Into The Wild!

[Wolfheart]

Hey guys,

I'm planning a trip again. As you know, mumbai never got flooded and we never did that trip we planned. However I have a few days off work for Diwali.

What would be a good wilidlife destination, within say 12 hours drive from mumbai? I'm mainly interested in a destination with a good chance of spotting big cats, ellies etc. I'm not much of a bird enthusiast though. I would have a total of 4-5 days . At this point I'm considering the following options:

1. Dandeli- seems very interesting but too commercialised. It appears that wildlife sighting (big cats) etc are extremely rare. correct me if I'm wrong.

2. Gir National Park- I have read mixed reviews about Gir. However it's the only place in the world where you can see the asiatic Lion. It's also reputed to have a sizeable leopard population. So far this seems to be the most attractive option yet. We've also heard rumours of a beach where the lions hang out. Would appreciate more info about Gir , the road conditions to and from Mumbai, possibility of good sightings at this time of the years etc.

3. Chandoli- Seems like the perfect destination. Not a lot of tourists, dense forests , however dont know much about the infrastructure, wildlife sightings etc.

4. Melghat Tiger reserve - According to google maps, Melghat is just 10 hrs drive from Mumbai. However i have absolutely no idea about the road conditions. safety is an important concern 'cos I'm driving with my girlfriend.

If any of you guys have any info, sugestions, links etc I would greatly appreciate your sharing those with me. I plan to leave by saturday morning. Thanks!