. Published figures put the resident count at roughly eleven to twelve lions in two prides and a solitary animal, along with leopards.
Useful facts
Mitiyala Wildlife Sanctuary facts at a glance
- Location
- East of Gir National Park, Saurashtra
- Experience type
- Outlying lion habitat; access rules unclear
- Area
- About 18.22 sq km; sanctuary status confirmed in 2004
- Wildlife
- Asiatic lion, leopard, chital, nilgai, wild boar
- Best season
- Winter
- Fees and timings
- Not published; confirm with the forest department
Why it matters
Why Mitiyala Wildlife Sanctuary is worth your time
Mitiyala is part of how Gir's lions are surviving. Gir itself holds a limited area, and the lion population has been spreading into grassland, scrub and farmland on its edges. Sanctuaries like Mitiyala give that spread legal protection and a corridor to move through.
It matters to visitors for the same reason it is not a standard tourist stop: it is a working conservation landscape in which lions share space with villages and fields. Seeing it, even from the road, gives a more accurate picture of what lion conservation in Saurashtra looks like than the managed safari routes at Sasan.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
A lion corridor outside Gir
The sanctuary shares a boundary with Gir's woodlands, and lions travel between the two.
- 02
Open grassland and scrub
Unlike Gir's teak forest, the cover here is low and open, so animals such as nilgai and chital are easier to spot.
- 03
Conservation context
It shows how lions now live beside farms and villages, which is the real story of Gir's lion recovery.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
Most visitors to Sasan Gir will not need Mitiyala, and it is worth being clear why you would go. The sanctuary is a patch of dry grassland and scrub of about 18 square kilometres, confirmed as a sanctuary in 2004, that shares a boundary with the Gir woodlands. Lions move between the two, which is what makes it interesting to anyone who has read about the spread of the Asiatic lion beyond Gir.
The practical approach is to ask first. Contact the Gujarat Forest Department office responsible for the Gir region, state your dates and party, and ask whether any guided or permitted visit is possible. Tourist infrastructure is not described in published sources, so assume no cafe, no lodging and little signage, and plan the trip around a car and driver who know the roads.
If you are allowed in, keep expectations modest. Lion sightings are not guaranteed, even with around eleven or twelve lions reported in the area. Chital, nilgai and wild boar are easier to see, and birds and reptiles fill the quieter hours. Follow the conduct rules: no smoking, no flash photography, no music, and stay well away from animals.
Plan with confidence
Small decisions that make the visit easier.
- Ask the Gujarat Forest Department about access before you go
- Do not enter restricted forest to look for lions
- Carry water, snacks and sun protection
- Hire a car and driver who know the area
- Follow the sanctuary's conduct rules on smoking, noise and flash
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- East of Gir National Park, Saurashtra; distance from Sasan not published, plan on a long half-day drive
- Time needed
- Half a day including the drive; longer if the forest office arranges a visit
- Best time
- Winter; summer is dry and hot
- Walking level
- Easy
- Senior comfort
- Where access is allowed it is normally from a vehicle on forest tracks, so there is little walking. Roads to the edge of the sanctuary can be rough, facilities are minimal and shade and toilets are scarce, so older travellers should keep this short and well supplied.
- Tickets and access
- Fees, hours and any permit rules for tourists are not published online; Gujarat Tourism gives conduct rules only. Confirm with the Gujarat Forest Department before travelling, and never enter restricted forest areas to look for lions without permission.
Best for
Plan it with
Plan the practical part
Hotels near Mitiyala Wildlife Sanctuary
Staying close keeps journeys short — useful for early starts and for anyone who tires quickly.
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices are live on the partner site.
Travelling with parents?
Where access is allowed it is normally from a vehicle on forest tracks, so there is little walking. Roads to the edge of the sanctuary can be rough, facilities are minimal and shade and toilets are scarce, so older travellers should keep this short and well supplied.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
Can I see lions at Mitiyala?
Lions live in the area but sightings are not guaranteed, and no standard tourist safari is published. The booked safari at Gir remains the dependable way to see them.
Is Mitiyala part of Gir National Park?
No. It is a separate sanctuary of about 18 sq km that shares a boundary with Gir's forests.
When should I visit?
Winter is the recommended season. Fees, hours and permit rules are not published, so ask the forest department first.
Sources and further reading
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.
