2 min summary Best time to go Map & highlights South Africa India Jaguars in the Pantanal Siberian Tigers & Amur Leopards Leopards in Sri Lanka Clouded Leopards in Borneo Snow Leopards in Ladakh Responsible tourism

Where to see big cats

Our big cat safaris map and highlights demonstrate the amazing variety of locations you can see these elegant, elusive creatures in the wild, from Russia to Borneo and India. Sightings can never be guaranteed of course, and luck will always play a part, but your chances are greatly enhanced on professionally run trips such as these. Our interactive map reveals where to see big cats around the world.

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Where to see big cats

The thrill of seeing big cats in the wild is doubled when you appreciate that your trip is playing an essential part in the fight to save them from extinction.

Like so many apex predators, big cats face significant threats to their survival, their numbers diminished by poaching and habitat destruction. Yet populations survive, and are protected, around the world from the frozen peaks of the Himalayas to the jungles of Madhya Pradesh, the plains of Africa to the marshland of Pantanal. Learn where to go on a big cat safari and witness nature at its most red-toothed and clawed - next to impossible without the help of expert guides that can narrow the search through their knowledge and experience.

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1. Clouded leopards in Borneo
2. Snow leopards in the Himalayas
3. Tigers in India
4. Lynx in Lapland
5. Jaguars in the Pantanal
6. Pumas in Patagonia
7. Lynx in Romania
8. Tigers & leopards in Russia
9. Lions & leopards in South Africa
10. Leopards in Sri Lanka

Clouded leopards in Borneo

1. Clouded leopards in Borneo

Travel by 4x4 and boat deep into the forests of Sabah in search of Sunda clouded leopards, flat-headed cats and marbled cats. Nighttime expeditions led by expert zoologists and naturalist guides use spotlighting and extensive local knowledge to track the wildlife down, and interpret behaviours that are almost unknown given the rarity of these creatures.

When to go: August to September.

Clouded leopards in Borneo

Snow leopards in the Himalayas

2. Snow leopards in the Himalayas

Snow leopards are notoriously difficult to track. Living in remote, inhospitable mountain landscapes, their white-grey coats naturally blend into the snow and rock, and they’re most active at night. Yet with the assistance of skilled guides and technology, your chances of seeing leopards as they scale rock faces in search of bharal sheep and ibex, are much improved.

When to go: November to March.

Tigers in India

3. Tigers in India

India is the best place to see tigers, with (relatively) large populations found in several national parks including Kanha and Bandhavgarh. There are only around 4000 tigers left in the wild, in fact it’s thought there are more in American zoos, so watching them as they patrol their natural habitat is a truly humbling experience.

When to go: November to March.

Tigers in India

Lynx in Lapland

4. Lynx in Lapland

Head to a mountain cabin in northwest Swedish Lapland so isolated that you need to travel part of the way by snowmobile and Nordic skis. Here is your best opportunity of seeing the elusive lynx against the frozen wilderness. And by happy coincidence this is also a superb place from which to witness the Northern Lights.

When to go: March.

Jaguars in the Pantanal

5. Jaguars in the Pantanal

The northern part of Brazil’s marshy Pantanal region is a superb place for spotting jaguars, which can often be seen on the riverbanks around Porto Jofre. Guided game viewing can be done on foot, on horseback or by boat, and the Pantanal’s impressive wildlife roster also includes caimans, capybaras and ocelots.

When to go: July to November.

Jaguars in the Pantanal

Pumas in Patagonia

6. Pumas in Patagonia

Patagonia’s puma population (try saying that quickly a few times) has increased substantially in recent years. With the aid of dedicated trackers, you will hike for up to eight hours per day around the majestic Torres del Paine National Park in search of the apex predator, along with Andean condors and Chilean flamingoes.

When to go: All year round.

Lynx in Romania

7. Lynx in Romania

Head into Transylvania’s Carpathian Mountains in search of beautiful, elusive lynx. February, mating season, is one of the best times to see them in their natural habitat. With guided expeditions taking place in the early mornings and late evenings you’ll have plenty of time to explore Bran Castle, Piatra Craiului National Park and more.

When to go: February to April.

Lynx in Romania

Tigers & leopards in Russia

8. Tigers & leopards in Russia

Stunning big cat photography opportunities abound in a specialist hide deep in Kedrovaya Pad National Park. There are populations of both Siberian tigers and Amur leopards, and this is where the BBC’s Planet Earth team filmed Amur leopards for the first time. Expect to spend up to five nights in the hide waiting for your moment.

When to go: November to March.

Lions & leopards in South Africa

9. Lions & leopards in South Africa

While you can see lions, and leopards, in many parks and reserves around South Africa, unquestionably the best way is with a walking safari in a private reserve of Greater Kruger. The park is of course home to the Big Five, but game viewing is not the whole story here: you can also take part in fascinating leopard conservation research.

When to go: All year round.

Lions & leopards in South Africa

Leopards in Sri Lanka

10. Leopards in Sri Lanka

This small island boasts remarkable levels of biodiversity from Blue whales to dolphins and elephants, but for many travelers the big draw is the leopards of Yala National Park in the southeast, found in greater concentrations here than anywhere else on the planet. Game drives are best in the early mornings, when the animals are most active.

When to go: October to April.

Our Big cat safaris Vacations

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More about Big cat safaris

Big cat safari travel guide

Our guide to big cat safaris around the world takes you from the frozen wildernesses of Russia and Lapland to the jungles of India and Borneo, via the plains of Africa and the marshlands of Pantanal.

Best time to go on a big cat safari

It can be a little difficult to pin down the absolute best time to go on a big cat safari given that they tend to keep to their own schedules, but to narrow down your chances of success, read on to discover when to travel.

Big cat safaris in South Africa

On big cat safaris in South Africa you’ll most likely catch the lions lounging in the shade but the chance of seeing them on the hunt will be enough to get you bounding into the jeep every evening.

Jaguar safaris in the Pantanal

Big cat safaris in the Pantanal focus on the Cuiabá riverbanks from Porto Jofre because cruising by boat affords superb opportunities to witness jaguars on the hunt or at their leisure in their preferred habitat.

Big cat safaris in India

India has more tigers in the wild than anywhere else, so big cat safaris in India typically take you around a series of national parks to maximise your chances of observing them as they emerge from the jungle.

Leopard safaris in Sri Lanka

Yala National Park is the key destination that big cat safaris in Sri Lanka focus on, as it's home to a higher concentration of leopards per square kilometre than anywhere else on the planet.

Siberian tiger & Amur leopard safaris

Big cat safaris in Russia are a truly spectacular experience, and a fantastic opportunity for those with the patience to wait on the appearance of Siberian tigers and Amur leopards, offering exclusive access to hides in prime locations.

Clouded leopard safaris in Borneo

Big cat safaris in Borneo are accompanied by naturalist guides and zoologists to help you track down nocturnal, tree-climbing clouded leopards and a host of other incredible creatures along the way.

Snow leopard tracking holidays in Ladakh

Snow leopard tracking vacations in Ladakh

Explore a true wilderness in company of expert naturalists and guides with snow leopard tracking vacations in the Himalayas, as you search the mountains for one of the world’s rarest and most majestic big cats.

Responsible tourism on big cat safaris

Big cats are in urgent need of more responsible tourism - on this page we discuss some of the current issues around big cat conservation and how by choosing the right kind of trip, you make a difference to their survival.

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Written by Rob Perkins

Where to see big cats